GB2486037A

GB2486037A - Device for taking an impression of an ear

Info

Publication number: GB2486037A
Application number: GB1110527.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Weinstein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-25
Filing date: 2011-06-21
Publication date: 2012-06-06
Also published as: GB201019958D0; GB201110527D0

Abstract

A device for taking impressions of an orifice, particularly an ear canal comprises a nozzle for injecting impression taking material. The nozzle has a blocked or semi-blocked end 23 and a series of holes or slits, preferably in a side wall, through which the material may pass. A tympanic protection device 35 may be provided at the end of the nozzle and may be temporarily or permanently attached to the nozzle by an attachment piece 34. A collar 31 may be provided around the nozzle and may be flexible and mobile and may redirect the flow of impression taking material to within the outer ear. The impression may be used in the production of an individually adapted ear-piece such as a protector, an ear-phone or a hearing aid.

Description

DEVICE FOR TAKING AN IMPRESSION OF AN EAR

Background

It is important that an individually adapted insert fits well in a subject's ear. Therefore, an impression of the subject's external ear is first made. The impression is then used as a multi dimensional template' for manufacturing an individually adapted ear insert or shell/casing of an auditory device.

The following is a description of an ear impression, but the same or similar methodology will pertain to other orifice castings.

Currently an impression of the ear is usually made by first inserting a plug of foam rubber, cotton or the like into the auditory canal to protect the tympanic membrane from the ITM and damage causable during the impression taking process. The nozzle of an impression syringe, gun or similar, containing ITM is then inserted into the auditory canal and the ITM is thereafter injected gently from the tip or end of the injecting device into the auditory canal so that it fills up the cavity in the auditory canal. Having filled the cavity, the ITM then flows back out of the ear, past the tip/mouth of the nozzle. The impression taking device is retracted slowly out of the ear while ITM is still supplied. When the entire auditory duct and surrounding crevasses are filled sufficiently, the ITM is allowed to solidify, whereupon the now solidified ITM know in the art as an aural impression is removed gently from the ear together with the protecting foam / cotton plug.

It is usual during the current impression taking method that the subject feels pressure within the ear canal. This is because the ear canal is usually a closed ended orifice, approximately 32mm long in a human male adult and 28mm long in a human female adult. The intact tympanic membrane being the closure at the inward end of the canal.

A perforated tympanic membrane being the exception in which case no pressure build up would take place as potential pressure would be transferred into the middle ear and down the Eustachian tube and into the back of the throat.

ITM usually consists of two components, which chemically react when they are mixed, and solidify over a period of time.

The impression is then used as a template for manufacturing an individually adapted ear insert.

There are currently two usual methods of introducing impression material into the ear cavity. Manual syringe or Impression taking gun, for completeness, both examples are shown. Both require an oto block of soft foam or cotton to be inserted into the meatus (ear canal) prior to insertion of ITM.

An example of a manual syringe is shown in figure 1. The insert plunger 10 is removed from the syringe tube 11. A quantity of impression material is prepared according to the manufacturers instructions and inserted into the tube 12. The plunger is inserted into tube 11 and pressure (usually by thumb) is applied at position 13.

As the plunger 10 is pressed further into the tube 11, the uncured impression material is expelled from the end of the tube 12 at position 14 into the auditory canal. Once the auditory canal is filled with impression material, the impression material is guided around the conch or bowl of the ear and up into the fossa area of the ear.

An example of an impression gun is shown in figure 2. The impression gun 15 has a holder handle 16 and an operating handle 17. The impression gun 15 also comprises replaceable containers for impression material 18. It is common that the impression material consists of two components which are mixed immediately before or during the introduction into the ear. Therefore, the impression gun shown in Figure 2 has a first container 19 for a first component of an impression material as well as a second container 20 for a second component of an impression material. These two components are pressed out into the nozzle (canula) 18 of the impression gun when the operating handle 17 is moved toward the holder handle 16 and are mixed within the canula and are ejected from the nozzle 18 into a subject's ear for taking an impression of the ear. The technique for introduction of the mixed impression material into the subjects ear is similar to the example, manual syringe.

The technique for manufacturing individual ear inserts described above may also be used for manufacturing individually adapted ear plugs or individually adapted earphones using a similar material to impression material.

In both methods described above, there is however a risk of impression material penetrating past the sponge or cotton oto block intended to protect the eardrum, which risks that the eardrum is damaged when the impression material is inserted or removed from the ear. Damage to the timpani by insertion is possible by over pressure of the impression material into the subjects ear and damage on removal is possible if the impression material adheres to the timpani and on removal of the set impression, the timpani (ear drum) is removed as well. Therefore, these impressions are made by specially trained personnel being well-acquainted with the risks and well versed in the art. If the impression material cannot be removed from the ear after the impression has been made, in a worst case scenario, an operation to remove remaining impression material may have to be made.

DEVICE FOR TAKING AN IMPRESSION OF AN EAR

Summary

The present invention comprises a manufactured, modified or adapted nozzle or device or part which can be inserted and or removed from within or if external, without, any such manufactured, modified or adapted nozzle or device intended for introduction of ITM into the subject's orifice. This invention relates to the part of any device which is intended to be inserted into the subject's orifice if that be a nozzle, tube or any protrusion from a syringe or gun or any other implement used to inject by any method or means a fluid or viscous material into a subject with the intention of producing a multi dimensional impression or cast of the shape and or size of the orifice for which anatomical detailing may be needed. The present invention also covers said fixed or removable collar or ring previously described and described further below.

