CA2333291A1

CA2333291A1 - Cushion for use within the framework of therapeutic measures, especially to treat ear disorders

Info

Publication number: CA2333291A1
Application number: CA002333291A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Manfred Hollmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: HOREN und SPUREN GmbH
Priority date: 1998-05-12
Filing date: 1999-03-17
Publication date: 1999-11-18
Also published as: WO1999058088A1; DE29808521U1; EP1077661A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cushion which is used within the framewor k of therapeutic measures to treat disorders with a view to restoring health, alleviating discomfort and to preventing relapses, especially with regard to the treatment of ear disorders, whereby the cushion consists of a deformable body (2) in which at least one electroacoustic transducer (3) can be placed.

Description

AMENDED APPLICATION
CUSHION FOR USE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK
OF THERAPEUTIC MEASURES, ESPECIALLY
TO TREAT EAR DISORDERS
The present invention concerns a pillow for application within the framework of therapeutic measures for the treatment of disorders, targeting the recovery of good health, the mitigation of sickness discomforts, the prevention of relapses, and especially the treatment of ear-disorders.
The pillow available up to this time for the application in the framework of therapeutic measures, serve for the treatment and for the prevention of shape and position error in human support and movement apparatuses. Thus, support providing pillows are known for the treatment of joint related illnesses, damage to intervertebral disks, posture troubles and damage, sprains and twistings, as well as illnesses ascribable to accident results, such as slipping trauma, and the like.
These are often described as "neck-pillows".
These serve, as already described, principally for the support of the human body, that is, the extremities, the back bone, the thoracic rib cage, the pelvis and the like.
For the treatment of ear disorders, for instance, tinnitis auriform, subj ectively discerned ear noise, which constitute most symptoms of ear disorders, are taken care of by a multitude of supposedly effective medical therapies, including the so-called "music therapy" wherein the patient, in accord with the disturbance in hearing is subjected to various musical pieces and sound frequencies.
This is done by hearing and having the said musical treatments directed at the ear. In doing this, for the most part, head phones are ennployed.
The use of head phones brings with it substantial disadvantages. Thus, for example, the carrying of the head phones is, by numerous users, considered very uncomfortable, tedious and disturbing.
In the case of tinnitus patients, the sufferings which are connected with the disorder are generally very great, since the daily exposure t.o ambient noise, overlaid with ear generated noises, even in peaceful surroundings, is especially intensively aurally perceived.
Consequently, the patients have extreme sleep disturbances. To overlay of noise attributable to the illness of the ear, the patients are required to be subjected to musically therapeutic signals during the night which is conveyed to them by means of head sets. This is earned out, at least to allow them to go to sleep.
However, the faulty wearing discomfort of head sets, especially when sleeping, practically S excludes this treatment from use. Further, the head sets can be brushed off on going to sleep and during sleep, due to the head movement, so that the therapeutic measure for the ear noises by blanketing with external sound, all comes to nothing.
Also, subj ecting the sleeping space of a patient to sound by means of conventional loudspeakers is hardly to be recommended. Becau;>e of the movements in sleep, the patient covers at least one ear while sleeping, at least partially with the usual pillow, so that the therapeutic music signals cannot be fully active. Moreover, the permanent assault with sound of the sleeping room is very disturbing for persons living in the s;~me house, for neighbors and the like.
From the present state of the technology, head pillows are known in which loudspeakers are bundled, which for c;ntertainment and relaxation are connected to a source of music or the acoustic output of a 'TV-apparatus. Such pillows are disclosed in:
US-5,1.23,133 US-5,1. 79,747 US-4,8f>2,438 US-5,_S 13678 EP-,~-0-249 428.
The pillows in accord with US-5,12>,133 are shaped orthopedically, but have no covers.
Thus, the object of the invention is to make available a pillow for application within the framework of therapeutic measures, especially for the treatment of ear disorders, which offers to the patient a simultaneous suitability to respective therapeutic measures along with a great degree of comfort. Applications within the framework of therapeutic measures are to include depression illnesses, sleep disorders. neurological problems and the like.
Proposed for the achievement of this purpose, is a pillow for application within the framework of therapeutic measures, especially fir the treatment of ear disorders, comprising an elastically workable body, in which at least an ei~ectro-acoustic transducer can be installed, and wherein the body is orthopedically formed and the pillow possesses a cover.
By the use of a workable body, the user will acquire, as a person would expect from a conventional pillow, a very comfortable possibility for reclining thereon, especially for the head, whereby, with the use of the said acoustic transducer, subsequently an acoustic treatment can be possibly given. Since the pillow possesses a cover, preferably a changeable cover of~ gauze or another light, loose, netlike material., for instance silk, the pillow is made to meet the needs of the individual respective user. Moreover, the cover can be, upon need, cleaned without problem.
In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pillow is plastic in the elastic or deformable sense. By means of the plastic deformability, the body of the pillow is made to assume the respective shape of the body part, for instance, the head, for an individual impression.
The elastic deformability of the pillow serves thus as a certain damping medium, particularly upon movements and the like. Advantageously the body is made from foamed material and orthopedically molded, for instance specifically as a neck roll or neck pillow or the like;.
In accord with further advantageous embodiments of the invention, the body is inflatable.
Accordingly, this cm be inflated with air or similar filling agents.
In accord with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the body is acoustically conductive. By the term acoustically conductive, in the concept of the present invention, materials and media are to be understood, which, offer only small obstruction to characteristic frequencies employed for the respectiive therapy, namely, in the human hearing range of 1. 8 to 20 KHz, as well in infra and ultrasonic ranges, that is, less than 16 Hz and above 20 KHz.

