DEVICE FOR RELIEVING INNER EAR PAIN

Abstract: A device (10) for relieving inner ear pain comprised of a cup-shaped housing (12) having a base (14), an interior (16) adapted to fit over a user's outer ear, a hollow chamber (18) in registry with the base (14) of the cup-shaped member (12), and a heat source (22) disposed in the hollow chamber (18). The device (10) may be reused by reheating the heat source (22), which is preferably a liquid such as water.

Description: DEVICE FOR RELIEVING INNER EAR PAIN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention: This application is a coπtinuation-in-part of U.S. Serial No. 07/161,676 filed on February 29, 1988. This invention concerns the field of devices for relieving inner ear pain and more particularly to such a device having at least one heat source which may be reused as desired. II. Background of the Relevant Art: Inner ear pain is a wide-spread phenomenon which is attributable to a variety of causes. For example, changes in the air pressure inside an aircraft cabin may adversely affect the passengers therein and inflict ear pain which ranges from the familiar "popping" to severe debilitating pain and sinus pressure. Sometimes the sinus pressure is so acute as to cause bleeding from the nasal cavities for days after the actual pressure changes are encountered. The problem of sudden pressure changes in the cabin is endemic to modern aircraft, regardless of the size and pressurization capacity. Hence, private pilots, as well as the passengers and crew of commercial airliners, may be equally affected by this phenomenon, which is known as "barotrauma" . Those occupants of the aircraft who are flying with conditions such as sinusitis, naso-pharyπgitis , tonsillitis, rhinitis etc. are particularly prone to develop barotrauma. Likewise, children under the age of seven who have not yet developed sinuses can suffer ear pain. This problem is especially acute during ascent and descent of the aircraft, when equalization of the pressure between the inner and outer ear is particularly hard to achieve. Barotrauma is also a phenomenon commonly encountered by underwater divers. Even if a diver is careful to keep his ascent and descent as gradual as possible, the effect of the barotrauma can still be profound, as can be the accompanying pain. Additionally, certain illnesses such as middle ear infections, congestion accompanying the common cold etc. can result in unequal pressure, causing the tympanic membrane to bulge inward. Again, pain is the result. The idea of applying heat to the outer ear in order to raise pressure in the middle ear, thus causing the tympanic membrane to assume its normal position, is not novel. The problem of barotrauma is dealt with in U.S. Patent No. 4,408,605. This patent discloses a device for treatment of barotrauma of the middle ear which comprises in combination: a flexible backing portion which is crushable by hand kneading; an annular cushion portion carried by the backing which is shaped and adapted to fit over and enclose the outer earj and a hand pressure- activated chemical heating package retained by the backing and annular portions. The package contains chemicals in separate compartments thereof which, upon rupture thereof and subsequent mixing of said chemicals by crushing and hand kneading, produces an exothermic reaction. When the device is held over the outer ear, the heat generated by the exothermic reaction is transmitted to the middle ear to treat the barotrauma by reducing the pain and by increasing the volume of the air contained therewithin. Thus, the device disclosed in the above-listed patent addresses the problem of relieving the ear pain by the application of an analgesic (heat) , and by equalizing the inner and outer pressure by the application of the heat. While the device described in the preceding paragraph may be effective for relieving the pain and other consequences of barotrauma, the device does have certain disadvantages. The hand pressured-activated chemical heating package can be used only one time after which it must be discarded. It is suggested in the disclosure that the device can be constructed to be reuseable by sterilizing it and attaching a new chemical packet. However, even the reuseable embodiment of the device requires a repeat user to keep a supply of chemical packets on hand. This is inconvenient to the occasional user, and can be an expensive proposition for a regular institutional user such as an airline. It would be desirable to provide a device for relieving inner ear pain which is entirely reuseable and sterilizable, and which does not require the storage of potentially expensive, potentially toxic, chemical packets. It would also be desirable to provide such a device wherein the heat source may be reused over the life of the device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Disclosed and claimed herein is a device for relieving inner ear pain comprised of a cup-shaped housing having a base and walls forming an interior, a hollow chamber in registry with the base and walls of the cup- shaped member, and a heat source disposed in the hollow chamber. The cup-shaped housing is adapted to fit over a user's outer ear. The heat source disposed in the hollow chamber preferably comprises a heatable liquid, such as water. However, a variety of heat retaining mediums may be used and, more than one type of heat source may be used in a single