Patent ID: 6339648
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: A61F,H04R

Abstract:
Hearing apparatus, which is suitable for fitment to the ear of a person, wherein:the apparatus includes an ear-unit, which includes a sheath, and includes an end-plug; the sheath is a moulded structure, and is moulded to a configuration which is suitable for insertion inside a person's ear-canal, the end-plug being so large as to be not suitable for insertion into the person's ear-canal; the sheath is hollow inside, and the sheath defines, with the end-plug, an internal enclosed hollow chamber; the structure of the sheath is such that the hollow chamber can be inflated, in that the sheath is able to expand radially, upon the chamber being pressurised; the sheath is so structured, as to its shape and size, that, with the hollow chamber not inflated, the sheath is able to pass loosely into the ear-canal of a person; the ear-unit includes an inflation-port, having a mouth which lies outside the end-plug, and which is accessible from outside the person's ear, when the sheath has been passed into the ear-canal of the person, and the inflation-port communicates with the hollow chamber; the apparatus includes an inflation-medium, which initially is a liquid, but which is able to set and cure to a solid; the apparatus includes an operable injector-means, which is so structured as to be suitable to be applied to the mouth of the inflation-port, and which is effective, when operated, then to inject the inflation-medium, as a liquid, under pressure, through the inflation-port, and into the hollow chamber, while the sheath lies disposed in the ear-canal of the person, thereby to inflate the sheath to an inflated condition, in the person's ear-canal, and for maintaining the inflation-medium in the chamber while the medium sets and cures; the inflation-medium has adhesive properties, and, after setting and curing to solid, in the person's ear-canal, the inflation-medium lies adhered to the inside surface of the hollow-chamber in the sheath; the injector-means is so structured as to be detachable, after the medium has set and cured, from the mouth of the inflation-port, and from the ear-unit; whereby, with the injector-means detached therefrom, the ear-unit, comprising the sheath, and the end-plug, and including the solid inflation-medium in the chamber, comprises a complete unitary structure, being a structure that is suitable for removal from, and for subsequent re-insertion into, the ear-canal of the person.