Cartilage displacing bead, ridge, or key projection

An in-the-ear-canal device comprising:

• an insertion element;
• and
• at least one non-circumferential protrusion, where the at least one non-circumferential protrusion is operatively connected to a surface of the insertion element, where the at least one non-circumferential protrusion extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the insertion element, where the
• at least one non-circumferential protrusion is configured upon insertion to be positionable against the flesh of a user's outer, cartilaginous portion of the ear canal, said flesh covering an underlying subdermal cartilaginous region;
• where the at least one non-circumferential protrusion includes a material that is sufficiently incompressible with a volumetric dimension to displace said cartilage such that cartilage deforms and takes on the approximate geometric shape of the at least one non-circumferential protrusion;
• and where the at least one non-circumferential protrusion exerts a stabilizing force that facilitates insertion element maintaining a fixed position against said cartilaginous region.