Balloon tunable ear plug
AssigneeRestorear Devices, LLC
InventorsCurtis S. King, Suhrud M. Rajguru
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-lumen conduit carrying an inflatable balloon near a distal conduit end. The balloon being in fluid communication with at least one lumen to permit inflation to fit an exterior balloon surface in complete circumferential registration inside an ear canal. An inflated balloon may compress all lumen of the conduit to form a blocking ear plug. A control assembly may be attached to the conduit to provide for balloon inflation, thermal control of inflation fluid, one- or two-way auditory communication through the conduit, and/or wired or wireless communication to a remote receiver.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a multi-lumen conduit having a length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the conduit comprising:
- a first lumen communicating along a length of the conduit to a first opening disposed at the distal end;
- and
- a second lumen communicating along a length of the conduit to a second opening disposed spaced apart from the distal end;
- a resilient and generally cylindrical balloon associated with the distal end of the conduit, opposite ends of the balloon being affixed to an exterior surface of the conduit and spaced apart on opposite sides of the second opening such that fluid passing distally through the second lumen will inflate the balloon;
- and
- a control assembly associable with the proximal end of the conduit.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a multi-lumen conduit having a length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the conduit comprising:
- a first lumen communicating along a length of the conduit to a first opening disposed at the distal end;
- and
- a second lumen communicating along a length of the conduit to a second opening disposed spaced apart from the distal end;
- a resilient and generally cylindrical balloon associated with the distal end of the conduit, opposite ends of the balloon being affixed to an exterior surface of the conduit and spaced apart on opposite sides of the second opening such that fluid passing distally through the second lumen will inflate the balloon;
- wherein
- the conduit and balloon are configured and arranged in harmony to permit inflation of the balloon to obstruct the first lumen.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a multi-lumen conduit having a length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the conduit comprising:
- a first lumen communicating along a length of the conduit to a first opening disposed at the distal end;
- and
- a second lumen communicating along a length of the conduit to a second opening disposed spaced apart from the distal end;
- a resilient and generally cylindrical balloon associated with the distal end of the conduit, opposite ends of the balloon being affixed to an exterior surface of the conduit and spaced apart on opposite sides of the second opening such that fluid passing distally through the second lumen will inflate the balloon;
- and
- a control assembly affixed to the proximal end of the conduit, the control assembly to permit inflation of the balloon, the control assembly to permit untethered operation of the assembly;
- wherein
- the conduit and balloon are configured and arranged in harmony such that balloon inflation to a first pressure is operable to maintain the distal end in seated registration inside an ear canal, and further inflation of the balloon to a second pressure is operable to obstruct the first lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.