An acoustic filter including a valve system with acoustic valves arranged in a sound passage for controlling the acoustic resistance of respective apertures based on a control signal for selecting an attenuation of a sound pressure level of transmitted sound compared to that of received sound. The acoustic filter is adapted to provide the selection of the attenuation from a sequence of predetermined attenuations based on a selection of the control signal. Each attenuation in the sequence corresponds to acoustic valves providing the apertures with a respective predetermined acoustic resistance, wherein the acoustic resistances of subsequent attenuations in the sequence are adapted to correspond with a linear increase or decrease in the attenuation of the sound in decibels.

A sound-filtering device can include an entry port that receives sound from an environment when the device is coupled to an ear of a user. The device can further include an exit port that delivers sound that has passed through the device to the ear of the user. The device can further include a channel extending between the entry port and the exit port to define a path along which sound travels from the entry port to the exit port. The device can also include a side port in fluid communication with the channel and a resonant chamber offset from the path defined by the channel and in fluid communication with the channel via the side port. The resonant chamber can attenuate at least a portion of any sound passing through the channel that is within a band of frequencies narrower than a full audible spectrum of the user.

An atmospheric pressure adjustment apparatus is disclosed. The atmospheric pressure adjustment apparatus comprises: a speaker; a microphone; an earplug of which a main body is made of an elastic material so as to seal the external auditory meatus when the earplug is worn on the ear of a user, and which comprises an atmospheric pressure adjustment part penetrating the main body; and atmospheric pressure adjustment device for adjusting the fluid volume of the atmospheric pressure adjustment part; and a processor for outputting a sound through the speaker when the earplug is worn, measuring the air pressure difference between the middle ear internal atmospheric pressure and the external auditory meatus atmospheric pressure of the user on the basis of the strength of a received echo when the echo of the sound reflected from the eardrum of the user is received through the microphone, and adjusting the atmospheric pressure difference by moving the atmospheric pressure adjustment device according to the measured atmospheric pressure difference.

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.

A method for external ear canal pressure regulation to alleviate one or more symptoms associated with a disorder or treat one or more disorders, the method including providing a fluid transfer device which generates a fluid flow of a fluid through an earplug, the earplug having an earplug external surface configured to sealably engage an external ear canal wall as a barrier between an external ear canal pressure and an ambient pressure; sealably engaging the earplug of the fluid transfer device with the external ear canal wall as the barrier between the external ear canal pressure and the ambient pressure; and operating the fluid transfer device to generate the fluid flow of the fluid through the earplug to achieve an external ear canal pressure differential between the external ear canal pressure and the ambient pressure effective to alleviate a disorder symptom or treat a disorder.

An earplug, which is inserted and worn inside a person's ear canal, consists of a main guide body provided with a compression portion, a supporting stem provided with an air passage and used to support the main guide body, and a filler material provided with plasticity that fills the compression portion. A filling cavity is provided inside the compression portion that interconnects with the air passage and enables filling with the filler material, and causes an air chamber that connects to the air passage to form inside the compression portion, enabling the compression portion to form an original state. The compression portion is in a compressed state when pressed and constricted, and air circulating in the air passage is used to cause changes in the compression portion between its original state and compressed state, which enables enhancing comfortability when wearing the earplug.

Apparatus for protection of the ear and ear canal, and related methods of use and operation. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a selectively actuated valve which permits a varying or modulated size of aperture to be created by the wearer while the apparatus is in use, so as to accommodate varying functions, such as complete occlusion (e.g., for use in swimming or other acquatic activities such that water can be completely excluded) or partial occlusion (e.g., such that sounds can be heard by the wearer, whether in air or under water). In one implementation, the apparatus is retained within the ear canal of the wearer by virtue of the apparatus' shape and coordination with one or more natural features or contours of the anatomy in the ear region, without having to be inserted more than superficially into the outer portion of the ear canal.

An earplug comprises a core and a sound-attenuating body attached to the core, the sound-attenuating body comprising a tip cavity extending proximally from the tip of the sound-attenuating body and comprising a distal opening. The tip cavity side wall includes a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the core. The plurality of protrusions may include from 2 to 12 protrusions. A method of making an earplug includes covering at least a portion of a core with a material including unactivated foaming agent; inserting an end of the core and at least a portion of the material into a mold cavity; and activating the foaming agent to create a sound-attenuating body. The sound-attenuating body has a base, tip, and tip cavity with a plurality of protrusions. The mold cavity may include a boss with a cup and plurality of cut-outs on the cup for forming the protrusions.

A noise-cancelling earplug assembly is provided, having an ear piece for insertion into the ear canal and a housing removably attached to the ear piece. A hollow core is defined in the housing to receive a sound-selective sound barrier that contains at least one sound filtering element to attenuate sounds reaching the ear drum. An end cap is provided and is attachable to the housing to enclose the sound-selective sound barrier inside the housing. The sound selective sound barrier can be removed from the housing of the earplug and replaced with a different sound selective sound barrier with different sound attenuation characteristics.

Systems and methods are provided for sealing an ear canal for retaining a solution in the ear canal. Adhesive earplugs are provided through which the solution can be delivered, and which, following delivery, retain the fluid in the ear canal. The systems and methods may also be useful for delivering an anesthetizing solution to the ear canal of a human patient and for maintaining the solution therein for use with an iontophoresis system for anesthetizing the tympanic membrane.