Expandable Ear Canal Occlusion Structure for Adaptive Acoustic Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional earpieces fail to provide effective sound attenuation due to improper fitting and inadequate sealing, especially in individuals with varying ear canal dimensions and configurations, leading to increased risk of hearing damage from noise exposure.
Innovation Solution
An occlusion device with an insertion element, foldable element, and expandable element that adjusts to fit various ear canal shapes, using a medium to expand and form a seal, providing customizable sound attenuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional in-ear earpieces are fitted for a cross-section of a population, then device simplicity and ease of manufacture are improved, but sealing effectiveness and sound attenuation performance deteriorate due to variation in ear canal dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The earpiece incorporates an expandable element that transitions from a compressed state during insertion to an expanded state for sealing. This dynamic structure allows the same device to adapt to different ear canal sizes and shapes, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and sealing effectiveness across diverse user populations
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes a medium (gas or liquid) to change the physical state and volume of the expandable element. By controlling the amount of medium introduced, the earpiece can adjust its internal pressure and expansion level to match different ear canal dimensions, maintaining effective sealing without requiring custom manufacturing for each user
2Device complexity
If conventional in-ear earpieces are designed with fixed geometry, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different ear canal configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The earpiece incorporates an expandable element that transitions from a compressed state during insertion to an expanded state for sealing. This dynamic structure allows the same device to adapt to different ear canal sizes and shapes, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and sealing effectiveness across diverse user populations
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a medium (gas or liquid) to inflate or expand the expandable element to different volumes. This pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism provides a simple yet effective way to adjust the earpiece geometry to match various ear canal configurations without complex mechanical adjustments
3Reliability
If the amount of medium introduced is varied to adjust sound attenuation, then sound isolation performance is improved, but device operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The earpiece is designed so that the expandable element automatically expands or contracts in response to the amount of medium introduced, without requiring active control or complex mechanisms. This self-regulating behavior allows users to adjust sound attenuation simply by controlling medium flow, maintaining ease of operation while improving sound isolation performance
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
The device effectively reduces ambient noise levels, enhances sound isolation, and adapts to different acoustic environments, ensuring comfortable and secure fitting for a broad range of users.
Implementation Method 1
The expandable element is configured to expand, via the medium, to contact the ear canal
Implementation Method 2
The foldable element is configured to unfold, responsive to the medium, and cause the expandable element to expand to contact the ear canal
Data Source
AI summary
Occlusion devices, earpiece devices and methods of occluding an ear canal are provided. An occlusion device includes an insertion element, a foldable element and an expandable element. The foldable element is disposed on the insertion element and is configured to receive a medium via the insertion element. The expandable element is disposed over the foldable element. The foldable element is configured to unfold, responsive to the medium, and cause the expandable element to expand to contact the ear canal.