Bone conduction audiometer
By designing a device that includes an audiometer body and bone conduction headphones, the problem of bone conduction headphones being unsuitable for audiometers in the prior art is solved, and stable detection is achieved under external sound interference, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of test results.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GUANGZHOU MAI LISHENG MEDICAL EQUIP CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing bone conduction headphones are not compatible with audiometers, which means that the testing environment is affected by external sounds, especially in cases of ear canal blockage, thus affecting the accuracy of hearing test results.
A special bone conduction audiometer was designed, including an audiometer body and a bone conduction earphone. The earphone is wirelessly connected to the audiometer body. The earphone includes a fixed rod adapted to the ear and a diaphragm block. An adjustment mechanism allows the diaphragm block to rotate. A counterweight block can rotate relative to the diaphragm block. An ear cup is hinged to the counterweight block. The ear cup can perform detection by bone conduction relative to the diaphragm block.
This system enables audiometry testing. The counterweight is stably mounted on the ear relative to the diaphragm, and the diaphragm conducts the test via bone conduction. This ensures the stability of the testing environment, adapts to different wearers' ears, isolates external sound interference, and ensures the accuracy of the test results.
Smart Images
Figure CN224403649U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of hearing testing equipment, specifically to a bone conduction audiometer. Background Technology
[0002] Audiometry involves transmitting specific frequencies to the test subject through devices such as headphones. The test subject responds by emitting signals based on the changes and stimuli of these frequencies, and the audibility curve reveals the test subject's hearing level. Most current audiometers use air conduction for testing. However, in cases of pre-existing hearing impairment or ear canal blockage, bone conduction is necessary for further assessment. Existing bone conduction headphones are not directly compatible with audiometer testing because they typically do not cover the ear canal, allowing external noise from the testing environment to significantly influence the results, especially for test subjects experiencing bone conduction for the first time, often leading to misjudgment of whether they hear anything. Current devices lack a dedicated bone conduction audiometer; they generally use both air and bone conduction simultaneously, utilizing the earcups for air conduction as sound insulation. The vibration of such headphones generates both air and bone conduction sounds simultaneously, and even with complex settings to separate these sounds, vibrations within the same headphone will always have an impact. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a specialized audiometer testing device specifically for bone conduction. Utility Model Content
[0003] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention aims to provide a bone conduction audiometer. This invention features a specially designed bone conduction earpiece for audiometer testing, facilitating user convenience. A single earpiece can be adapted to fit the left and right ears and ear sizes of different wearers, and the earcups isolate external sound interference, ensuring that the test sound is conducted via bone conduction through the diaphragm.
[0004] The present invention discloses a bone conduction audiometer, comprising an audiometer body and a bone conduction earphone. The bone conduction earphone is wirelessly connected to the audiometer body. The bone conduction earphone includes a fixed rod that is adapted to the ear and is arc-shaped. One end of the fixed rod is connected to a diaphragm block through an adjustment mechanism, and the adjustment mechanism allows the diaphragm block to rotate up and down and left and right relative to the fixed rod. The other end of the fixed rod is provided with a counterweight block. A first connecting rod and an earcup are hinged to the counterweight block in sequence. The earcup is used to cover the wearer's ear from the left or right side.
[0005] In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism consists of 4 to 6 iron wires with a diameter not exceeding 0.6 mm, which are evenly arranged in a circle around the center.
[0006] In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes a second connecting rod, one end of which is hinged to the fixed rod in a left-right direction, and the other end of the second connecting rod is hinged to the diaphragm block in a vertical direction.
[0007] In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism is covered with a soft rubber pad.
[0008] In one embodiment, the counterweight has an interface and a circuit board that are electrically connected to each other, and the interface is located at the bottom of the counterweight. The circuit board is electrically connected to the diaphragm block via wires.
[0009] In one embodiment, there are two first connecting rods located behind the counterweight. The two ends of the first connecting rods respectively clamp the counterweight and the protrusion on the earmuff and are equipped with rotating shafts, so that the first connecting rods are respectively hinged to the counterweight and the earmuff, and the length of the first connecting rods is adapted to the thickness of the ear.
[0010] In one embodiment, the earmuff is made of foam plastic, and both sides of the earmuff are adapted to fit the ear and the diaphragm block, thereby completely covering the wearer's ear and the diaphragm block.
[0011] In one embodiment, earplugs are rotatably connected to the bottom of the two inner sides of the earmuff.
