Ear apparatus and methods of use

A method of operating a computerized electronic apparatus, the method comprising:

• establishing a wireless communication session with a thermal control apparatus introduced into at least one ear canal of the living being;
• and
• generating a desired time-and-temperature profile associated with the auditory canal;
• and
• transmitting data to the thermal control apparatus via the established communication session, the transmitted data comprising data configured to cause the thermal control apparatus to invoke a predetermined routine or regimen of at least one of an increase or decrease in temperature of the at least one ear canal to cause a desired physiologic effect within the living being which discourages one or more undesired behaviors;
• wherein the causation of the auditory canal therapy device to invoke the predetermined routine or regimen of the thermal control of the temperature of the auditory canal of the human being comprises modifying the desired time-and-temperature profile to induce a desired level of nausea within the human being.

Computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory storage medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus, cause a computerized electronic apparatus to:

• establish a wireless communication session with an auditory canal therapy device disposed in an ear canal of a living subject;
• and
• transmit data to the auditory canal therapy device via the established communication session, the transmitted data comprising data configured to cause the auditory canal therapy device to invoke a predetermined routine or regimen of thermal control of a temperature of the ear canal of the living subject, thereby causing a desired physiologic effect within the living subject which discourages one or more undesired behaviors;
• wherein the causation of the auditory canal therapy device to invoke the predetermined routine or regimen of the thermal control of the temperature of the ear canal of the living subject comprises causation of a balloon-like structure of the auditory canal therapy device to fill up with a working medium to enable a prescribed degree of surface contact between the working medium inside the balloon-like structure and tissue of the ear canal via material of the balloon-like structure, the filling up of the balloon-like structure with the working medium comprises filling the balloon-like structure with a substance that is at least one of a gaseous medium or liquid medium depending on a temperature of the substance.