Back to results
US 6,048,305 AGranted
Apparatus and method for an open ear auditory pathway stimulator to manage tinnitus and hyperacusis
AssigneeNatan Bauman
InventorsNatan Bauman, Roger P. Juneau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An open-in-the-ear auditory pathway stimulator device includes a noise generator in the device for generating noise and controls in the device for adjusting the volume of the noise. The device is preferably open ear. The device is preferably programmable. The device can also include a hearing aid for amplifying ambient sounds.
Claims14
A tinnitus habituator for managing tinnitus and hyperacusis, said habituator comprising:
- a device which fits into a user's ear canal;
- said device including a shell and a single noise generator within said shell for generating sounds to be transmitted to the tympanic membrane for treating said tinnitus and hyperacusis;
- and
- said device being positioned within said ear canal so as to allow at least a portion of said ear canal to remain open and thus allow ambient sounds to pass through to the tympanic membrane.
1 more element
A tinnitus habituator for managing tinnitus and hyperacusis, said habituator comprising:
- a device which fits into the ear canal;
- said device including a shell and a single noise generator within said shell for generating a broad-band, low-level signal for stimulating auditory pathways to treat said tinnitus and hyperacusis;
- an amplifier and receiver within said shell, said amplifier being connected to said noise generator and said receiver being connected to said amplifier;
- an acoustic horn formed within said shell for directing generated noise to a user's tympanic membrane;
- volume control means for adjusting the level of transmitted noise, said volume control means having a taper for allowing discrete adjustment of low level sounds while maintaining a stable signal output;
- and
- said device being positioned within said ear so as to allow at least a portion of said ear canal to remain open and thus allow ambient sounds to pass through to the tympanic membrane.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.