A battery-powered electronic device, such as an electronic hearing protector (100) includes a housing (113) enclosing the battery and an electronics assembly powered by the battery, the electronics assembly comprises a processor controlled by updatable software. The device further includes a first electrical contact (119a) that is a ground line; a second electrical contact (119b) that is a data programming line in a first state, and that is a charging voltage line in a second state; and a third electrical contact (119c) that is a clock line in a first state, and that is a charge enable line in the second state. The first, second and third electrical contacts (119a-c) are accessible from outside the housing (113). A switch enclosed by the housing (113) changes the second electrical contact (119b) between the first state and the second state.

Systems and methods are provided for sealing an ear canal for retaining a solution in the ear canal. Adhesive earplugs are provided through which the solution can be delivered, and which, following delivery, retain the fluid in the ear canal. The systems and methods may also be useful for delivering an anesthetizing solution to the ear canal of a human patient and for maintaining the solution therein for use with an iontophoresis system for anesthetizing the tympanic membrane.

An improved system and method for reducing the ambient noise experienced by a user listening to an earpiece without the use of a microphone is disclosed. An ambient noise signal created by the sound pressure wave of the ambient noise acting on the earpiece transducer is obtained. In some embodiments, the ambient noise signal is inverted and fed back, and the inverted signal is added to the intended audio signal being sent to the earpiece so that the ambient noise is cancelled. In other embodiments, a processor receives the ambient noise signal and predicts the modification to the intended audio signal needed to counteract the ambient noise. The ambient noise signal may be obtained by comparing the actual signal across the earpiece transducer to the intended audio signal, or by detecting variations in the current across the transducer from the current generated to drive the transducer.

An apparatus for creating a segregated volume of air, the apparatus including a plurality of ultrasound emitters configured to provide interfering ultrasound outputs at a location remote from the ultrasound emitters. The interfering ultrasound outputs are configured to create a region of modified air pressure of predetermined size, shape and distance from the ultrasound emitters which acts as an air-pressure barrier capable of: affecting transmission of sound across the air-pressure barrier; and/or affecting movement of air, an airborne object, airborne particles or molecules, or an object responsive to movement by air, across the air-pressure barrier; and creating, at a first boundary of the air-pressure barrier, a first volume of air and, at a second boundary of the air-pressure barrier, a second volume of air at least partially segregated from the first volume of air.

Methods and systems are provided for an automatic noise control system. Automatic noise control includes evaluating an amplitude of an acceleration acting on an acceleration sensor and generating a reference signal representative of the amplitude of the acceleration, the acceleration being representative of unwanted noise sound generated by a noise source, filtering the reference signal with a noise control transfer function to generate an anti-noise signal, and converting with a loudspeaker the anti-noise signal into anti-noise sound.

A method for measuring glucose and cortisol levels in earwax, wherein the measured levels of cortisol and glucose are interpreted as the average cortisol and glucose levels and a medical device that provides an effective, safe and hygienic self-extraction of earwax.

An ear covering device that is configured to be releasably secured to the head of a user that includes a first ear covering member and a second ear covering member. A securing member is provided that is configured to be superposed the top of a user's head and includes a first end and a second end. The first ear covering member and the second ear covering member include slots that are operable to receive the first end and second end of the securing member. The first ear covering member and second ear covering member each include an inner surface and an outer surface that are axially parallel. In a preferred embodiment the first ear covering member and the second ear covering member are formed in the shape of a hockey puck. Marketing indicia is present on the outer surface of the first ear covering member and second ear covering member.

Active acoustic filter systems and methods are disclosed. An active acoustic filter system includes a memory storing one or more stored sound profiles and a respective set of processing parameters associated with each of the one or more stored sound profiles. A processor coupled to the memory generates processed sound by processing ambient sound in accordance with a set of processing parameters retrieved from the memory based on results from comparing an ambient sound profile to at least one of the one or more stored sound profiles.

The present disclosure provides a hearing protection system and a method for estimating a voice signal of a hearing protection system user. The hearing protection system comprises an ear canal microphone for provision of an ear canal input signal; a receiver for provision of an audio output signal; a compensation module for receiving and filtering the ear canal output signal for provision of a compensation signal; and a mixer connected to the ear canal microphone and the compensation module for provision of a voice signal, wherein the compensation module comprises a filter controller, a primary filter and a secondary filter, wherein the primary filter is a static filter, wherein primary filter coefficients of the primary filter are static, and wherein the secondary filter is an adaptive filter, wherein secondary filter coefficients of the secondary filter are controlled by the filter controller based on the voice signal.

An improved system and method for reducing the ambient noise experienced by a user listening to an earpiece without the use of a microphone is disclosed. An ambient noise signal created by the sound pressure wave of the ambient noise acting on the earpiece transducer is obtained. In some embodiments, the ambient noise signal is inverted and fed back, and the inverted signal is added to the intended audio signal being sent to the earpiece so that the ambient noise is cancelled. In other embodiments, a processor receives the ambient noise signal and predicts the modification to the intended audio signal needed to counteract the ambient noise. The ambient noise signal may be obtained by comparing the actual signal across the earpiece transducer to the intended audio signal, or by detecting variations in the current across the transducer from the current generated to drive the transducer.