3m Innovative Properties Company

Sonomax Hearing Healthcare Inc.

Centre De Recherche Industrielle Du Quebec

Frederic Laville

Jeremie Voix

Marc Thomas

Francois Lafleur

A method and apparatus for objectively assessing acoustical performance of an in-ear device having a passageway extending there through use a dual microphone probe that removably engages the passageway. The acoustical performance of the in-ear device is performed with the in-ear device inserted into the ear canal of the user and a reference sound source. A clip holding the probe in an acoustic near field of the sound source permits real time calibration thereof. The method and apparatus allow on-site and in-situ measurement of a predicted personal attenuation rating of the device, a subject-fit re-insertion test, an acoustic seal test, a rating test, a stability and reliability test, as well as a protection test of the device with an assessment of a filtered predicted exposure level at the ear for a specific noise exposure level. The apparatus may be simply housed along with the sound source for in-field evaluation tests.

Method and apparatus for objective assessment of in-ear device acoustical performance

The present invention provides an apparatus for determining in situ the acoustic seal provided by an in-ear device of a hearing protection/aid nature inserted into the ear canal of an individual. The in-ear device having a sound bore with an environment opening and an ear opening outside and inside the ear canal respectively, the environment opening is adapted to be removably engaged by a remote device such as a sound measurement device, a filter device, an amplifier device, a plug device and the like. The apparatus includes a sound measurement device having a probe microphone and a reference microphone isolated from each other and connected to a data processing unit having a control box and a speaker, both connected to a computer unit. Both microphones are adapted for measuring sound pressure levels inside said ear canal and outside in close proximity of said in-ear device respectively, the sound pressure levels corresponding to a known noise signal created by the speaker. The data processing unit being adapted for recording and processing the sound pressure levels read by both microphones corresponding to said known noise signal to provide a corresponding calculated value of a sound pressure level difference provided by the in-ear device. Used in conjunction with an expandable in-ear device, the apparatus monitors the acoustic seal in real time during the occlusion process of the in-ear device and determines when to stop the process. The present invention also refers to a corresponding method for determining in situ the acoustic seal provided by an in-ear device.

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Montreal, Canada

Frederic Laville