Patent ID: 7779844

Claim:
A self-fitting device for location in an ear canal, comprising: a first end portion joined with a second end portion, the first end portion locatable in an ear canal closer to an ear drum than the second end portion and the first end portion including a first resilient bladder and the second end portion including a second resilient bladder; a first chamber of fluid defined inside the first bladder and sealed from an environment outside the device; a second chamber of fluid defined inside the second resilient bladder and sealed from the environment outside the device, the second resilient bladder in communication with the first resilient bladder via communication of the second chamber with the first chamber; the first resilient bladder is deformable between an at-rest position to an in-ear position to an insertion position such that the first resilient bladder has a first cross-sectional area in the at-rest position, a second cross-sectional area in the in-ear position and a third cross-sectional area in the insertion position wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area; and, the second resilient bladder is deformable such that deformation of the second resilient bladder causes fluid from the second chamber to move toward the first chamber and thereby causes the first resilient bladder to be deformed from the at-rest position to the insertion position before the device is located in the ear canal; and, further comprising a plunger, where the plunger is in communication with the first and second chambers such that deformation of the second resilient bladder exerts pressure on the plunger causing the plunger to move away from the second chamber and thereby assists to deform the first resilient bladder.