PROVIDED WITH OPTICAL FIBER

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

1. FIELD OF APPLICATION

The invention relates to earmold that is provided with an optical fiber and inserted into the ear canal. The optical fiber passes a beam of laser light from an external source directly to the middle and the inner ears, for the purpose of treating of hearing defects.

In the International Patent Classification, it is classified as Section A - Human necessities; Subsection A61 - Medical science and hygiene; Class A61F - Treatment or protection of the ears; Subclasses A61F 11/00 - Methods or devices for treatment of the ears, 11/06 - Protective devices for the ears, or 11/08 - (including) Earplugs.

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Hearing problems and diseases of particular parts of the ears in humans are caused by various causes. The most severe cases are related to middle and inner parts of the ears.

In majority of cases, defective hearing results from the inner ear damages. Aging and long exposure to noise may cause wear of the hairs on nerve cells in the cochlea that send signals to the brain. When these hairs or nerve cells get damaged or are missing, electrical signals are not being sent efficiently and defective hearing occurs. High sounds may become dull. Hearing of words may become difficult in the presence of a back noise. Therefore, ways of decreasing or eliminating of the causes bringing to defective hearing are being researched constantly. For these purposes are, besides others means, being used also laser beams.

The technical problem that is solved by this invention relates to the way how to bring a laser beam from a source external to the ear into the ear, to illuminate parts of the middle and inner ears, in order to as efficient and quick as possible to eliminate the ear disturbances such as ringing in the ears, loss of hearing, Meniere's disease, inflammations, etc.

3. STATE OF THE ART

Presently, illumination of the middle and the inner ears is performed from outside, by directing a laser light beam through the bone, or is brought to the outer end of the ear canal.

In this way, a relatively powerful laser light is passed through the bone and the surrounding tissue to reach the cochlea or the part of the inner ear that is to be treated. This creates large losses in the power of the light reaching the intended spot.

Throughout the treatment, the patient is to stay still, laying and must not move the head.

There are also used some rubber or silicone earmolds of generic type in which the laser light source is fitted and, thus, placed into the ear. Problems with such earmolds are that they misdirect the laser light because the human ear canal is S- shaped, and differs in shape and size from one individual to another.

Furthermore, such generic earmolds often fall out of the ear.

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The essence of the invention is the light-conducting earmold provided with an optical fiber.

The light-conducting earmold are produced anatomically for a particular patient, or in series as generic earmolds. The light-conducting earmold is provided with an optical fiber passing the laser light beams. The optical fiber in the light-conducting earmold is connected to a laser light source.

For the purpose of a treatment, the light-conducting earmold is inserted by its front and narrower end to near the eardrum, whereas by its rear and wider end it closes the outer end of the ear canal.

During a treatment the patient does not have to lie down and still. The laser beam passes through the optic fiber in the light-conducting earmold directly through the eardrum and to the middle and inner ears. Since the laser beam acts on parts of the middle and the inner ears, losses are reduced and laser light of lesser power is required.

The light-conducting earmold, according to this invention, enables more rational utilisation of laser light and quicker treatment of defected hearing in patients.

5. ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS

Figure 1 shows ear with a longitudinal cross section through the ear canal in which the light-conducting earmold is inserted.

Figure 2 shows anatomic earmold with no optic fiber - front view.

Figure 3 shows earmold shown in the Figure 1 - left side view.

Figure 4 shows earmold shown in the Figure 1 - right side view.

Figure 5 shows earmold - longitudinal cross section X-X shown in the Figure 1. Figure 6 shows light-conducting earmold provided with optical fiber and connection to an external laser light source - longitudinal cross section.

Figure 7 shows longitudinal cress section through the ear canal with the light- conducting earmold inserted.

Figure 8 shows auricle with the inserted light-conducting earmold provided with optical fiber - front view.

