Auricular prosthesis

Abstract

The present invention provides an ear prosthesis that can be easily attached to a person's head and fixed in place without using adhesives or performing surgery, and that is suitable for the wearer's TPO (Time, Place, Occasion). The ear prosthesis is characterized by a structure in which an ear prosthesis 2 having an attachment portion 3 at which the arc-shaped headband body 1 can be replaced is attached to at least one end of the arc-shaped headband body 1.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention relates to an ear prosthesis, more specifically to an ear prosthesis that can be easily attached to the head and fixed without shifting, in order to improve the appearance of the body without surgery, for people with microtia, or people who have damaged their ears in traffic accidents. [Background technology]

[0002] The pinna (or "ear shell") is a pair of protruding parts of an animal's ear that protrude outward and form part of the outer ear. In addition to collecting sound, the pinna may also function to regulate body temperature in some animals.

[0003] The ear is mainly made up of cartilage and skin. In humans, it is said that about 60% of ears are deformed immediately after birth. Although such abnormalities or deformations in the shape of the ear can be restored to normal by wearing a corrective device at least six months after birth, for people who have been born with microtia or who have damaged their ears due to traffic accidents or frostbite in cold regions, ear-shaped prostheses (hereafter referred to as "auricular prostheses") are used to improve the physical appearance of the body.

[0004] An ear prosthesis is a biological restoration that replaces the ear when it is lost due to the above-mentioned reasons. Usually, an ear prosthesis is made using medical silicone resin (hereinafter referred to as "silicone rubber") or urethane resin (hereinafter referred to as "urethane rubber"), and is produced by molding the relevant part or using a 3D printer, etc. (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 1).

[0005] Conventional methods for attaching an auricular prosthesis include fixing it to the side of the head using adhesive, fixing it to the side of the head using a metal wire or other device, and fixing it to the side of the head through implant surgery. These methods have been reported along with their effects (see, for example, Non-Patent Documents 2-3).

[0006] There have also been reports of people expressing their joy at being able to go out without covering their ears with hair, hear people speaking more clearly, watch television without wearing earphones, and wear masks and glasses freely after wearing auricular prostheses.

[0007] However, when an auricular prosthesis is attached to the side of the head using conventional methods, there are various problems, such as the skin becoming irritated by the adhesive, the adhesive peeling off, skin damage, inconvenience due to poor usability, and the strain placed on the body during surgery. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0008] [Non-Patent Document 1] Rehabilitation Engineering, Vol. 29, No. 3, 133 (2014) [Non-Patent Document 2] Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Vol. 34, No. 2, 46 (2011) [Non-Patent Document 3] J.Jpn, Stomatol, 49(5)298, September(2000) [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Problems to be solved by the device disclosed in JP-A-61-253066

[0010] As described above, conventional auricular prostheses made of silicone rubber are attached to the head by using adhesive, by using metal wires or other devices, or by implant surgery on the side of the head. As a result, while wearing the prosthesis, the adhesive may peel off, the prosthesis may shift out of position, the adhesive may cause skin rashes, the metal wire may damage the skin, allergies may occur, or problems may occur due to the implant surgery.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an auricle prosthesis that can be easily attached to the head without using adhesives or metal wires, and that allows the user to select and use a preferred arc-shaped headband molding according to TPO (TPO stands for Time, Place, Occasion).

[0012] The inventors aimed to provide an ear prosthesis that can be easily attached to a person's head and fixed in place without the use of adhesives or surgery, and after extensive research into optimal conditions through experiments, etc., they were able to complete the invention.

[0013] That is, the first invention is an auricle prosthesis characterized by a structure in which an auricle prosthesis having an attachment portion that allows the arc-shaped headband body to be replaced is attached to at least one end of the arc-shaped headband body.

[0014] The second invention is an auricle prosthesis characterized in that the part of the circular headband molded body that comes into contact with the wearer's head is provided with an anti-slip part. This auricle prosthesis has excellent wearability and does not slip out of position.

[0015] The third invention is an ear prosthesis, the anti-slip portion of which is composed of at least one of a convex body, a concave body, a foam body, a tape layer, and a coating layer.

[0016] The fourth invention is an auricular prosthesis in which the circular-arc headband molding is composed of a core part that can be freely deformed to fit the shape of the wearer's head, and a covering part that covers the core part.

[0017] According to the first invention, it is possible to provide an auricle prosthesis body that allows the wearer to select and use a preferred arc-shaped headband molding according to TPO (TPO stands for Time, Place, Occasion).

