Ear tips capable of capturing bioelectrical signals and providing nerve stimulation

Abstract

A method of fabricating an ear tip including the steps of: providing an ear tip for an earpiece including a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends, and an outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end; and forming a first electrically conductive element along the outer surface of the outer wall and an inner surface of the inner wall; or forming a first electrically conductive element on an outer surface of the deformable outer wall and a second electrically conductive element connected to the first electrically conductive element, wherein the second electrically conductive element extends along an inner surface of the outer wall and an outer surface of the inner wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fabricating an ear tip, comprising the steps of:
 providing an ear tip, wherein the ear tip comprises a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends to define a hollow passage, and a deformable outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end; and   forming at least one electrically conductive element on the deformable outer wall, wherein at least part of the at least one electrically conductive element extends along an inner surface or an outer surface of the inner wall.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the at least one electrically conductive element comprises aligning a conductive material with the ear tip. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of forming the at least one electrically conductive element comprises heating the ear tip above a vulcanization temperature of a material forming the ear tip to bond the conductive material to a first portion of the ear tip. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the at least one electrically conductive element comprises extending the at least one electrically conductive element along an outer surface of the outer wall and the inner surface of the inner wall. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the at least one electrically conductive element comprises extending the at least one electrically conductive element along an inner surface of the outer wall and the outer surface of the inner wall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the at least one electrically conductive element comprises applying the at least one electrically conductive element using screen printing or pad printing or in-mold decorating. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrically conductive element is an electrical circuit element. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of silicone, polyurethane, polynorbornene, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and/or fluoroelastomer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrically conductive element is comprised of a metal pad, metal button, metal foil, metal-salt hybrid, polymeric composite, intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP), and/or conductive fabric. 
     
     
         10 . An ear tip for an earpiece, comprising:
 a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends to define a hollow passage to conduct acoustic energy, and a deformable outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end; and   a first electrically conductive element arranged on an outer surface of the deformable outer wall, wherein the first electrically conductive element extends along the outer surface of the outer wall and an inner surface of the inner wall.   
     
     
         11 . The ear tip of  claim 10 , wherein the deformable outer wall forms a generally frustoconical shape around the inner wall. 
     
     
         12 . The ear tip of  claim 10 , wherein the body is comprised of silicone, polyurethane, polynorbornene, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and/or fluoroelastomer. 
     
     
         13 . The ear tip of  claim 10 , wherein the first electrically conductive element is comprised of a metal pad, metal button, metal foil, metal-salt hybrid, polymeric composite, intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP), and/or conductive fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The ear tip of  claim 10 , further comprising a second electrically conductive element arranged in the body proximate to a retaining structure of the ear tip. 
     
     
         15 . An ear tip for an earpiece, comprising:
 a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends to define a hollow passage to conduct acoustic energy, and a deformable outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end;   a first electrically conductive element arranged on an outer surface of the deformable outer wall; and   a second electrically conductive element connected to the first electrically conductive element, wherein the second electrically conductive element extends along an inner surface of the outer wall and an outer surface of the inner wall.   
     
     
         16 . The ear tip of  claim 15 , wherein the deformable outer wall forms a generally frustoconical shape around the inner wall. 
     
     
         17 . The ear tip of  claim 15 , wherein the body is comprised of silicone, polyurethane, polynorbornene, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and/or fluoroelastomer. 
     
     
         18 . The ear tip of  claim 15 , wherein the first electrically conductive element and/or the second electrically conductive element is comprised of a metal pad, metal button, metal foil, metal-salt hybrid, polymeric composite, intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP), and/or conductive fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The ear tip of  claim 15 , wherein the second electrically conductive element is an electrical circuit element. 
     
     
         20 . The ear tip of  claim 15 , further comprising a third electrically conductive element arranged in the body proximate to a retaining structure of the ear tip.