device, depending on the heat characteristics desired. Alternatively, the heat source may comprise a filler material saturated with liquid, such as gauze packing saturated with water. Several different embodiments of the herein described invention are contemplated. In one embodiment, the cup-shaped housing is a unitary structure comprised of a resilient, heat-conductive material, such as polypropylene. The hollow chamber further comprises a removable cap. When it is desired to use this embodiment, the cap is removed from the hollow chamber, which is then filled with, for example, hot water. The removable cap is replaced to prevent leakage of the liquid and the user then places the cup-shaped housing over his or her outer ear. Due to the shape of the housing, the outer ear will be positioned adjacent the base of the cup-shaped housing and, hence, near the heat source. Hence, the temperature of the environment within the outer and middle ear will rise and this will cause an increase in pressure, thus serving to relieve the barotrauma. Additionally, the enclosure may be provided with a plurality of ribs disposed on an outer surface of the side wall, to prevent the user's fingers from becoming too hot. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Various embodiments and exempli ications of the device of the instant invention may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description and drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the device of the present invention showing the interior of the cup-shaped housing; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along lines 2-2 of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of the device of Fig. 1 showing the exterior of the cup-shaped housing; Fig. 4 is a side view, partially in section, of a second embodiment of the device of the instant invention prior to assembly; Fig. 5 is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a side view, partially in section, of the embodiment of Fig. 4 following assembly; Fig. 7 is a top view of a third embodiment of the device of the instant invention; Fig. 8 is a side view, partially in section, of the embodiment of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of the device of the instant invention, with an optional retaining strap installed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Throughout the following detailed description, like reference numerals are shown to reference the same feature of the invention shown in multiple embodiments. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is depicted a device 10 for relieving inner ear pain. The device 10 comprises a cup- shaped housing 12 having a base 14 and an interior 16. The housing 12 is adapted to fit over a user's outer ear. The device 10 further comprises a hollow chamber 18 in registry with the base 14 of the cup-shaped member 12. A heat source 22 is disposed in the hollow chamber 18. The heat source 22 is depicted as a heated liquid, such as hot water. A removable cap 20 prevents egress of the heat source 22 from within the hollow chamber 18. Additionally, the cap 20 may be of a thermally insulative design, to prevent egress of heat, from the device 10. In a preferred embodiment, the device depicted in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is comprised at least partially of a thermally conductive polymeric material, such as polypropylene, but may be constructed of any suitably rigid, thermally conductive material. As is shown in Fig. 3, the cap 20 may further comprise a plurality of ribs 24 which are disposed peripherally around the outer periphery of the cap to prevent the user's fingers from becoming too hot. In a second preferred embodiment, the device depicted in Figs. 4 through 6, is comprised of several parts, indicated prior to assembly in Fig. 4, which are assembled, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, into the completed housing-cap assembly. The device may be comprised at least partially of a thermally conductive polymer material, such as polypropylene, but may be constructed of any suitably rigid, thermally conductive material. The device comprises a first outer housing 26, a second inner housing 28, and a third cap-base 20a. The various parts may be constructed of materials having differing thermal characteristics, dependent upon the desired heat transfer through a given part. For instance, it is desirable to have a high degree of heat transfer through inner housing 28, whereas outer housing 26 should be insulative in nature. The first outer housing 26 is fixedly attached to inner housing 28, by means such as gluing, so as to form a watertight seal along edges 30 and 32 of outer housing 26 and inner housing 28, respectively. Once assembled, as shown in Fig. 6, a hollow chamber 18a is formed between the first outer housing 26 and second inner housing 28. The hollow chamber 18a extends throughout the base area 14 of the interior 16 of the cup-shaped housing and, additionally, extends throughout the walls of the cup-shaped member 12. In this configuration, the heat source is able to circulate throughout the entire device 10 thus providing an overall uniform heat source 22 which is exposed to the user's ear. Alternatively, hollow chamber 18a may be divided, as by partition 19 shown in phantom, into more than one internal chamber. In this configuration, more than one type of heat source may be used in a single device. By