# US 11,310,580 B2 · Methods and devices for radio frequency (RF) mitigation proximate the ear

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- Number: US 11,310,580 B2
- Document ID: US11310580B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/518,193
- Filed: 2019-07-22
- Published: 2019-11-07
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-01
- Assignees: Staton Techiya LLC
- Applicants: Staton Techiya, LLC
- Inventors: Steven Wayne Goldstein; Gideon Duvall
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310580B2

## CPC

- H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type}
- A61F 2/18: Internal ear or nose parts, e.g. ear-drums {(implants for middle ear ventilation or drainage A61F11/202)}
- H04R 1/1058: {Manufacture or assembly}
- H04R 1/1091: {Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083}
- H04R 31/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor {(manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182)}
- H05K 9/00: Screening of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic fields (devices for absorbing radiation from an antenna H01Q17/00)
- H05K 9/009: {comprising electro-conductive fibres, e.g. metal fibres, carbon fibres, metallised textile fibres, electro-conductive mesh, woven, non-woven mat, fleece, cross-linked}
- H04R 1/023: {Screens for loudspeakers}
- H04R 1/086: {Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens}
- Y10T 29/49005: Acoustic transducer
- Y10T 29/4957: Sound device making
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Earpieces and methods of forming earpieces for radio frequency (RF) mitigation are provided. An earpiece is configured to be inserted in an ear canal. The earpiece includes an insertion element and a sealing section disposed on the insertion element and configured to conform to the ear canal. The sealing section is configured to substantially mitigate radio frequency (RF) transmission and to substantially isolate the ear canal from an ambient environment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An earpiece, comprising:
a pump; and
a sealing section configured to conform to an ear canal,
wherein the pump is configured to provide a mixture to an expandable element of the sealing section disposed on a stent of the earpiece so as to expand the expandable element and cause the sealing section to conform to the ear canal, wherein the expandable element includes:
a first layer, wherein the first layer is an elastic layer with a Shore A value between about 5 to 40; and
a barrier layer, where the barrier layer is less permeable to the mixture than the first layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The earpiece of claim 1, further comprising an insertion element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The earpiece of claim 2, wherein the sealing section is disposed on the insertion element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The earpiece of claim 1, wherein the sealing section is configured to mitigate radio transmission.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The earpiece of claim 1, wherein the sealing section is configured to isolate the ear canal from an ambient environment.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The earpiece of claim 1, further comprising an ear canal receiver configured to provide acoustic content to a sealed volume between the sealing section and a tympanic membrane.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The earpiece of claim 6, wherein the ear canal receiver is configured to generate a full range bass response time when reproducing a sound.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The earpiece of claim 1, further comprising an ear canal microphone configured to measure a sound pressure level in a sealed volume between the sealing section and a tympanic membrane.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The earpiece of claim 1, further comprising an ambient sound microphone configured to monitor a sound pressure at an entrance of the ear canal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The earpiece of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to control an ear canal microphone, an ear canal receiver, an ambient sound microphone, a control circuit, a communication circuit, the pump, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The earpiece of claim 1, wherein the sealing section includes a plurality of particles configured to interfere with a radio frequency transmission, absorb the radio frequency transmission, reflect the radio frequency transmission, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 12

A method of forming an earpiece, comprising:
attaching a sealing section to an insertion element of the earpiece; and
attaching a pump to a channel, where the channel is connected to an expandable element, wherein the pump is configured to provide a mixture to the expandable element of the sealing section disposed on a stent of the earpiece so as to expand the expandable element and cause the sealing section to conform to the ear canal, wherein the expandable element includes:
a first layer, wherein the first layer is an elastic layer with a Shore A value between about 5 to 40; and
a barrier layer, where the barrier layer is less permeable to the mixture than the first layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising forming an insertion element of the earpiece.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising forming the sealing section prior to attaching the sealing section to the insertion element.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising forming a stent of the earpiece.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising inserting an ear canal receiver, an ear canal microphone, or a combination thereof, into the stent.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising a housing of the earpiece.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising inserting an ambient sound microphone, a control circuit, a user interface, or a combination thereof, into the housing of the earpiece.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising incorporating a medium into the sealing section for a radio frequency mitigation.

### Claim 20

An earpiece, comprising:
a stent;
a housing coupled to the stent; and
a sealing section configured to conform to an ear canal,
wherein a pump is configured to provide a mixture to an expandable element of the sealing section disposed on the stent of the earpiece so as to expand the expandable element and cause the sealing section to conform to the ear canal, wherein the expandable element includes:
a first layer, wherein the first layer is an elastic layer with a Shore A value between about 5 to 40; and
a barrier layer, where the barrier layer is less permeable to the mixture than the first layer.