Orifice insertion devices and methods

• US 8,047,207 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ST TipTech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Personics Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Keady, John Patrick, Perez, Moises
• Primary Examiner(s): Bianco; Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAWTHORNE, OPHELIA ALTHEA
• Application Number:
  US12/196,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20090071486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 128/864, 128/865, 128/866, 128/867, 128/868, 181/129, 181/130, 181/135, 181/467, 181/464, 181/466, 181/128, 381/71.1, 381/312, 381/328
• US Class Current: 128/864
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/10 inflatable or expandable
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal

Abstract

Methods and devices for sealing an orifice are provided. A sealing element is inserted into an orifice. A fluid is transferred into the sealing element. Fluid transfer into the sealing element is restricted when a pressure in the sealing element is greater than a threshold value.

Claims

1. A method of sealing an ear canal comprising:

inserting a sealing element into an ear canal;

transferring a fluid into the sealing element to seal the ear canal;

measuring a change of pressure in the sealing element responsive to the transferring of the fluid into the sealing element; and

activating a valve to prevent fluid transfer into the sealing element when the measured change of pressure is greater than a threshold value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring of the change of pressure includes measuring a gauge pressure.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the threshold value is between 0.04 bar and 2.4 bar.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element includes a non-expandable balloon having an initial size and shape, the non-expandable balloon configured to be compressed but not substantially expanded beyond the initial size and shape.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element includes an expandable balloon.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element includes an expandable polymer.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transferring of the fluid includes moving the fluid through an interior channel of a tube feeding the sealing element.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transferring of the fluid includes moving the fluid from outside a tube feeding the sealing element.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is at least one of a gas, a liquid, and a mixture of liquid and suspended particles.

10. An ear canal sealing device comprising:

a sealing element configured to be inserted into an ear canal;

a fluid transfer element configured to pass transfer fluid into the sealing element to seal the ear canal;

a pressure measurement device configured to measure a change of pressure in the sealing element responsive to the transferring of the fluid into the sealing element; and

a valve configured to be activated to prevent fluid transfer into the sealing element when the measured change of pressure is greater than a threshold value.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the pressure is measurement device is configured to measure a gauge pressure.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the threshold value is between 0.04 bar and 2.4 bar gauge.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the sealing element includes a non-expandable balloon having an initial size and shape, the non-expandable balloon configured to be compressed but not substantially expanded beyond the initial size and shape.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein the sealing element includes an expandable balloon.

15. The device according to claim 10, wherein the sealing element includes an expandable polymer.

16. The device according to claim 10, wherein the fluid transfer element is an interior channel of a tube feeding the sealing element.

17. The device according to claim 10, wherein the fluid transfer element is a channel outside a tube feeding the sealing element.

18. The device according to claim 10, wherein the fluid is at least one of a gas, a liquid, and a mixture of liquid and suspended particles.