# US 11,432,964 B2 · Ear wax removal device and methods thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,964 B2 - Document ID: US11432964B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/202,591 - Filed: 2018-11-28 - Published: 2019-03-28 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-03 - Assignees: Earways Medical Ltd. - Applicants: Earways Medical Ltd. - Inventors: Amir Kraitzer; Miri Fahn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432964B2 ## CPC - A61F 11/006: {Ear cleaners, e.g. curettes (cotton tips A61F13/38; cleaning by suction A61M1/71, by irrigation A61M3/02)} - 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: 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) - 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)} ## Abstract A device for removing earwax from an ear canal includes a shaft; and an earwax collector head at an end of the shaft. The collector head is in the form of a helical strip surrounding a substantially elongated space. The helical strip has a cross section such that an outward facing surface of the helical strip is substantially flat and an interior surface of the helical strip radially tapers to an inward facing edge. A distal end of the helical strip tapers to present a wedge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for removing earwax from an ear canal, comprising: a shaft; an earwax collector head; and a flexible section between the earwax collector head and the shaft, wherein the earwax collector head is enclosed in a housing having an opening, wherein the housing is adapted to enable the earwax collector head to extend outwardly from the opening of the housing when the shaft is rotated; and wherein the earwax collector head includes a helical strip surrounding a substantially elongated space and ending with a strip distal end, wherein the strip distal end flattens to presents a blade-like end, allowing to amass said earwax into said space via said strip distal end, wherein the earwax collector head has a longitudinal axis, wherein the helical strip has an interior surface facing radially inward toward the longitudinal axis of the earwax collector head, wherein the interior surface of the helical strip tapers radially inwardly to a blade-like edge, wherein the blade-like edge removes at least a portion of the earwax from an ear canal when the shaft is rotated while the earwax collector head is inserted into the ear canal, and wherein the flexible section is designed to enable bending in all three dimensions and includes substantially rigid anchor segments separated by flexible segments. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the earwax collector head is deformable, wherein the deformable earwax collector head is adapted to fit a size and a shape of the ear canal when the earwax collector head is inserted into the ear canal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the interior surface is adapted to hold collected earwax within the earwax collector head as the earwax collector head is removed from the ear canal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the earwax collector head has a local diameter along the longitudinal axis, wherein the local diameter adapts automatically to match and fill a varying diameter of the ear canal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an inlet for connecting the earwax collector head to a source of a cerumen dissolution agent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the cerumen dissolution agent is configured to be introduced into the ear canal when the earwax collector head is inserted into the ear canal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a knob, wherein the knob limits the outward extension of the earwax collector head. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the rigid anchor segments substantially retain their shape when the flexible section is bent. ### Claim 9 A device for removing earwax from an ear canal, comprising: a shaft; and an earwax collector head including a helical strip surrounding a substantially elongated space and ending with a strip distal end, wherein the strip distal end flattens to present a blade-like end, the earwax collector head having a longitudinal axis, wherein the earwax collector head has an outer diameter along the longitudinal axis, wherein the outer diameter of the earwax collector head is adapted to vary along the longitudinal axis such that the outer diameter of the earwax collector head adjusts to a varying diameter of an ear canal when the earwax collector head is inserted into the ear canal, wherein the earwax collector head is connected to the shaft and enclosed in a housing having an opening configured to enable the earwax collector head to extend outward from the opening of the housing when the shaft is rotated, wherein the earwax is collected in the collector head when the earwax collector head is inserted into the ear canal and the shaft is rotated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, further comprising: a flexible section between the collector head and the shaft, wherein the flexible section is designed to enable bending in all three dimensions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the interior surface is adapted to hold collected earwax within the earwax collector head as the earwax collector head is removed from the ear canal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the housing includes an inlet for connecting the earwax collector head to a source of a cerumen dissolution agent. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the cerumen dissolution agent is configured to be introduced into the ear canal when the earwax collector head is inserted into the ear canal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the shaft includes a knob, wherein the knob limits the outward extension of the earwax collector head. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the blade-like end is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the helical strip. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the collector head comprises a notch to allow bending of the strip distal end upon a bending force exerted thereon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the blade-like end includes corners that are rounded or beveled.