# US 11,298,514 B2 · Foam applicator for in-ear use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,514 B2 - Document ID: US11298514B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/665,681 - Filed: 2019-10-28 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-26 - Applicants: Roy J. Martin - Inventors: Roy J. Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298514B2 ## CPC - A61M 31/00: Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body (A61M25/00 takes precedence {; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008}) - A61F 11/00: Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense (implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00); Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand (headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16) - A61M 11/007: {Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers} - A61M 11/008: {by squeezing, e.g. using a flexible bottle or a bulb} - A61M 2210/0662: Ears - A61M 2250/00: Specially adapted for animals - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A device for dispensing a foam medication into a human or animal ear includes a supply of foamable medicine held within a container. The medicine is advanced through a delivery tube that is configured to engage an ear without entering the ear canal to an extent that it contacts the eardrum. The delivery tube has an enlarged end portion that prevents the device from being inserted too far into an ear, and the enlarged end portion has a series of openings oriented in two different directions to deliver foam into the ear forward of the device and around the circumference of the delivery tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A foam medication dispensing apparatus for use in treatment of conditions within a subject's ears, said foam medication dispensing apparatus comprising: (1) a container having a medication reservoir adapted to contain foamable medication; (2) a nozzle supported by said container in communication with said reservoir and providing a flowpath for said foamable medication out of said container; (3) a hollow delivery tube, said delivery tube being defined by an outer wall, said delivery tube having: (i) a proximal end operatively connected to said nozzle to define a flowpath for said foamable medication from said medication reservoir to a subject's ear canal, said subject's ear canal including a vertical ear canal section and a horizontal ear canal section; and (ii) a distal delivery end opposite to said proximal end, said delivery tube outer wall including a set of foam-directing openings extending therethrough and arranged near said distal delivery end, said set of foam-directing openings defining a set of individual flowpaths communicating between said delivery tube and a surrounding area of said subject's ear when said distal delivery end is inserted into said subject's ear, said set of foam-directing openings including a primary foam-directing opening adapted to release said foamable medication into said horizontal ear canal section; and, (4) wherein (iii) said distal delivery end has an enlarged end portion having a barrel-like configuration; (iv) said barrel-like configuration has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of said delivery tube; (v) said primary foam-directing opening is disposed on said distal end of said delivery tube and aligned with a longitudinal axis of said delivery tube; and (vi) said barrel-like configuration is adapted to fit into said vertical car canal section; and, (vii) said barrel-like configuration inhibits said delivery tube from making a turn into said horizontal ear canal section when inserted into said subject's ear canal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barrel-like configuration has an aspect ratio of L/D of between about 1.4 to about 4, where L is the length of said barrel-like configuration and D is the outer diameter of said barrel-like configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said barrel-like configuration has an aspect ratio of L/D of between about 1.4 to about 2.5, where L is the length of said barrel-like configuration and D is the outer diameter of said barrel-like configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said distal end further includes an extension portion extending forward from said barrel-like configuration and supporting said primary foam-directing opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 4 wherein said outer diameter of said barrel-like configuration is larger than an outer diameter of said extension portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 5 wherein said extension portion is cylindrical or tubular. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 5 wherein said set of foam-directing openings further includes a subset of secondary foam-directing openings arranged on said barrel-like configuration, said subset of secondary foam-directing openings adapted to release said foamable medication into said vertical ear canal section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said subset of secondary foam-directing openings are arranged in at least one array which is spaced rearwardly of said primary foam-directing opening such that said primary and said subset of secondary foam-directing openings are offset from each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said subset of secondary foam-directing openings are arranged in a circumferential array. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said set of foam-directing openings further includes a subset of secondary foam-directing openings arranged on said barrel-like configuration, said subset of secondary foam-directing openings adapted to release said foamable medication into said vertical ear canal section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 10 wherein said subset of secondary foam-directing openings are arranged in at least one array which is spaced rearwardly of said primary foam-directing opening such that said primary and said subset of secondary foam-directing openings are offset from each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The foam medication dispensing apparatus of claim 10 wherein said subset of secondary foam-directing openings are arranged in a circumferential array.