Adhesive earplugs useful for sealing the ear canal
AssigneeTusker Medical, Inc.
InventorsRohit Girotra, Bernard H. Andreas, Alfredo Cantu, Nikhil Bhat, Mansour Saleki, Shrirang V. Ranade, Miranda Ray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims19
An apparatus, comprising:
- an earplug insertable into an ear canal, the earplug defining a passageway;
- a frame including a tubular portion, the tubular portion at least partially disposable within the passageway of the earplug, the earplug and the frame collectively defining a working channel;
- a shaft extending through the working channel, the shaft defining a lumen and including a distal portion with at least one spray aperture in fluid communication with the lumen, the shaft configured to deliver fluid into a space distal to the earplug to fill a portion of the ear canal and the working channel, the shaft and the tubular portion spaced from each other to define a vent path configured to vent air and fluid from the working channel during the delivery of fluid;
- and
- an electrode disposed within the tubular portion and near the shaft.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an earplug insertable into an ear canal, the earplug defining a passageway;
- a shaft extending through the passageway and configured to deliver fluid into the ear canal;
- an adhesive disposed on an outside surface of the earplug, the earplug including the adhesive configured to contact a surface of the ear canal to form a seal between the earplug and the ear canal such that the fluid delivered into the ear canal can be retained in a space in the ear canal between the earplug and a tympanic membrane;
- a liner configured to cover the adhesive, the liner removable from the adhesive during or after the earplug is inserted into the ear canal to expose the adhesive for contact with the surface of the ear canal;
- and
- wherein the liner includes a gripping portion and an adhesive protecting portion, the gripping portion and the adhesive protecting portion folded over one another such that pulling on the gripping portion unfolds the liner to remove the liner from the adhesive during or after the earplug is inserted into the ear canal.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an earplug insertable into an ear canal, the earplug defining a passageway;
- a frame including a tubular portion that defines a lumen, the tubular portion at least partially disposable within the passageway of the earplug;
- a shaft extending through the lumen, the shaft configured to deliver fluid into a space distal to the earplug to fill a portion of the ear canal and the lumen of the tubular portion;
- and
- an electrode attached to an inner surface of the tubular portion and configured to provide an electric current to the fluid when the ear canal and the lumen of the tubular portion are filled with the fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.