Throughout this application, reference will be made to auditory canal. All references and descriptions and disclosures refer to any bodily orifice, human, animal, organic, inorganic or other. -A representation of the present invention is shown in fig. 3. This is not to be taken in isolation but as one of a plurality of possibilities covered by this invention.

The tubular or conical part 21 of the inserting device, shown 22 does not have a fully formed opening for the outlet of material to be transferred into the subject's auditory canal at 23, instead, the opening or end of the impression taking device is closed or partially closed which may be a permanent or temporary closure and may also be a carrier or method of attachment for a further cover or device Fig 5 item 34. the shape, size and position of item 34 may or may not be present and may or may not be representative of that shown, but could be of any various shape, size and material, fixed, removable and or adjustable.

A quantity of holes and or slits are produced around the IMD in varying size and quantity, 24 in order to permit a reduced pressure flow of(ITM) in and around the auditory canal and to a depth within the ear canal conducive to the requirement of the application.

The object of the present invention is to significantly decrease the risk of the emergence of damage in a subject's timpani (eardrum), when an impression of the external ear is to be made, but at the same time produce an impression or mould of the subjects external ear which can be used for the manufacture of an individually adapted ear piece.

DEVICE FOR TAKING AN IMPRESSION OF AN EAR

Detailed Explanation The present invention covers the principle and practice that the impression making Fig 5, device 25 is inserted into the auditory canal 26, and pressure is applied to the ITM 27 in the direction of 28. Due to the well known and proven fact that material flow will take the route of least resistance and because in this example but not exclusively, the end of the lTD 28 is blocked, ITM will flow out of the various holes and or slits 29 near or at the end of the lTD 25. Flow of ITM will be directed outward towards the ear canal wall, dependent on the direction of the drilling, cutting or moulding of the holes slits etc. Some flow may move down the ear canal 26 in the direction 33 towards the ear drum until the pressure in the closed cavity of the canal 26 exceeds that of the flow pressure. The majority of the flow of ITM will outwards as approximately depicted at 30.

The second part of this present invention and included within, is a fixed or removable collar, 31 which fits over the impression material applicator 25 in such a fashion as to redirect excess impression material 30 excreted from the filled void of the ear canal back towards the general direction of injection 30. This reflected flow will assist in filling the various crevices of the ear. Depending on the shape and or style and material from which the collar is produced. The resultant shape and size or combination of either may or may not be flat, encased within raised sides or permitted to spill over in a plurality of quantity.

The third part of this present invention relates to the inclusion if required of a retention or adaption piece (Fig 4,34) which may be moulded, attached and permanent or temporary and may be of any suitable material and construction. The primary but not exclusive purpose for the attachment of the additional protection.

device (35, which may be again a temporary or permanent fixture and manufactured from a suitable compound or material and may be a plurality of shape and size.

Iltilisation of this invention and its several parts may assist to protect the timpani being damaged when the impression material is inserted by reducing the flow pressure of the impression material into the ear canal and also by redirecting the main flow of the impression material away from the ear drum, and thereby makes the impression process considerably easier and safer for use by less skilled in the art operatives.

This is accomplished by means of the device according to the invention.

DEVICE FOR TAKING AN IMPRESSION OF AN EAR

Drawings: Fig 1 Example of a manually operated existing impression taking device Fig 2 Example of a gun type operated existing impression taking device Fig 3 This invention with component parts Fig 4 Close up of the tip of this invention Fig 5 Visual explanation of this invention in use in an ear

Claims

DEVICE FOR TAKING AN IMPRESSION OF AN EARCLAIMS1. Device for taking impressions of, in this case, a subject's ear (Fig 3, 22), comprising a nozzle which may or may not be manufactured or adapted, essentially having a blocked or semi blocked end (23) and a series of holes/slits (24) cut, drilled, machined or otherwise provided for.
2. Device according to claim 1,wherein said cuts, slits holes etc (24) are arranged in the side wall of (22), impression taking device.
3. Device according to any one of claim 1 or 2, wherein said first end (23) is closed or semi closed which may be permanent or temporary.
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a collar, sleeve etc (Fig 3, 31) may be used to improve the achievement of said impression.
5. Device may have as part of its adaptation or manufacture an additional attachment device (35) for retaining a further tympanic protecting device (35).
6. Device according to claim 5, whereby the additional protecting device (35) when attached to (34) further protects the tympanic membrane and aids in the redirection of flow of ITM
7. Device according to claim 4 wherein said collar Fig 3, 31 may be flexible or inflexible flat or shaped, fixed or mobile.
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said nozzle (Fig 3, 22) comprises a plurality of openings (24) sewing as outlets for the ITM.
9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, whereby impression taking material is permitted primarily to be ejected from (Fig4, 27) into the ear canal (30) from holes/cuts/slits (Fig3,24) and whose primary direction of flow is away from the tympanic membrane as at (32), wherein collar (31) restricts the flow of impression taking material and redirects the flow of impression taking material to within the outer ear (shown Fig 4) thereby completing the aural impression.
10. Method for taking an impression of a subject's ear, wherein impression material is supplied to the ear by means of a modified or manufactured device according to any one of the preceding claims and is allowed to solidify in order to form in this example an aural impression, whereupon the formed and hardened impression is removed from the ear.