[0018] According to the second aspect, it is further possible to provide an ear prosthesis that is easy to wear.

[0019] According to the third invention, more specifically, it is possible to provide an ear prosthesis that is easy to wear and does not shift out of position.

[0020] According to the fourth invention, the shape of the arc-shaped headband body can be adjusted to correspond to the wearer's specific head and hairstyle shape, etc., thereby providing an ear prosthesis that fits even more appropriately. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an ear prosthesis according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an auricular prosthesis having an anti-slip portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 3] (A) A diagram showing a cylindrical attachment part, (B) a diagram showing a hook-shaped attachment part, and (C) a diagram showing a hook-and-loop type attachment part. [Figure 4] (A) A diagram showing the anti-slip portion of the convex body, (B) A diagram showing the anti-slip portion of the tape layer. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a reference diagram showing a smiling woman wearing the ear prosthesis of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The auricular prosthesis 10 of the present invention shown in Figure 1 is characterized by a structure in which an auricular prosthesis 2 having an attachment portion 3 that allows the arc-shaped headband body 1 to be replaced is attached to both left and right ends of the arc-shaped headband body 1.

[0023] The auricle prosthesis 2 has an attachment part 3 to which the wearer can select and replace the arc-shaped headband molding 1 according to his / her preference. Specific examples of the attachment part 3 include a penetrating cylindrical body as shown in FIG. 3(A) or a non-penetrating cylindrical body as shown in FIG. 3(B), as well as a hook, a jumper hook, a spring hook, a key hook, a magnet hook, a spring hook, a button, a snap button, a hook-and-loop fastener, and the like. A fitting type attachment part 3 as shown in FIG. 3(C) is also suitable. In addition, when the attachment part 3 is a fitting type that grips the mating arc-shaped headband molding 1 as shown in FIG. 3(C), it is preferable to configure a receiving shape part to be gripped at the end of the attached arc-shaped headband molding 1. As described above, the attachment portion 3 is not particularly limited as long as it is configured with a shape and parts that function to make the arc-shaped headband molding 1 replaceable.

[0024] The attachment part 3 of the auricular prosthesis 2 in Fig. 1 is, for example, a thin and tubular shape with a depth of 2 to 4 cm so that the end of the arc-shaped headband-shaped body 1 can be inserted and fixed. By firmly inserting the end of the arc-shaped headband-shaped body 1 into the tubular hole of the attachment part 3, the arc-shaped headband-shaped body 1 can be fixed in a replaceable manner.

[0025] A repairable adhesive may be used to further firmly bond the arc-shaped headband molding 1 and the auricle prosthesis 2, but since the auricle prosthesis is molded from silicone rubber, the gripping power of the silicone rubber of the rubber elastic body is effective and the prosthesis can be firmly fixed even without using adhesive. Thus, since the auricular epithesette 2 has the attachment portion 3 to which the arcuate headband molded body 1 can be replaced, the wearer can replace it with the arcuate headband molded body 1 of a different design and appropriately use the auricular epithesette body 10 according to the TPO as desired.

[0026] The arcuate headband molded body 1 can be manufactured by using a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, a thermoplastic elastomer, a synthetic rubber, etc. and by a molding method of shaping with a known mold such as injection molding, press molding, transfer molding, etc. The shape of the arcuate headband molded body 1 is preferably an arcuate shape that fits the wearer's head. Also, since it is similar to a member that contacts the head such as headphones, a headset, or a VR headset, or a hairband or a hairpin, in some cases, these members or commercially available products can also be diverted.

[0027] The arcuate headband molded body 1 can also be made of a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum. Also, if a shape memory alloy such as a nickel-titanium alloy or an iron-manganese-silicon-based alloy is used, when it reaches a predetermined temperature, it restores its original shape by elasticity, so it is soft against the skin to be worn, and when the auricular epithesette body 10 is worn, it has the property of maintaining a predetermined shape at body temperature.

[0028] If the core part is a metal as described above and the covering part is configured to cover the core part with a resin, an elastomer, or a cloth, fabric, leather, etc., an auricular epithesette body applicable to wearers with metal allergies can be provided. Also, the designability can be enhanced by embroidering or sewing a preferred pattern, character, etc. on the fabric of the covering part, and the auricular epithesette body 10 can be used with an accessory feel.

[0029] The auricular prosthesis 2 attached to at least one of the left and right ends of the arc-shaped headband molding 1 can be made by molding, press molding, injection molding, etc. using silicone rubber, which is usually used for prostheses, as a raw material. If the wearer uses a hearing aid, the auricular prosthesis 2 is designed and made in a shape that covers the hearing aid. In addition, if there is no defect in one of the left and right auricles and only a defect in the other auricle, the auricular prosthesis 2 can be made by molding, 3D printer, etc., by referring to the three-dimensional shape of the auricle without the defect.

