Patent ID: 8840602

Claim:
A method to deliver an iontophoretic substance to the tympanic membrane of an ear of a human or animal subject, the method comprising: inserting an earplug into an ear canal of a patient, wherein the earplug defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, wherein the earplug further includes a flexible sealing element defining a plurality of microholes that open radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis; fluidly sealing a portion of the flexible sealing element of the earplug in the ear canal to create a space between the earplug and the tympanic membrane; and injecting a iontophoretic substance into the earplug to fill the space between the earplug and the tympanic membrane; wherein the space becomes pressurized with the iontophoretic substance during injecting, and wherein fluid within the space is vented through the microholes in the flexible sealing element to relieve the pressure.