[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model's technical solution are:
[0013] This invention is a specially designed bone conduction earphone for audiometry testing, designed for ease of use by the test subject. The counterweight relative to the diaphragm allows the wearer to stably hang the bone conduction earphone on their ear. By adjusting the diaphragm through the adjustment mechanism, only one earphone can be used to fit the left and right ears and ear sizes of different wearers. Furthermore, the earcups can be used to cover and isolate external sound interference and influences, ensuring that the test sound is conducted through bone conduction by the diaphragm. Attached Figure Description
[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the audiometer body of this utility model;
[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a bone conduction audiometer according to the present invention;
[0016] Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a bone conduction audiometer according to the present invention.
[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1-audiometer body, 2-bone conduction headphones, 21-fixing rod, 22-diaphragm block, 23-counterweight block, 24-first connecting rod, 25-earcup, 26-earplug, 3-adjustment mechanism, 31-second connecting rod. Detailed Implementation
[0018] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent. To better illustrate this embodiment, some components in the drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced, and do not represent the actual dimensions of the product. It is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted in the drawings.
[0019] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can be described as the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances. The technical solution of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0020] like Figures 1-3As shown, a bone conduction audiometer of this utility model includes an audiometer body 1 and a bone conduction earphone 2. The bone conduction earphone 2 is wirelessly connected to the audiometer body 1. The bone conduction earphone 2 includes a fixed rod 21 that is adapted to the ear and is arc-shaped. One end of the fixed rod 21 is connected to a diaphragm block 22 through an adjustment mechanism 3. The adjustment mechanism 3 enables the diaphragm block 22 to rotate up and down and left and right relative to the fixed rod 21. The other end of the fixed rod 21 is provided with a counterweight block 23. A first connecting rod 24 and an ear cup 25 are hinged to the counterweight block 23 in sequence. The ear cup 25 is used to cover the wearer's ear from the left or right side. This invention features a specially designed bone conduction earphone 2 for audiometer testing, designed for ease of use by the test subject. The counterweight 23 relative to the diaphragm block 22 allows the wearer to stably hang the bone conduction earphone 2 on their ear. By adjusting the diaphragm block 22 through the adjustment mechanism 3, only one earphone can be used to fit the left and right ears and ear sizes of different wearers. Furthermore, the earcups 25 can be used to cover and isolate external sound interference and influences, ensuring that the test sound is conducted through bone conduction by the diaphragm block 22. In use, the subject hangs the fixing rod 21 on their ear, with the diaphragm 22 positioned above the ear and the counterweight 23 positioned behind the ear. The diaphragm 22 can be adjusted up and down and left and right via the adjustment mechanism 3 to fit different wearers' ears, ensuring the diaphragm 22 fits snugly against the skull. The earcup 25, hinged to the counterweight 23 via the first connecting rod 24, can fold over from the outside of the ear to cover the entire ear, further securing the bone conduction headphone 2 in place with the fixing rod 21. Due to the movable diaphragm 22 and the hinge of the first connecting rod 24, the earcup 25 can rotate approximately 360° relative to the counterweight 23. Therefore, the bone conduction headphone 2 can simultaneously fit both ears and be used for audiometry testing. The audiometer body 1 can be equipped with a printer to record and print the subject's hearing curve for analysis by medical personnel.
[0021] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the adjustment mechanism 3 consists of 4 to 6 iron wires with a diameter not exceeding 0.6 mm, evenly arranged in a circle around the center. The adjustment mechanism 3 can be configured as a rotatable and angle-adjustable iron wire. The diameter of each individual iron wire is small, and the combination of 5 iron wires provides a certain degree of toughness while being easily bent by human force. Furthermore, the counterweight 23 needs to have an interface and circuit board that are electrically connected to each other. The interface is located at the bottom of the counterweight 23 and is used to connect a power source to charge the bone conduction headphones 2. The circuit board is electrically connected to the diaphragm block 22 via wires. The circuit board is used to wirelessly connect to the audiometer body 1 via Bluetooth or other means, and the connecting wires can be wrapped between the 5 iron wires to achieve the electrical connection between the diaphragm block 22 and the circuit board.
[0022] In another embodiment, such as Figure 3As shown, to prevent the wire from breaking easily due to repeated bending, the adjustment mechanism 3 can also be configured to include a second connecting rod 31, one end of which is hinged to the fixed rod 21 in the left-right direction, and the other end of the second connecting rod 31 is hinged to the diaphragm block 22 in the up-down direction. Through the connection of the second connecting rod 31 as an intermediate component, the diaphragm block 22 can also be adjusted up-down and left-right relative to the fixed rod 21. Moreover, even if the second connecting rod 31 and the hinge joints are worn after repeated use, they can be replaced for maintenance. Furthermore, to prevent the hinge joints from rubbing against the ear skin, the adjustment mechanism 3 is covered with a soft rubber pad with good elasticity to cover the second connecting rod 31 and the two hinge joints, thereby reducing skin scratches.
