Acoustic measurement tip

An acoustic measurement apparatus comprising:

• a tip including a sealing surface configured to substantially conform said tip to an auditory canal of the ear, said sealing surface including a plurality of openings, said tip further comprising an acoustic tube acoustically coupled to at least one of said plurality of openings defining a first acoustic path, said acoustic tube being disposed within said tip, said tip also including a second acoustic path acoustically coupled to at least another one of said plurality of openings in said sealing surface,
• wherein a selected one of said first acoustic path and said second acoustic path is configured as a path for acoustic transmission, and another one of said first acoustic path and said second acoustic path is configured as a path for acoustic detection, and said acoustic tube of said first acoustic path is configured to substantially acoustically isolate said first acoustic path from said second acoustic path;
• an acoustic measuring device, said acoustic measuring device comprising:
• a front end which receives said tip, said front end including at least two acoustic paths configured to acoustically couple to said first acoustic path and said second acoustic path of said tip,
• wherein said tip remains substantially free of Helmholtz resonance over a range of slidable mechanical engagement, and
• wherein a center of said acoustic tube is mechanically suspended substantially coaxially on a longitudinal axis of said tip;
• an acoustic transmitter acoustically coupled via said path for acoustic transmission;
• an acoustic detector coupled via said path for acoustic detection;
• and
• an electronics package electrically coupled to said acoustic transmitter, said electronics package also electrically coupled to said acoustic detector, said electronics package including at least one microcomputer, said at least one microcomputer configured to run an algorithm for performing an acoustic measurement.

A method of affixing a tip for the acoustic measurement of an ear to a front end of an acoustic measurement instrument comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an acoustic tip configured to make a seal with an auditory canal of the ear, said sealing surface including a plurality of openings, and defining at least a first and a second acoustic path, said first acoustic path of said tip including an acoustic tube substantially extending substantially to said sealing surface;
• (b) providing an acoustic instrument front end configured to mate to said tip,
• wherein said tip remains substantially free of Helmholtz resonance over a range of slidable mechanical engagement, and
• wherein a center of said acoustic tube is mechanically suspended substantially coaxially on a longitudinal axis of said tip;
• and
• (c) sliding said tip onto said front end to sealingly engage both said acoustic tube of said at least a first acoustic path and said second acoustic path of said tip with at least a first and a second acoustic path of said front end.