US 12,302,056 B2
Vibroacoustic earbud
Anna Barnacka, Cambridge, MA (US); Martin D Ring, Ashland, MA (US); and John V Cunsolo, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by Anna Barnacka, Cambridge, MA (US); Martin D Ring, Ashland, MA (US); and John V Cunsolo, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on May 2, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/653,704.
Application 18/653,704 is a continuation of application No. 17/843,926, filed on Jun. 17, 2022, granted, now 12,003,914.
Prior Publication US 2024/0292142 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04R 1/10 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 1/1041 (2013.01) [A61B 8/12 (2013.01); H04R 1/1016 (2013.01); H04R 1/1075 (2013.01); H04R 2460/11 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vibroacoustic apparatus, comprising:
a housing having an interior and a nozzle configured to be positioned within an ear canal of an individual during use, the nozzle forming a nozzle opening configured to receive infrasonic and non-infrasonic signals, the nozzle configured to form a seal around the nozzle with the ear canal during use that allows acoustic pressure to increase in the ear canal, the housing defining a front acoustic volume and a rear acoustic volume;
an infrasonic/vibration sensor within the nozzle configured to detect biosignals including infrasonic biosignals from the body of the individual in the ear canal; and
a plurality of additional openings through the housing that together provide a fluid pathway from the rear acoustic volume to the front acoustic volume and into the ear canal via the nozzle opening, the fluid pathway being configured to form an acoustic leak that contributes to the acoustic pressure within the ear canal during use, the fluid pathway configured to control the ear canal acoustic pressure to at least in part offset a leak in the seal to enhance a fidelity of the infrasonic biosignals.