Adhesive earplugs useful for sealing the ear canal

A system, comprising:

• an earplug for use in retaining a solution in an ear canal of the human patient, the earplug comprising:
• a dome-shaped portion for insertion into the ear canal, the dome-shaped portion having an outside surface and an inside surface;
• and
• a pressure sensitive adhesive positioned on the outside surface of the dome-shaped portion and configured to contact a surface of the ear canal to define a space in the ear canal between the dome-shaped portion and a tympanic membrane such that the solution can be retained in the space for a period of time;
• a fill system configured to deliver the solution into the space in the ear canal;
• and
• a liner including a gripping element, the liner configured to protect the pressure sensitive adhesive when the dome-shaped portion with the pressure sensitive adhesive positioned thereon is inserted into the ear canal to enable the dome-shaped portion to be positioned in the ear canal before the liner is removed by pulling on the gripping element.

A method, comprising:

• positioning a dome-shaped portion of an earplug in an ear canal of a human patient, the dome-shaped portion configured to fit against a surface of the ear canal and including a pressure sensitive adhesive positioned thereon, the pressure sensitive adhesive covered by a liner;
• removing, after the dome-shaped portion is positioned in the ear canal, the liner by rolling back a portion of the liner to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive such that the dome-shaped portion adheres to the surface of the ear canal;
• delivering, via a fill system, a solution including a therapeutic agent into a space between the earplug and a tympanic membrane;
• and
• supplying an electric current to the solution to deliver the therapeutic agent to the tympanic membrane.