Earpiece with Curable Polymer Collar for Noise Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing protection devices (HPDs) compromise situation awareness, speech understanding, and comfort due to occlusion effects, improper sizing, and discomfort, while also being ineffective in noise attenuation and incompatible with communication equipment.
Innovation Solution
An earpiece using a multi-liquid microdrop deposition system to form a polymeric collar within the ear canal, providing a snug acoustical seal and optical transport of ambient sounds, allowing for effective noise protection and clear communication through in-canal bone transduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a compressible oversized earplug is inserted to provide hearing protection, then noise attenuation is improved, but comfort and situation awareness deteriorate due to occlusion effects
Solution Approach 1:
The earplug is divided into multiple functional layers: a foam layer for initial sealing, a curable polymer layer for customized fit, and a microporous layer for acoustic management. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without the trade-offs of a single monolithic design.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer material undergoes a parameter change from liquid state (for insertion) to solid state (after curing). This phase transition enables the material to adapt to the ear canal shape and provide a customized fit that balances noise attenuation with comfort and acoustic awareness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an earplug is inserted to provide hearing protection, then noise protection is improved, but speech understanding and voice pickup deteriorate due to occlusion effects
Solution Approach 1:
A microporous layer is incorporated into the earplug structure, allowing acoustic energy to pass through while maintaining the physical seal. This porosity enables speech frequencies to transmit through the earplug, preserving speech understanding and voice pickup capabilities while still providing noise protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The earplug combines multiple materials with different properties: foam for sealing, curable polymer for structural integrity and customization, and microporous material for acoustic transmission. This composite structure achieves both noise protection and speech understanding by leveraging the complementary properties of each material.
3Device complexity
If a single earplug design is used for all users, then device simplicity is improved, but fit and effectiveness deteriorate due to individual ear canal variations
Solution Approach 1:
The earplug incorporates a curable polymer that transforms from liquid to solid state after insertion. This self-curing mechanism allows the device to automatically adapt to each user's unique ear canal shape, providing a customized fit without requiring multiple sizes or manual molding, thus maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If ambient sound is blocked for hearing protection, then noise attenuation is improved, but situation awareness and sound localization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The microporous layer allows acoustic energy to pass through the earplug structure, enabling users to hear ambient sounds and maintain situation awareness while the physical seal provides noise attenuation. The porous structure selectively transmits acoustic frequencies while maintaining the protective barrier.
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 earpiece maintains user hearing functionality, provides effective noise protection, and enables clear communication and situation awareness without occlusion effects, ensuring comfort and compatibility with existing communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-liquid microdrop deposition system to form a polymeric collar within the ear canal
Implementation Method 2
providing a snug acoustical seal and optical transport of ambient sounds
Implementation Method 3
clear communication through in-canal bone transduction
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes an electromagnetic radiation delivery system such as a laser of light emitting diode infrared emitter configured for delivery of electromagnetic radiation within a sealed canal such as an ear canal, a fiber optic cable configured for delivering or capturing the electromagnetic radiation within the sealed canal, and a photo detector coupled to the fiber optic cable forming a portion of a voice communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.