Patent ID: 9173762
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A retaining device for positioning and retaining an ear of a subject in a desired position relative to the subject's head useful as part of a treatment to alter the shape of an ear of the subject, the retaining device comprising: a first portion configured to be secured to the subject's ear and to the subject's head, wherein the first portion comprises a base portion formed to fit a shape of the subject's head proximate the ear for at least partial adherence of the retaining device to the subject's head, the base portion being further structured to space a portion of the ear from the subject's head while permitting the ear's helix to displace toward the subject's head; and a second portion, coupled to the first portion by a hinge portion, configured to position and retain the helix of the subject's ear in a desired position relative to the subject's head; wherein: the second portion comprises a retainer portion configured to extend along a portion of the subject's ear's helix to retain the portion of the helix proximate to the subject's head; a protrusion of the base portion comprises a first tapered surface having a first thickness at a lower portion of the protrusion in a lateral direction configured to extend between the subject's head and ear that is greater than a second thickness at an upper portion of the protrusion taken in the lateral direction, the second thickness being operable to space the lobule of the subject's ear apart from the subject's skull by a first distance that is greater than a second distance by which the tapered surface spaces a middle portion of the ear's anti-helix apart from the skull; the retainer portion comprises a second tapered surface having a first thickness at a lower portion of the retainer portion in the lateral direction that is less than a second thickness at an upper portion of the retainer portion taken in the lateral direction; and the first tapered surface is disposed generally in parallel with the second tapered surface to form a gap in which to confine a portion of the ear, the gap being oriented to slope medially in a vertical direction and to urge the apex of the helix toward the subject's skull.