Patent ID: 7606381

Claim:
A method for manufacturing an ear device having a retention element to be worn at least in part in at least one of an outer ear and an ear canal of a user, comprising: measuring an inner shape of said user's outer ear and ear canal; sampling statistical data regarding changes of ear anatomy caused by aging; establishing a model based on said statistical aging data for estimating changes of ear anatomy of said user caused by aging; estimating from said model an actual inner shape of said user's outer ear and ear canal based on said measured inner shape of said user's outer ear and ear canal by taking into account a time interval having passed since said measured shape of said user's outer ear and ear canal was measured; and using said estimated actual shape of said user's outer ear and ear canal for providing said user with said retention element, wherein an outer surface of said retention element is individually shaped according to an inner shape of said user's outer ear and ear canal.