Dual Audiometric Probe Headset Resilient Headband
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audiometric probe systems face challenges in maintaining consistent placement and sealing in the ear canal, leading to variability in test results and noise immunity issues during standard and OAE testing.
Innovation Solution
A dual probe audiometric headset system with a resilient headband and probe holders that provide a secure, airtight seal, equipped with microphones, speakers, and air pressure control, allowing for binaural testing and self-monitoring of acoustic signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single probe is used with friction-based cuff holding or hand-held during testing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the probe placement consistency and sealing reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The probe holder is segmented into multiple functional components: a resilient headband providing overall support, pad arms for positioning, and pads for sealing against the head. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining consistent probe placement through the combined action of all segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient headband provides dynamic spring tension that automatically adjusts to different head sizes and shapes. This dynamic mechanism ensures consistent probe placement and sealing force without requiring manual adjustment, resolving the contradiction between simple device structure and reliable consistent placement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a probe is sealed in the concha with increased isolation, then the noise immunity is improved, but the probe placement variability increases due to different insertion forces
Solution Approach 1:
The pad is designed with a large surface area (6-10 cm²) that distributes the sealing force evenly across the concha region. This equipotential distribution of force ensures consistent probe placement regardless of variations in insertion technique, while maintaining the airtight seal necessary for noise immunity.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient headband changes the pressure parameter dynamically through spring tension, providing optimal sealing force for achieving noise immunity while maintaining consistent probe placement. The spring mechanism automatically adjusts pressure to match different head anatomies, eliminating placement variability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If probe holder pads with large surface area are used to prevent rotation, then the probe placement stability is improved, but the force distribution on the head changes
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient headband with spring tension dynamically adjusts the pressure parameter to distribute force evenly across the large pad surface area. This prevents excessive pressure at any single point while maintaining stable probe placement, resolving the contradiction between stability and force distribution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures consistent probe placement and sealing, enhancing test reliability and noise immunity for various audiometric tests, including pure tone, speech, and OAE testing, while reducing variability and improving noise isolation.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient headband provides spring tension to force the probe holder pads and the pair of probes against the head of a user to form a substantially airtight seal with the ears of a user
Implementation Method 2
The pad provides a large surface area for contact with the head of a user, such surface area ranging in size from at least 6 cm2 to about 10 cm2. The probe holder pads preventing the dual audiometric headset from rotating on the head of a user
Data Source
AI summary
A hands-free dual audiometric probe headset. In one embodiment, the headset includes a resilient headband attached to a first audiometric probe holder including a first audiometric probe attached thereto and a second audiometric probe holder including a second audiometric probe attached thereto, the headset system configured to reliably hold the audiometric probes in place in the ears of a test subject during binaural testing.