[0030] Silicone rubber, which is used as the material for the auricular prosthesis 2, is heat resistant, has excellent durability and chemical stability, and is safe for the human body, making it suitable for use in medical and other applications. In addition, since peroxide crosslinking silicone rubber leaves decomposition residues after the curing reaction that can have adverse effects on the skin as impurities or cause unpleasant odors, it is possible to use addition reaction type silicone rubber that uses a platinum compound catalyst and is less likely to leave behind decomposition products, condensation type silicone rubber that can be cured at room temperature, or ultraviolet curing type silicone rubber.

[0031] As polymeric materials other than silicone rubber, auricular prostheses can also be fabricated using known thermoplastic elastomers including curable urethane rubber, styrene-based block copolymers as described in Patent Document 1, olefin-based polymers, polyester-based elastomers, polyurethane-based elastomers, and polyamide-based elastomers.

[0032] By providing the non-slip portion 4 on the portion of the circular headband molding 1 that contacts the wearer's head, the auricle prosthesis 10 can be made more comfortable to wear and prevent displacement. The non-slip portion 4 is not particularly limited, but can be made of a convex body, a concave body, a foam body, a tape layer, a coating layer, an embossed structure, a grooved body, or the like. For example, when molding the circular headband molding 1, the convex body, the embossed structure, the concave body, or the grooved body can be made to have a reverse pattern at the necessary portion of the molding die. The non-slip portion 4 can also be made by applying a paint with a high friction coefficient to form a coating layer, or by laminating a foam or tape layer with a high friction coefficient. EXAMPLES

[0033] Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and many modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the technical concept of the present invention. EXAMPLES

[0034] The auricular prosthesis body 10 of Example 1 will be described. The auricular prosthesis body 10 shown in Fig. 1 has a cylindrical attachment portion 3 with a space for inserting and fixing the left and right ends of an arc-shaped headband molded body 1 on an auricular prosthesis 2. First, the left and right auricular prostheses 2 having the attachment portion 3 were molded by a mold-making method using silicone rubber. The attachment portion 3 of the auricular prosthesis 2 is composed of a cylindrical portion with a long and narrow hole 30 mm deep into which the end of the arc-shaped headband molded body 1 described below can be inserted and fixed.

[0035] Using polypropylene (manufactured by Prime Polymer Co., Ltd.) as the thermoplastic resin, an arc-shaped headband molding 1 with a width of 6 mm, a thickness of 2 mm, and a total length of 340 mm when stretched was molded by injection molding. The left and right ends of this arc-shaped headband molding 1, approximately 30 mm in length, were firmly inserted into the mounting parts 3 consisting of the tubular parts of the left and right auricle prostheses 2 that had been previously prepared, respectively, to produce the auricle prosthesis 10. EXAMPLES

[0036] The auricular prosthesis body 10 of Example 2 will be described. As in Fig. 1, the auricular prosthesis 2 of the auricular prosthesis body 10 shown in Fig. 2 has attachment parts 3 into which the left and right ends of the arc-shaped headband molding 1 are inserted and fixed. First, the left and right auricular prostheses 2 having the attachment parts 3 were molded using silicone rubber by a mold-making method. The attachment parts 3 of the auricular prosthesis 2 are formed as tubular parts with elongated holes 30 mm deep into which the ends (approximately 30 mm long) of the arc-shaped headband molding 1 described below can be inserted and fixed.

[0037] Using polypropylene (manufactured by Prime Polymer Co., Ltd.) as a thermoplastic resin, an arc-shaped headband molded body 1 having a width of 6 mm, a thickness of 2 mm, a total length of 340 mm when stretched, and an anti-slip portion 4 was molded by injection molding. The left and right ends of the arc-shaped headband molded body 1, each about 30 mm, were firmly inserted into the mounting portions 3 consisting of the tubular portions of the left and right two auricle prostheses 2 previously prepared, respectively, to prepare the auricle prosthesis body 10. Note that in Example 2, unlike Example 1, the arc-shaped headband molded body 1 has an anti-slip portion 4 consisting of a number of convex bodies with a height of 0.5 mm at the portion that contacts the wearer's head, as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, when worn on the head, there is little positional deviation, and the wearability is good. EXAMPLES

[0038] The auricular prosthesis 10 of Example 3 will be described. The auricular prosthesis 10 of Example 3 has an attachment portion 3 (see FIG. 3(B)) consisting of a stainless steel jumper hook that fixes the end of the arc-shaped headband molded body 1 to the auricular prosthesis 2. First, the auricular prosthesis 2 is molded by a mold-making method using silicone rubber, and two male stainless steel jumper hooks with a diameter of 6 mm that can fix the end of the arc-shaped headband molded body 1 are attached to this auricular prosthesis 2 as the attachment portion 3.