choosing different heat sources having different thermal characteristics, it is possible to vary the nature and duration of the ' heat transferred to the user's inner ear. A removable cap-base 20a prevents egress of the heat source 22 from within the hollow chamber 18a while also acting as a base for grasping when in use. The removable cap-base 20a may be of a dual wall construction, as shown in Fig. 4, or of other thermally insulative design to prevent egress of heat to the exterior of the device 10 through cap—base 20a. Outer ribs 34 may be disposed about the outer periphery of the cap-base 20a to prevent the user's fingers from becoming too hot. In a third preferred embodiment, the device 10 depicted in Figs. 7 and 8 is comprised of a first outer housing 26 and a second inner housing 28; the outer housing 26 forming a complete enclosure over housing 28, thus eliminating the need for the cap-base 20a as indicated in the second embodiment above. First outer housing 26 is fixedly attached to inner housing 28 by means such as gluing and, once assembled, a hollow chamber 18 is formed between the housings. A heat source 22a is permanently installed within chamber 18 and is designed to allow the user to reheat the permanent heat source 22a by placing the device 10 in a microwave oven or other source of heat, such as boiling water. As described above, hollow chamber 18 may be subdivided should it be desirable to employ more than one type of heat source therein. This embodiment disposes with the need for transferring the heat source prior to use. The device may be comprised, at least partially, of a polymeric material, such as polypropylene, but may be constructed of any suitable, rigid, thermally conductive material. Outer ribs 34 may be disposed about the outer periphery of housing 26 to prevent the user's fingers from becoming too hot. In all of the above embodiments, a strap 36, indicated in Fig. 9, may be provided which is used to hold the device 10 over the ear without the necessity of holding the cup with the hand. Such a strap 36 is beneficial in cases when the user will be reclining or attempting to sleep. To use the device 10, the cap 20, 20a is removed from hollow chamber 18, 18a. A heat source 22, such as hot water, is placed within the hollow chamber and the cap 20, 20a is replaced. Alternately, the device 10, described above, having a permanent heat source 22a, may be placed in a microwave oven or boiling water thereby heating heat source 22a to a usable temperature. The cup-shaped housing 12 is placed over the user's outer ear allowing heat from heat source 22 to be radiated into the interior 16 of the cup-shaped housing. This radiation of heat will cause the air pressure in the user's middle ear to become equalized with the surrounding atmosphere, thus serving to quickly relieve the pain and distress caused by barotrauma. While certain embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above in relation to devices for relieving inner ear pain, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims .

Claims: What Is Claimed Is: 1. A device for relieving inner ear pain comprising: a cup-shaped housing having a base, walls, and a first interior chamber enclosed by said walls and said base, said housing being adapted to fit over a user's outer ear; a second hollow chamber in registry with the base of the cup-shaped member; and a reusable heat source disposed in said second hollow chamber. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said second hollow chamber is in further registry with the walls of said housing. 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said second hollow chamber is subdivided into multiple individual chambers. 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said reusable heat source comprises a liquid. 5. The device of claim 3 wherein said multiple individual chambers contain various heat " sources having differing thermal characteristics. 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the reusable heat source comprises a filler material saturated with liquid. 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is at least partially comprised of a thermally conductive, rigid material. 8. The device of claim 1 further comprising: an adjustable strap, attached to opposite sides of said cup—shaped housing adaptable to be fit around a user's head, to hold said housing in place over a user's ear. 9. A device for relieving inner ear pain comprising a cup-shaped housing having a base, walls, and a first interior chamber enclosed by said walls, said housing being adapted to fit over a user's outer ear with said ear disposed within said first interior chamber; a second hollow chamber in registry with the base of the cup-shaped member and the walls of said first interior chamber and having a reusable heat source permanently disposed in said second hollow chamber comprising a heatable liquid for radiating heat into said first interior chamber and into the inner ear when said cup-shaped housing is held over a user's outer ear. 10. The device of claim 7 further comprising: an adjustable strap, attached to opposite sides of said cup-shaped housing adaptable to be fit around a user's head, to hold said housing in place over a user's ear.

Inventors: CLARK FRANK L, CLARK, FRANK, L.
Applicants: CLARK FRANK L, CLARK, FRANK, L.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A61N5
IPC codes: A61F7, A61F11, A61N5