# US 9,039,639 B2 · External ear canal pressure regulation system

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- Number: US 9,039,639 B2
- Document ID: US9039639B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/316,668
- Filed: 2014-06-26
- Published: 2015-01-01
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-28
- Assignees: GBS Ventures LLC
- Applicants: GBS Ventures LLC
- Inventors: David George; George Buckler; David Brice Sullivan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039639B2

## CPC

- A61F 11/12: External mounting means
- A61F 11/00: Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense (implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00); Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand (headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16)
- A61H 9/0007: {Pulsating}
- A61H 9/0071: {by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets}
- A61H 21/00: Massage devices for cavities of the body {, e.g. nose, ears and anus (for the genitals A61H19/00); Vibration or percussion related aspects A61H23/00}
- A61H 23/02: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 23/04: with hydraulic or pneumatic drive {(hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00)}
- A61M 13/003: {Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing}
- H04R 1/42: Combinations of transducers with fluid-pressure or other non-electrical amplifying means
- A61F 2250/0069: Sealing means
- A61H 2201/0153: hand-held
- A61H 2201/1207: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors
- A61H 2205/027: Ears
- A61M 2205/3344: Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
- A61M 2205/362: by gas flow
- A61M 2210/0662: Ears
- 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)
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- 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)

## Abstract

An external ear canal pressure regulation device including a fluid flow generator and an earpiece having a first axial earpiece conduit fluidicly coupled to the fluid flow generator, whereby the earpiece has a compliant earpiece external surface configured to sealably engage an external ear canal as a barrier between an external ear canal pressure and an ambient pressure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An external ear canal pressure regulation device, comprising:
a first fluid flow generator capable of generating a first fluid flow;
a first earpiece having a first axial earpiece conduit which communicates between a first earpiece first and second ends earpiece second ends, said first axial earpiece conduit fluidicly coupled to said first fluid flow generator, said first earpiece having a first compliant earpiece external surface configured to sealably engage a first external ear canal of a first ear as a first barrier between a first external ear canal pressure and an ambient pressure;
said first fluid flow generator capable of generating a first pressure differential between said first external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure, said first pressure differential having a first pressure differential amplitude and a first pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency;
a first pressure sensor which generates a first pressure sensor signal which varies based upon change in said first pressure differential; and
a first pressure sensor signal analyzer comprising:
a first pressure differential amplitude comparator which compares a first pre-selected pressure differential amplitude to said first pressure differential amplitude, said first pressure sensor signal analyzer generating a first pressure differential amplitude compensation signal to which a first fluid flow generator controller is responsive to control said first fluid flow generator to achieve said first pre-selected pressure differential amplitude; and
a first pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency comparator which compares a first pre-selected pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency to said first pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency, said first pressure sensor signal analyzer generating a first pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency compensation signal to which said first fluid flow generator controller is responsive to control said first fluid flow generator to achieve said first pre-selected pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said first pressure differential amplitude is in a range of between 0 kilopascals to about 50 kilopascals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein said first pre-selected pressure differential amplitude is in said range of between 0 kilopascals to about 50 kilopascals.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3, further comprising:
a first pressure differential amplitude selection element; and
a first fluid flow generator controller responsive to operation of said first pressure differential amplitude selection element to regulate operation of said first fluid flow generator to achieve said first pre-selected pressure differential amplitude.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said first pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency is in a range of between 0 Hertz to about 10 Hertz.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein said first pre-selected pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency is in said range of between 0 Hertz to about 10 Hertz.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, further comprising a first pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency selection element, said first fluid flow generator controller responsive to operation of said first pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency selection element to regulate operation of said first fluid flow generator to achieve said first pre-selected pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, further comprising a first pressure relief valve fluidicly coupled to said first axial earpiece conduit which relieves said first pressure differential in excess of a first pre-determined pressure differential having a first pre-determined pressure differential amplitude of between 0 kilopascals to about 50 kilopascals.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a first fluid flow temperature regulator fluidicly coupled to said first fluid flow, said first fluid flow temperature regulator operable to regulate a first fluid flow temperature of said first fluid flow.