[0023] Furthermore, there are two first connecting rods 24 located behind the counterweight 23. The two ends of the first connecting rods 24 respectively clamp the protrusions on the counterweight 23 and the earmuff 25 and are equipped with rotating shafts, thus allowing the first connecting rods 24 to be hinged to the counterweight 23 and the earmuff 25 respectively. The length of the first connecting rods 24 is adapted to the thickness of the ear. The two first connecting rods 24 ensure more stable relative rotation of the earmuff 25. Simultaneously, because the earmuff 25 needs to accommodate both ears, its range of motion is relatively large. This design of the first connecting rods 24 makes the hinge mechanism less prone to wear. The length of the first connecting rods 24 allows the earmuff 25 to cover the ear from behind the ear forward, preventing it from pinching the ear and causing discomfort to the wearer.
[0024] Furthermore, the earcups 25 are made of foam plastic, which is loose, porous, and lightweight, allowing for good sound absorption. Both sides of the earcups 25 are designed to fit the ear and diaphragm 22, ensuring complete coverage of the wearer's ear and diaphragm 22. This allows the earcups 25 to better enclose the ear, effectively isolating external sound. The soft interior of the earcups 25 protects the subject's ear without affecting the vibration of the diaphragm 22. Additionally, earplugs 26 are rotatably connected to the bottom of the two inner sides of the earcups 25. When rotating the earcups 25 to cover the ears, the wearer can prioritize inserting the earplugs 26 into the ear canals, further reducing the influence of external airborne sound during testing.
[0025] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" is usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.
[0026] The positional relationships described in the figures are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting this patent. Clearly, the above embodiments of this utility model are merely examples to clearly illustrate the present utility model, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present utility model. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of this utility model.
Claims
1. A bone conduction audiometer, characterized in that The device includes an audiometer body (1) and a bone conduction earphone (2). The bone conduction earphone (2) is wirelessly connected to the audiometer body (1). The bone conduction earphone (2) includes a fixed rod (21) that is adapted to the ear and is arc-shaped. One end of the fixed rod (21) is connected to a diaphragm block (22) through an adjustment mechanism (3). The adjustment mechanism (3) allows the diaphragm block (22) to rotate up and down and left and right relative to the fixed rod (21). The other end of the fixed rod (21) is provided with a counterweight block (23). A first connecting rod (24) and an earmuff (25) are sequentially hinged on the counterweight block (23). The earmuff (25) is used to cover the wearer's ear from the left or right side.
2. The bone conduction audiometer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment mechanism (3) consists of 4 to 6 iron wires with a diameter not exceeding 0.6 mm, which are evenly arranged around the center.
3. The bone conduction audiometer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment mechanism (3) includes a second connecting rod (31) with one end hinged to the fixed rod (21) in the left-right direction, and the other end of the second connecting rod (31) is hinged to the diaphragm block (22) in the up-down direction.
4. A bone conduction audiometer according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The adjustment mechanism (3) is covered with a soft rubber pad.
5. A bone conduction audiometer according to claim 4, characterized in that, The counterweight (23) is provided with an interface and a circuit board that are electrically connected to each other, and the interface is located at the bottom of the counterweight (23). The circuit board is electrically connected to the diaphragm block (22) through wires.
6. A bone conduction audiometer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first connecting rod (24) consists of two rods located behind the counterweight (23). The two ends of the first connecting rod (24) respectively clamp the protrusions on the counterweight (23) and the earmuff (25) and are equipped with rotating shafts, so that the first connecting rod (24) is hinged to the counterweight (23) and the earmuff (25) respectively, and the length of the first connecting rod (24) is adapted to the thickness of the ear.
7. A bone conduction audiometer according to claim 6, characterized in that, The earmuff (25) is made of foam plastic, and both sides of the earmuff (25) are adapted to fit the ear and the diaphragm block (22), so that the earmuff (25) completely covers the wearer's ear and the diaphragm block (22).
8. A bone conduction audiometer according to claim 7, characterized in that, Earplugs (26) are rotatably connected to the bottom of the two inner sides of the earmuff (25).