An earplug (10, 80) for selective attenuation of sound has a body with at least one sound path. An insert (34) is housed in the body (13), which has at least one sound passage with an acoustic filter. The acoustic filter is configured to provide a specific frequency response and thus a determined attenuation of sound passing through the earplug. Means (14) is arranged at a top surface adapted to activate or deactivate the sound path. Each acoustic filter comprises an upper acoustic port (36, 37), at least one acoustic mesh (35) and/or acoustic membrane (37, 39), an acoustic chamber (41, 44) and a lower acoustic port (42, 43). An insert (34) with an acoustic filter for selective attenuation of sound is provided for use in an earplug.

A plug for insertion into the nose or ear of a subject, comprising: a body adapted to fit into a nostril or ear canal of the subject and a hollow tubular member with a collar disposed inside the body. The plug is adapted to receive a tip of a syringe for injection of a fluid therapeutic agent through the hollow tubular member for nasal administration or administration to the ear. A kit comprising the plug and a syringe, as well as a method for administering a fluid therapeutic agent to a subject using the plug are also disclosed.

A method of protecting an ear canal of a patient during a surgical procedure using a protective sheath includes forming the protective sheath using additive manufacturing based on a digital model of anatomy of the patient, where the protective sheath includes a passageway extending therethrough. The method may further include inserting the protective sheath into the patient so that the passageway extends at least partially within the ear canal of the patient. The method may further include inserting at least one instrument during the surgical procedure through the passageway of the protective sheath and into the middle ear of the patient.

An earplug assembly includes a first earplug, a second earplug, and a cord including a first end, a second end, each earplug including a stem and a sound attenuating body. A method for preparing the earplug assembly includes attaching the first and second ends of the cord to the first and second earplugs, respectively, by contacting a hot tip to the proximal end of the stem of the earplug to form an attachment point, removing the hot tip, and contacting or inserting the end of the cord to the attachment point to thermally bond the end of the cord to the stem of the earplug.

A hearing protection system including an earplug displaceable from an open position to a closed position in response to a signal received from a trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism responsive to a voice input, to cause the earplug to displace between the open position and the closed position based at least in part on receiving a predetermined keyword.

A manually, selectively attenuating earplug button is disclosed, for insertion into a cavity of an earplug of a hearing protection device. The earplug button comprises a nested configuration of a first housing member (including a first opening to receive sound from an ambient environment) and a second housing member, surrounding the first housing member and including a second opening to output at least a portion of the sound passing through an audio channel located between said first and second openings. The first and second housing members include sidewall apertures for permitting a wearer to manually adjust the amount of sound admitted to the wear's ear from said ambient environment by rotating the first housing member (and thus its sidewall aperture) with respect to the second housing member.

An earpiece including an intra-auricular support, a projection element coupled thereto, and a flexible body disposed thereon and inside an external ear canal of an ear, and a moldable earpiece material moldable about the intra-auricular support to conform to the auricle of an ear and curable to provide a fixed configuration of the earpiece.

The present disclosure provides communication systems and devices for use in noise environments, such as during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In some embodiments, a communication headrest is provided that consists of a headrest that supports a patients' head, an optional bone conduction microphone, and one or more vibration actuators. The headset makes contact with noise-isolating earplugs worn by the subject such that vibrations generated by the vibration actuators are transferred through the earplug, via acoustic conduction, to enable the patient to hear audio content while the earplugs provide passive noise protection by occluding the ear canal. In other embodiments, active earplug devices are provided in which an acoustic transducer is contacted and supported by a noise isolating earplug, such that when the earplug is inserted into the ear canal, the acoustic transducer is brought into acoustic conductive communication with tissue surrounding the ear canal, facilitating acoustic communication through bone conduction.

A guard configured to form an air flow channel with a space access device and to clear debris therefrom includes a surface configured to interface with an opposing surface of the space access device to form the air flow channel. A connector is configured to attach the guard to the space access device so that the surface and the opposing surface are oriented in predetermined positions to establish the air flow channel. A wiper extends from at least a portion of the surface, the wiper being configured such that upon rotation of the guard relative to the space access device, the wiper contacts and moves the debris.

Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for delivering a therapeutic substance, such as an anesthetic, to a tympanic membrane of a subject. Such systems can include an earset with a valve configured to control flow of a fluid, such as air, into and out of a reservoir. In some embodiments, systems, apparatus, and methods described herein can include additional valves and features for relieving negative pressure within the reservoir.