Back to results
US 6,328,564 B1Granted
Deep ear canal locating and head orienting device
OwnerRaymond C. Thurowinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device fitted to the external auditory canal for the purpose of reproducibly engaging the head for orientation and stabilization for dental or radiographic (commonly known as ‘cephalometric’) recording and for placing a radiographic marker in the canal.
Claims28
A method of making an ear canal locating device comprising:
- providing non-shrinking elastic material which is non-toxic to an ear canal and adopted to solidify at temperatures within a human ear canal;
- inserting means for defining an inner end of said device by blocking flow of said material when it is introduced into said canal;
- locating a radiopaque marker in said inner end before liquid is injected into said ear canal;
- liquefying said material;
- injecting said liquefied material into said ear canal;
- allowing said material to solidify within said ear canal to form an impression, and removing said impression after it has solidified in said ear canal.
3 more elements
An ear canal locating device comprising:
- an elastic earmold impression made of a material which is non-toxic to an ear canal and adapted to solidify at temperatures within a human ear canal having an external face comprising a socket having a flange portion and a body portion;
- said body portion having means thereon for increasing engagement of said socket with said impression.
An ear canal locating device comprising:
- an elastic earmold impression made of a material which is non-toxic to an ear canal and adapted to solidify at temperatures within a human ear canal having an external face comprising a socket having a flange portion and a body portion;
- said locating device containing a radiopaque marker;
- said locating device including blocking means for blocking penetration of said impression into said ear canal;
- said locating device including blocking removing means for removing said blocking means from said ear canal.
1 more element
An earmold comprising:
- an elastic earmold impression made of a material which is non-toxic to an ear canal and adapted to solidify at temperatures within a human ear canal having an external face having a flange portion adapted to engage an external portion of an ear;
- and a body portion adapted to extend deep within said ear canal, said body portion having an inner end;
- and said impression containing a radiopaque marker within said inner end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.