[0039] Using polypropylene (manufactured by Prime Polymer Co., Ltd.) as a thermoplastic resin, an arc-shaped headband molding 1 (not shown) having a width of 6 mm, a thickness of 2 mm, a total length of 340 mm when stretched, and a non-slip portion 4 consisting of multiple convex bodies with a height of 0.5 mm, similar to that of Example 2, was molded by injection molding. Furthermore, at both ends of the molded arc-shaped headband molding 1, as shown in FIG. 3(B), female stainless steel jumper hooks that engage with the male stainless steel jumper hooks of the above-mentioned auricular prosthesis 2 are arranged at corresponding positions of the arc-shaped headband molding 1. Therefore, it is possible to replace the arc-shaped headband molding 1 with another arc-shaped headband molding 1 having similar jumper hooks arranged thereon. EXAMPLES

[0040] The auricle prosthesis body 10 of Example 4 will be described. The auricle prosthesis body 10 of Example 4 uses an auricle prosthesis 2 having an attachment part 3 made of a tubular part with an elongated hole similar to that of Example 1. As in Example 1, polypropylene (manufactured by Prime Polymer Co., Ltd.) is used as a thermoplastic resin, and an arc-shaped headband precursor having a width of 25 mm, a thickness of 2 mm, and a total length of 340 mm when stretched is molded by injection molding. Then, an arc-shaped headband molded body 1 was produced by bonding an anti-slip part 4 (see FIG. 3(C)) made of a polyurethane tape layer having an embossed surface and a width of 24 mm, a thickness of 1 mm, and a length of 160 mm to the inside of the arc-shaped headband precursor. In Example 4, the part of the arc-shaped headband molded body 1 that comes into contact with the wearer's head is provided with an anti-slip part 4 made of a polyurethane tape layer, so that when the head is worn, there is little misalignment and the wearability is good. EXAMPLES

[0041] The auricular prosthesis body 10 of Example 5 will be described. As with Example 4, the auricular prosthesis body 10 of Example 5 used an auricular prosthesis 2 having an attachment part 3 made of a long and thin tube. In addition, polypropylene (manufactured by Prime Polymer Co., Ltd.) was used as the thermoplastic resin, and an arc-shaped headband precursor with a maximum width of 25 mm, a thickness of 2 mm, and a total length of 340 mm when stretched was molded by injection molding. Next, a slip-prevention part 4 (see FIG. 3(C)) made of polyester fabric with a fine embroidery pattern (not shown) was wrapped around and adhered to the arc-shaped headband precursor to produce an arc-shaped headband body 1 (not shown). The left and right ends of the arc-shaped headband body 1, each having a width of 6 mm and a length of about 30 mm, were firmly inserted into the mounting parts 3 consisting of the tubular parts of the left and right auricle prostheses 2 that had been previously produced, to produce an auricle prosthesis body 10. FIG. 5 shows a fashionable woman wearing the auricle prosthesis body 10 of Example 5. [Industrial Applicability]

[0042] The ear prosthesis of the present invention is characterized by a structure in which an ear prosthesis having a replaceable attachment part for the ear prosthesis is attached to at least one end of an arc-shaped headband molding. Therefore, an ear prosthesis can be obtained by selecting a preferred arc-shaped headband molding according to the TPO, and therefore it can be used suitably by many wearers. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Arc-shaped headband molding 2. Auricular prosthesis 3 Mounting part 4 Anti-slip part 10 Auricular prosthesis body

Claims

1. The auricle prosthesis body is characterized by a structure in which an auricle prosthesis having a mounting portion capable of replacing the auricle headband body is attached to at least one end of the auricle headband body.

2. 2. The ear prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-slip portion on a portion of the arc-shaped headband molded body that comes into contact with the wearer's head.

3. 3. The ear prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the anti-slip portion is formed of at least one of a convex body, a concave body, a foam body, a tape layer, and a coating layer.

4. The ear prosthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the arc-shaped headband molding is composed of a core portion that can be freely deformed to fit the shape of the wearer's head, and a covering portion that covers the core portion.

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