Patent ID: 7484531

Claim:
In an apparatus for equalizing pressure in the middle ear having an electric powered air source for providing a predetermined continuous flow of air to an exit port of a hand-held device, the improvement comprising: (a) an adjustable valve assembly operatively coupled between the electrically powered air source and the exit port for selecting a pressure limit of the air at said exit port, wherein the adjustable valve assembly comprises: (i) a manifold having an inlet port in fluid communication with the air source, an outlet port in fluid communication with the exit port and a plurality of exhaust ports leading to the ambient; (ii) a corresponding plurality of check valves, each of the check valves adapted to open at different predetermined pressures operatively disposed in said plurality of exhaust ports; and (iii) a rotatable member contained in the manifold for selectively directing fluid from the inlet port to an individual one of the exhaust ports, the rotatable member having a fluid flow passage.