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a second earpiece having a second axial earpiece conduit which communicates between a second earpiece first end and a second earpiece second end, said second axial earpiece conduit fluidicly coupled to said first fluid flow generator, said second earpiece having a second compliant earpiece external surface configured to sealably engage a second external ear canal of a second ear as a second barrier between a second external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, said first fluid flow generator capable of generating a second pressure differential between said second external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure, said second pressure differential having a second pressure differential amplitude, said second pressure differential similar to said first pressure differential, said second pressure differential amplitude similar to said first pressure differential amplitude.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, said first fluid flow generator capable of generating a second pressure differential amplitude oscillation having a second pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency, said second pressure differential amplitude oscillation similar to said first pressure differential amplitude oscillation, said second pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency similar to said first pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a second fluid flow generator capable of generating a second fluid flow; and
a second earpiece having a second axial earpiece conduit which communicates between second earpiece first and second ends, said second axial earpiece conduit fluidicly coupled to said second fluid flow generator, said second earpiece having a second compliant earpiece external surface configured to sealably engage a second external ear canal of a second ear as a second barrier between a second external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure;
said second fluid flow generator capable of generating a second pressure differential between said second external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure, said second pressure differential having a second pressure differential amplitude and a second pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency;
a second pressure sensor which generates a second pressure sensor signal which varies based upon change in said second pressure differential; and
a second pressure sensor signal analyzer comprising:
a second pressure differential amplitude comparator which compares a second pre-selected pressure differential amplitude to said second pressure differential amplitude, said second pressure sensor signal analyzer generating a second pressure differential amplitude compensation signal to which a second fluid flow generator controller is responsive to control said second fluid flow generator to achieve said second pre-selected pressure differential amplitude; and
a second pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency comparator which compares a second pre-selected pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency to said second pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency, said second pressure sensor signal analyzer generating a second pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency compensation signal to which said second fluid flow generator controller is responsive to control said second fluid flow generator to achieve said second pre-selected pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, wherein said second pressure differential amplitude is in a range of between 0 kilopascals to about 50 kilopascals.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, wherein said second pre-selected pressure differential amplitude is in said range of between 0 kilopascals to about 50 kilopascals.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The device of claim 15, further comprising:
a second pressure differential amplitude selection element; and
a second fluid flow generator controller responsive to operation of said second pressure differential amplitude selection element to regulate operation of said second fluid flow generator to achieve said second pre-selected pressure differential amplitude.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The device of claim 15, wherein said second pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency is in a range of between 0 Hertz to about 10 Hertz.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein said second pre-selected pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency is in said range of between 0 Hertz to about 10 Hertz.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18, further comprising a second pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency selection element, said second fluid flow generator controller responsive to operation of said second pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency selection element to regulate operation of said second fluid flow generator to achieve said second pre-selected pressure differential amplitude oscillation frequency.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18, further comprising a second pressure relief valve fluidicly coupled to said second axial earpiece conduit which relieves said second pressure differential in excess of a second pre-determined pressure differential having a second pre-determined pressure differential amplitude of between 0 kilopascals to about 50 kilopascals.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, further comprising a second fluid flow temperature regulator fluidicly coupled to said second fluid flow, said second fluid flow temperature regulator operable to regulate a second fluid flow temperature of said second fluid flow.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, wherein each of said first and second fluid flow generators comprises a corresponding first and second pair of fluid flow generators correspondingly fluidicly coupled to said first and second axial earpiece conduits, each of said first and second pair of fluid flow generators including one positive pressure fluid flow generator which correspondingly generates a first or second fluid flow which egresses from said corresponding first or second axial earpiece conduit and one negative pressure fluid flow generator which correspondingly generates a first or second fluid flow which ingresses to said corresponding first or second axial earpiece conduit.