Earplug

A pressure-regulating earplug comprising:

• an earplug body having an external surface adapted for sealingly engaging an ear canal, the earplug body comprising a conduit configured to provide fluid communication with an external atmosphere and the ear canal;
• a sound blocking bidirectional pressure regulator in-line with the conduit, configured to be normally closed, preventing fluid communication between the external atmosphere and the ear canal, attenuate noise communication between the external atmosphere and the ear canal, and selectively open, the sound blocking bidirectional pressure regulator comprising:
• a valve assembly configured to automatically open at a first pressure differential and a second pressure differential, wherein the first pressure differential and the second pressure differential are substantially similar in magnitude and opposite in direction enabling bidirectional pressure equalization, wherein the valve assembly acoustically seals when closed to minimize sound transmission;
• a speaker in fluidic communication with the conduit on an ear canal side of the pressure regulator;
• and
• a microphone in fluidic communication with the conduit on the ear canal side of the pressure regulator.

A pressure-regulating earplug system comprising:

• a diver's helmet configured to seal an external atmosphere within the diver's helmet from water outside of the diver's helmet;
• and
• a pressure-regulating earplug comprising;
• an earplug body having an external surface adapted for sealingly engaging an ear canal, the earplug body comprising a conduit configured provide fluid communication with the external atmosphere and the ear canal;
• and
• a sound blocking bidirectional pressure regulator in-line with the conduit, configured to be normally closed, preventing fluid communication between the external atmosphere and the ear canal, attenuate noise communication between the external atmosphere and the ear canal, and selectively open, the sound blocking bidirectional pressure regulator comprising:
• a valve assembly configured to automatically open at a first pressure differential and a second pressure differential, wherein the first pressure differential and the second pressure differential are substantially similar in magnitude and opposite in direction enabling bidirectional pressure equalization, wherein the valve assembly acoustically seals when closed to minimize sound transmission.