Patent ID: 7720243

Claim:
An acoustic enhancement device ( 40 , 40 ′) comprising, a housing ( 54 ) arranged and designed for insertion in an ear canal, said housing ( 54 ) having a first tip ( 42 ) adapted to face an ear drum when said housing ( 54 ) is inserted into said ear canal, said housing ( 54 ) also having a second tip ( 52 ) with an aperture ( 44 ) therein and a bore ( 70 , 80 , 90 ) formed in said housing ( 54 ) and positioned between said first tip ( 42 ) and said second tip ( 52 ), whereby a sound path is created from said second tip ( 52 ) through said bore ( 70 , 80 , 90 ) toward said ear drum; said bore ( 70 , 80 , 90 ) having a bore geometry arranged and designed to alter a frequency response of sound passing therethrough, said bore geometry having a maximum inside diameter ( 72 ) between said second tip ( 52 ) and said first tip ( 42 ) which is greater than an inside diameter at said first tip ( 42 ) and said second tip ( 52 ), said bore geometry characterized by an entry path ( 80 ) having inside diameters varying linearly as a function of bore length from said maximum inside diameter ( 72 ) toward said second tip ( 52 ) and an exit path ( 90 ) having inside diameters varying linearly as a function of bore length from said maximum inside diameter ( 72 ) toward said first tip ( 42 ).