In accord with a further especially advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pillow body exhibits sound openings therein, for instance channels which have been caused to foam within the foamed material.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the body possesses a reception location S for the electro-acoustic transducer. Thereby, this device can be positioned very simply and surely in the said pillow body.
In accord with yet another especially advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electro-acoustic transducer can be variably positioned within the pillow body. Thus, the position of the electroacoustic transducer can be made to suit the individual user. For the ability for positional variety, cascade connections or the lil{e can be supplied, which make possible the positioning of the electro acoustic transducer in widely spaced places.
In accord with another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electro-acoustic transducer is connected to a loudspeaker system comprising sub-woofers and satellite speakers.
By this means, an excellently clear and high quality sound picture is produced. Advantageously, the electro-acoustic transducer can cormect to an active-loudspeaker system in which the use of additional amplifiers can be dispensed with.
In accord with yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pillow has at least a connection for a source of signals, i:or instance, in regard to current CD-, MD- and cassette players. In a further advantageous embodiment, the pillow exhibits an infrared receiver for connection with a signal source. Thereby cable connections can be omitted.
In accord with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pillow possesses at least one energy saving connection, which, for instance, can be used in connection with a active loudspeaker.
Further advantages and features of the invention will be described and explained in more detail by the following description of the embodiments shown in the drawing.

The figure shows in a schematic presentation, the invented pillow 1, which is comprised of an elastically deformable body 2, for instance of foamed material, in which an electro-acoustic transducer 3, for a loudspeaker system which in turn is comprised of a sub-woofer loudspeaker 4 and satellite loudspeakers 5. In they case of the here presented loudspeaker system, the object of concern is an active loudspeaker system, which functions by means of an amplifier 6 in pillow S 1.
In the here depicted example for energy savings the amplifier 6 is connectable to a connector 7 and thus to a network 8, which is .connected in turn to an alternate current source and the amplifier is supplied with direct current.
The active loudspeaker which functions with the electro-acoustic transducer 3 further, by means of a cable, for instance, a low frequency cable 9, can be connected to a signal source 1 l, namely, for instance, a CD-player. For this purpose, the plug-in 10 is inserted in the ear receiver output 12 of said signal source 11. By means of the loudspeaker regulator 13, the signal source 11 permits the volume of sound to be controlled. Likewise, the pillow 1 can be provided with a corresponding loudspeaker, by means of which, the output capacity of the amplifier 6 is adjustable.
The connections for the signal source and the energy saving of the pillow 1 are, for instance, encased in a plastic circuit board, which is firmly installed in body 2 of the pillow 1, for instance bonded to this by welding. Likewise, the body 2 of the pillow 1 can be, in welded fashion, united with the electro-acoustic transducer, so that manipulations on the electro-acoustic transducer are not possible.
For decoration the pillow can be supplied with a cover, for instance a changeable cover.. so that individual preferences of the respective requirements can be met.

Claims

1. A pillow for application within the framework of therapeutic measures, especially for the treatment of ear disorders, which pillow is comprised of a deformable body (2), in which at least one electro-acoustic transducer (3) is positioned, wherein the body (2) is orthopedically formed and the pillow exhibits a cover.

2. A pillow in accord with Claim 1, therein characterized in that the body (2) possesses a receptor for the electro-acoustic transducer (3).

3. A pillow in accord with Claim 1 or 2, therein characterized, in that the body (2) is elastic.

4. A pillow in accord with one of the Claims 1 to 3, therein characterized, in that the body (2) is elastically deformable.

5. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 4, therein characterized, in that the body (2) is composed of foamed material.

6. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 5, therein characterized, in that the body (2) is inflatable.

7. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 6, therein characterized, in that the body (2) is acoustically conductive.

8. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 7, therein characterized, in that the body (2) possesses channeling for the conduction of sound.

9. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 8, therein characterized, in that the electro-acoustical transducer (3) can have a variable position within the body (2).

10. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 9, therein characterized, in that the electro-acoustical transducer (3) coacts with a loudspeaker system comprised of a sub-woofer and satellite loudspeakers (4,5).

11. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 10, therein characterized, in that the electro-acoustic transducer (3) coacts with an active loudspeaker system.

12. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 11, therein characterized, in that it possesses at least one connection (10) for a source of signals (11).

13. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 12, therein characterized, in that it possesses, for connection to a source of signal (12), an infrared receiver.

14. A pillow in accord with one or more of the Claims 1 to 13, therein characterized, in that it possesses at least one energy saving connection (7).