US 2016/0241967 A1 · METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TESTING A MOULD SHAPE QUALITY OF A USER-CUSTOMIZED EAR MOULD

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a method for determining a mould shape quality (Q) of an ear mould (2) customized to an ear canal (31) of a user by means of a mould testing system (100). The mould testing system (100) comprises an acoustic generator (3) and a microphone (4) arranged in a test housing (1) with an open end (1c) that is connectable to an inner passage (2c) of the custom ear mould (2). The method comprises inserting the ear mould (2) into the ear canal (31); connecting the test housing (1) to the ear mould (2); generating an acoustic signal (Sg) into the ear canal (31) via the inner passage (2c); measuring the acoustic signal (Sr) from the ear canal (31); comparing the measured signal (Sm) with a reference signal (Se); and providing a feedback signal (Sf) based on the said comparison. The feedback signal (Sf) is a measure for the mould shape quality (Q) of the custom ear mould (2).

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for testing a mould shape quality of an ear mould customized to an ear canal of a user by means of a mould testing system, wherein

the customized ear mould comprises an outer contour moulded to conform with the ear canal;
and an inner passage through the customized ear mould that is in use directed into the ear canal to be in acoustic communication therewith;
and
the mould testing system comprises an acoustic generator and a microphone arranged in a test housing with an open end that is connectable to the inner passage of the ear mould;
wherein the test housing is configured to form a closed volume with the ear canal, wherein the closed volume comprises the acoustic generator and the microphone;
and wherein the method comprises:
inserting the ear mould into the ear canal;
connecting the test housing with the open end to the inner passage of the ear mould;
using the acoustic generator for generating an acoustic signal into the ear canal via the inner passage;
using the microphone for measuring an acoustic signal from the ear canal;
comparing the measured signal with a reference signal;
and
providing a feedback signal based on the said comparison wherein the feedback signal is a measure for the mould shape quality of the customized ear mould.

10 more elements

A mould testing system for determining a mould shape quality of an ear mould customized to an ear canal of a user, wherein the ear mould comprises an outer contour moulded to conform with the ear canal;

and an inner passage through the ear mould that is in use directed into the ear canal to be in acoustic communication therewith;
and
the mould testing system comprises an acoustic generator and a microphone arranged in a test housing with an open end that is connectable to the inner passage of the ear mould;
wherein the test housing is configured to form a closed volume with the ear canal, wherein the closed volume comprises the acoustic generator and the microphone;
the mould testing system further comprising
a signal generator arranged for providing a driving signal to the acoustic generator for generating an acoustic signal;
a signal receiver arranged for receiving a measured signal from the microphone based on a registered signal by the microphone;
and
a feedback circuit arranged for comparing the measured signal with a reference signal and providing a feedback signal based on the said comparison wherein the feedback signal is a measure for the mould shape quality of the ear mould.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for testing a mould shape quality of a user-customized ear mould

Life of this patent

Method and system for testing a mould shape quality of a user-customized ear mould

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19