Patent ID: 7141014

Claim:
A cushioning device for use with a hearing aid instrument for positioning in the ear canal of a user, the hearing aid instrument comprising electronics, comprising: a hearing aid housing, the housing configured to generally conform to the shape of the ear canal and containing the electronics of the hearing aid instrument; a ring volume for encircling a predetermined portion of the hearing aid housing to separate the hearing aid housing from a portion of an ear canal of a user, the ring volume encompassing a pliant substance; and a reservoir of the pliant substance in fluid communication with the ring volume in a manner permitting bi-directional flow of the pliant substance between the reservoir and the ring volume, where the reservoir is disposed at least partially within the housing; and selectably engaged against a door movably disposed at an end of the hearing aid instrument opposite the ring volume, the door having a first closed position and a second open position, the closed position of the door creating an increase in pressure of the pliant substance within the reservoir and the open position of the door allowing a decrease in pressure of the pliant substance within the reservoir.