Year: 1886

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, of 52 Chancery
Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, which has been communicated to me from abroad by
Freeman Hiscox, of the City and State of New York, United States of America,
Merchant, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists in improvements in artificial ear-drums as hereinafter
set forth.
Figure 1, is a central axial section of the artificial ear-drum, the stem being in
side view.
Figure 2, is an inside view of the artificial ear-drum, without an inner elastic.
disk.
Figure 3, a perspective view of the elastic or expansible ear-tube and ear-drum
holder.
Figure 4, an inner end view of the same.
Figure 5, a longitudinal section of the same, cutting between spring-clamp bars
which hold the stem of the artificial ear-drum.
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Figure 6, an inner end view of the ear-tube, represented as holding the stem of¹
the artificial ear-drum.
Figure 7, a longitudinal section cutting across the centre of the clamp bars.
Figure 8, a similar section of the ear-tube, showing also a side view of the
artificial ear-drum inserted in proper position in the ear-tube.
In the drawings, a, denotes the elastic disk, or artificial tympanum, secured by
cement or otherwise to the skeleton collar, b, attached to the end of the stem, c;,
d, denotes the air-vent, through the collar, b, and disk, a.
The expansible tube and stem holder, A, may be made in two, three, or more"
sections, e, f, g, secured at their inner ends by a thin band or otherwise, and.
arranged to curve outwardly by, and, being formed of spring metal, silver being
preferable, will cause outward pressure when inserted in the outer ear, and press
the rear portion of the cartilage of the ear backward and open the auditory
passage.
Across the inner end of this expansible tube, two thin flat bars, i, i, made of
elastic metal and secured side by side, each having a small semi-circular curve at
the middle, which together form an aperture smaller than the diameter of the
stem, c, of the artificial ear-drum, and through which the latter will be forced and
held adjustably as in a spring clamp.
My present invention is an improvement on the artificial ear-drum described,
in my United States Patent dated December 14, 1880, and numbered 235,566, in

page_text: which the metal collar is described as cushioned over by a soft flexible disk,
serving as a membrana tympani, and provided with an air passage or vent by
which air could be admitted behind the artificial typanum.
One feature of my invention consists in providing artificial ear-drums with proper
and effectual means for holding them in position other than the elastic disks them-
selves, and to make the degree of pressure upon the natural ear-drum independent of
the size and thickness of the elastic disks, which when used to retain themselves in
place were necessarily larger than the auditory passages of the human ear to retain
them in proper relation to the membrana tympani. The large elastic disks, in some
instances, particularly when the auditory passages were small, became obstructive
of their efficiency, and were uncomfortable to the person wearing them.
The present improvements obviate these objections because the holder of the
stem, i, i, will retain the artificial ear-drum in proper position even when smaller
in diameter than the natural ear-drum, and will permit its adjustment and afford
the means of the most careful, delicate pressure upon the natural ear-drum.
Another important feature of this invention consists in forming the collar upon
which the elastic disk is secured, of fine spring wire, whereby the entire face of
the disk becomes flexible, and capable of self-adjustment upon the natural ear-
drum, or any portion thereof, not absent or destroyed. This new feature also
obviates the objections to the bulky and rigid central portion of the artificial
ear-drum disk, which in some cases, causes discomfort to the wearer. It therefore
becomes apparent that the combination of the artificial ear-drum stem with a
holder, in which the stem may be adjusted and retained, enables the user to
employ a drum not only with a small disk, but of the most delicate and suitable
material, as its retention in place in the ear will not depend on its size and thick-
ness which were necessary as heretofore made, in order to cause it to retain its
position and perform the function of an artificial ear-drum as above mentioned.
The holder which serves as a clamp to hold the artificial ear-drum in any
position to which it can be adjusted, also performs another office, tributary to the
object sought, namely, the opening of the outer portion of the auditory passage, or
meatus, and compressing the rear portion of the cartilage outward, which, alone,
will quicken the sense of hearing. This pressure will be analogous to the manipu-
lation of the auricle practised by many people-who have become dull of hearing,
and which asists the auditory organs.
The perforated elastic disk, a, affords complete means of ventilation between the
coils of the skeleton wire collar, the use of which obviates the necessity of drilling
holes through the solid metal collar, as heretofore used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The flexible skeleton collar; b, or its equivalent, attached to the stem, c, in
combination with the perforated elastic disk or artificial membrane, a, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The expansible sectional tube, A, provided with flexible holding
bars, i, i, in combination with the stem of an artificial ear-drum, substantially as
specified.