Granted Patent B2

US 9,629,575 · App. 14/590,459 · Granted Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

Claims (20)

1. A filter device for a hearing test probe, the filter device allowing sound and air to pass therethrough while preventing ear wax from reaching a component of the hearing test probe, the filter device comprising:

a first end configured for insertion into an ear canal;

a second end, wherein the filter device extends along a center axis in a first direction from the first end to the second end;

a first part having a first filter structure;

a second part having a second filter structure;

a first channel corresponding with the center axis;

wherein the first part and second part are coupled together, and the first filter structure and the second filter structure define a filter element with a first set of filter openings for the first channel; and

wherein the first filter structure comprises a first primary protruding member having a distal end, and wherein the second filter structure comprises a first primary opening, and wherein the first primary opening has a cross-sectional dimension that is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of the first primary protruding member, allowing the first primary protruding member to be placed at least partly inside the first primary opening to form a primary first filter opening of the first set of filter openings, the primary first filter opening having a first space formed between at least a portion of the first primary protruding member and the first primary opening.

2. The filter device according to claim 1 , wherein the first primary protruding member has a circular, oval, oblong, triangular, or rectangular cross-section.

3. The filter device according to claim 1 , wherein the first primary protruding member comprises one or more support points including a first support point, and wherein the first support point contacts a first inner sidewall of the first primary opening of the second filter structure.

4. The filter device according to claim 1 , wherein the first filter structure comprises a first secondary protruding member, wherein the second filter structure comprises a first secondary opening, and wherein the first secondary opening has a cross-sectional dimension that is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of the first secondary protruding member, allowing the first secondary protruding member to be placed at least partly inside the first secondary opening to form a secondary first filter opening of the first set of filter openings, the secondary first filter opening having a second space formed between at least a portion of the first secondary protruding member and the first secondary opening.

5. The filter device according to claim 1 , wherein the second part comprises a first coupling part for coupling the first channel to a probe channel, the first coupling part comprising a coupling ridge extending in the first direction and enclosing the first primary opening.

6. The filter device according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the first primary protruding member decreases towards the distal end of the first primary protruding member.

7. The filter device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second channel corresponding with the center axis, wherein the filter element has a second set of filter openings for the second channel.

8. The filter device according to claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises a tube part and a cavity in the tube part, wherein the tube part forms an outer wall part of one or more channels that includes the first channel, and wherein the second part comprises a channel separator extending inside the cavity along the center axis to form the first channel.

9. The filter device according to claim 7 , wherein the first filter structure comprises a second primary protruding member; and

wherein the second filter structure comprises a second primary opening; and

wherein the second primary opening has a cross-sectional dimension that is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of the second primary protruding member, allowing the second primary protruding member to be placed at least partly inside the second primary opening to form a primary second filter opening of the second set of filter openings.

10. The filter device according to claim 1 , wherein the first part and/or the second part is at least partly coated with a hydrophobic substance.

11. A hearing test probe comprising the filter device according to claim 1 .

Assignments (8)