Figure 9 shows the light-conducting earmold provided with optical fiber inserted in the ear canal and connected to a portable laser light source - longitudinal cross section. Figure 10 shows the light-conducting earmold provided with optical fiber inserted in the ear canal and connected to a table-top laser light source - longitudinal cross section.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT

Treatment by laser light is well known in the world, however, so far no light- conducting earmold has been constructed, but laser beams of relatively large power is brought from outside, through the bone, to illuminate the inner ear, or a light source is brought to the entry into the ear canal.

Illumination of the inner ear by light of adequate wave length or several of them, repair damages in the cochlea and, thus, treat diseases such as ringing in the ears, loss of hearing, Meniere's disease, inflammations, etc.

Description of the embodiment

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal cross section through the ear canal B in which the light-conducting earmold is placed.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show front, left and right side views of the light-conducting earmold A.

The earmold A is funnel-shaped, its outer form being conditioned by the void of the ear canal B of the ear the earmold is intended for. The light-conducting earmold A has a body 1 , a front and narrower part 2, and a rear and wider part 3. The light-conducting earmold is inserted with its front and narrower part 2 into the ear canal B, and leans against the entry into the ear canal with its rear and wider part 3. By the entire length of the light-conducting earmold, Figure 5, there is the duct 4. In the duct 4, throughout the light-conducting earmold, is inserted an optical fiber 5, Figure 6. At the entrance into the light-conducting earmold, the optical fiber 5 has the connector 6 to connect a portable laser light source 7 or, alternatively, a table-top laser light source 8. The portable laser light source 7, as shown in the Figure 9, is connected directly to the connector 6. The table-top laser light source is placed at a distance from the connector 6. In this case, as shown in the Figure 10, the distance between the table-top laser light source 8 and the connector 6 is bridged by a connecting optical fiber 9. The dispersed laser light beam 10, at the exit from the light-conducting earmold passes through the eardrum C and spreads in the middle ear D and the inner ear E, effecting the cochlea F.

The light-conducting earmold A is made from an antiallergenic material.

Hard materials: plastics, acrylic and like.

Soft materials: silicone, rubber and like.

Light-conducting earmold is custom made against a particular patient's ear-model or against a 3D scan of an ear or ear-model.

Light-conducting earmold of a generic type is produced in series of various sizes, colours and shapes.

Functioning of the invention

If following an ear examination, a laser light treatment is recommended, the patient is to decide how to undergo the therapy: with a generic light-conducting earmold, or a custom made light-conducting earmold that is to be produced by the patient's ear configuration. The patient is also to decide whether to apply a portable laser light source that is connected directly to the light-conducting earmold, or a distant table-top laser light source that is connected to the light- conducting earmold with a connecting optical fiber. During a therapy session, the patient does not have to lie down and remain still, because the light-conducting earmold is inserted into the ear canal firmly, without a possibility of falling out.

The laser light 10, by passing through the eardrum C and the surrounding tissue repairs the pathological tissue and parts of the inner ear E, thus leading to a recovery.

Light sources may be ear lasers of different output powers and light wavelengths that may differ from one patient to another, depending on the patient's best response to the laser output parameters. DESCRIPTION OF LETTER AND NUMERICAL REFERENCES USED IN TEXT AND FIGURES

A - light-conducting earmold

1 - light-conducting earmold body

2 - front and narrower end of the light-conducting earmold

3 - rear and wider end of the light-conducting earmold

4 - longitudinal duct through the light-conducting earmold to pass the optical fiber

5 - optical fiber in the light-conducting earmold

6 - connection to the laser light source

7 - portable laser light source

8 - table-top laser light source, at a distance from the light-conducting earmold

9 - connecting optical fiber connecting the table-top laser light source and the light-conducting earmold

10 - laser light beam in the middle and the inner ears

B - ear canal

C - eardrum

D - middle ear

E - inner ear

F - cochlea

G - auricle

7. INVENTION APPLICATION

The invention may be applied at treating of such pathological conditions as ringing in the ears, loss of hearing, Meniere's disease, vertigo, middle and inner ear inflammations, etc. The light-conducting earmold is produced in series as generic or custom made adjusted to the ear canal configuration and fitting there safely and firmly.