An Instrument for the Cure and Treatment of Deafness.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Apr., 1893—Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Instrument for the Cure and Treatment of Deafness.
HENRY BINKO, Electrical Engineer, 34 Leadenhall Street London, E.C. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is a well known fact that a large portion of deaf persons suffering from so
called catarrh of the middle ear, hear better in a noise. It is also a fact that
deafness arising from this cause is one of the most obstinate and persistant forms of
deafness.
The fact of better hearing in a noise has been endeavoured to be explained in
various ways, but the fact which is admitted by all is, that the ossicles, whose
function it is to convey vibration from the tympanum membrane to the nerve of
hearing, are stiffened and rendered less vibratory in these cases in which the
phenomenon has been observed. The intention of my invention is, by means of an
instrument to automatically produce vibrations of various tones and loudness, and
by the use of such instrument to impart to the person suffering from deafness,
greater pliability to the ossicles and stiffened structures impeding the conveyance of
sound and also by stimulation of the comparatively disused audit or nerve to
maintain its sensitiveness.
For this purpose I construct an instrument having a diaphragm of any sound
producing material on which a vibrating hand or hammer or other movement is
automatically actuated, either by electric, hydraulic, clockwork or other mechanical
motive power, thereby producing sounds or tones which by suitable regulators can
be varied ad libitum.
The instrument is provided with a collecting drum ending with a flexible tube
and carpiece to be placed as near as possible to the ossicles.
Or, construct such instrument in a miniature form so as to be able to carry it
attached to the ear in order practically to improve hearing in addition to its thera-
peutic property.
17
T1 1000
HENRY BINKO.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Instrument for the Cure and Treatment of Deafness.
HENRY BINKO Electrical Engineer 34 Leadenhall Street London E.C. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
It is a well known fact that a large portion of deaf persons suffering_from_so
called catarrh of the middle ear, hear better in a noise. It is also a fact that
deafness arising from this cause is one of the most obstinate and persistant forms of
deafness.
The fact of better hearing in a noise, has been endeavoured to be explained in
various ways, but the fact which is admitted by all is, that the ossicles, whose
function it is to convey vibration from the tympanum membrane to the nerve of
hearing, are stiffened and rendered less vibratory in these cases in which the
phenomenon has been observed. The intention of my invention is, by means of an
instrument to automatically produce vibrations of various tones and loudness and
by the use of such instrument to impart to the person suffering from deafness
greater pliability to the ossicles and stiffened structures impeding the conveyance of

page_text: sound and also by stimulation of the comparatively disused audit or nerve to
maintain its sensitiveness.
For this purpose I construct an instrument having a diaphragm of any sound
producing material on which a vibrating hand or hammer or other movement is
automatically actuated either by electric, hydraulic, clockwork or other mechanical
motive power, thereby producing sounds or tones which by certain regulators can
be varied ad libitum.
The instrument is provided with a collecting drum ending with a flexible tube
and earpiece to be placed as near as possible to the ossicles.
Or, I construct such instrument in a miniature form so as to be able to carry it
attached to the ear in order practically to improve bearing, in addition to its thera-
peutic property.
I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the exact construction of
any special parts of my invention, but may vary the same in any manner to alter
the construction without departing from the true scope thereof. And in order that
my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I
proceed aided by the accompanied drawing which shows the instrument actuated by
electric motive power, more fully to describe the same.
Fig. 1. shows the complete instrument consisting of case A, the lid B, to which
the diaphragm is fixed, $2 switch, T flexible tube, H and L two kinds of earpieces,
and S. 1. battery box and switch.
In Fig. 2, the instrument is shown without flexible tube and battery, the
front of case A is removed so as to give a clear view of the interior parts, B is the
lid raised, showing in the centre, part of the diaphragm D, S 2 switch, E electro
magnet F the armature of same C contact pillar, with make & break screw, acting
as regulator G hammer fixed to armature F
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is.
Firstly. An instrument having a sound giving diaphragm of any material on
which hammer or hand is automatically working by means of electric hydraulic,
clockwork or any other mechanical motive power.
Secondly. Such instrument to be provided with a sound collector.
Thirdly. Such sound collector to be provided with flexible tube and carpiece,
for convenient use.
Fourthly. A regulator attached to the instrument so as to vary the sound and
shown at C Fig. 2.
HENRY BINKO.