# US 2014/0155688 A1 · Expandable sealing devices and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155688 A1 - Document ID: US20140155688A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,184 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-12 - Assignees: Personics Holdings Inc. - Applicants: Personics Holdings, Inc - Inventors: Steven Wayne Goldstein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155688A1 ## CPC - H04R 25/652: {Ear tips; Ear moulds (hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659)} - A61B 17/12104: {in an air passage} - A61B 17/12109: {in a blood vessel} - A61B 17/12136: {Balloons} - A61F 5/0093: {Rectal devices, e.g. for the treatment of haemorrhoids} - A61F 11/10: inflatable or expandable - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 25/658: {Manufacture of housing parts} - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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 An orifice insertion device includes a stent and a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent. Two sealing elements of the plurality of sealing elements include an expandable section configured to be disposed within the orifice and to exert a pressure on an orifice wall sufficient to seal the orifice without appreciable deformation of the orifice wall. The two sealing elements are formed from different materials and a further one of the plurality of sealing elements is configured to seal an opening of the orifice. Other embodiments are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An orifice insertion device configured to be inserted into an orifice and connecting conduit, the orifice insertion device comprising: a stent; and a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent, wherein two sealing elements of the plurality of sealing elements include an expandable section configured to be disposed within the orifice and to exert a pressure on an orifice wall and surrounding conduit sufficient to seal the conduit wall without appreciable deformation of the conduit wall, wherein the two sealing elements are formed from different materials, and wherein a further one of the plurality of sealing elements is configured to seal an opening of the conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The orifice insertion device of claim 1, wherein the orifice and connecting conduit is one of a nose, a throat, a vein, a anal canal, or an ear canal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The orifice insertion device according to claim 1, where the expandable section of at least one of the two sealing elements includes a membrane that expands to press against a portion of the orifice or conduit wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) (The orifice insertion device according to claim 3, where the membrane is a bladder and contains a fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The orifice insertion device according to claim 4, where the fluid is a gas. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The orifice insertion device according to claim 3, where the membrane expands in a first direction in response to an applied pressure in a second direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The orifice insertion device according to claim 6, further including a pneumatic fluid piston system coupled to the membrane and configured to provide the applied pressure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The orifice insertion device according to claim 6, further including a mechanical element coupled to the membrane and configured to provide the applied pressure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The orifice insertion device according to claim 8, where the mechanical element is locked when the expandable section is expanded. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The orifice insertion device according to claim 1, wherein the orifice and connecting conduit is a portion of a upper aero digestive system, a lower aero digestive system, a vascular system, a cardiovascular system, or a respiratory system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The orifice insertion device according to claim 1, where the pressure is between about 1 atmosphere at sea level and about 3 atmospheres at sea level. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The orifice insertion device according to claim 1, where the pressure is greater than about 1 atmosphere at sea level and less than about 1.75 atmospheres at sea level. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The orifice insertion device according to claim 1, where: a first expandable section of one of the two sealing elements includes a membrane containing a fluid, the membrane configured to expand to press against a portion of the orifice or conduit wall, and a second expandable section of a remaining one of the two sealing elements includes a foam material that is elastically deformed to press against a further portion of the orifice or conduit wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The orifice insertion device according to claim 1, where: a first expandable section of one of the two sealing elements includes a membrane containing a fluid, the membrane configured to expand to press against a portion of the ear canal wall, and a second expandable section of a remaining one of the two sealing elements includes a foam material that is elastically deformed to press against a further portion of the ear canal wall. ### Claim 15 An orifice insertion device comprising: a stent; and a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent, wherein two sealing elements of the plurality of sealing elements include an expandable section configured to be disposed within a canal and to exert a pressure on a canal wall sufficient to seal the canal, wherein the two sealing elements are formed from different materials, and wherein a further one of the plurality of sealing elements is configured to seal an opening of the canal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The orifice insertion device of claim 15, wherein expandable section exerts the pressure on the canal wall sufficient to seal the canal without appreciable deformation of the canal wall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The orifice insertion device according to claim 15, where the expandable section of at least one of the two sealing elements includes a membrane that is a bladder containing fluid where the membrane expands to press against a portion of the canal wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The orifice insertion device of claim 17, wherein the fluid is one of silicone-based polymers, gels, vinyl elastomers, H2, O2, air, or water. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The orifice insertion device of claim 15, wherein the orifice is one of a nose, a throat, a vein, a anal canal, or an ear canal. ### Claim 20 An orifice insertion device comprising: a stent; and a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent, wherein two sealing elements of the plurality of sealing elements include an expandable section configured to be disposed within an volume that traverses from an orifice to another orifice and exerts a pressure on a wall within the area sufficient to seal the volume, wherein the two sealing elements are formed from different materials, and wherein a further one of the plurality of sealing elements is configured to seal an opening of the volume.