An earplug extending along an earplug axis may include an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion may include a proximal portion extending from a second end region, a distal portion extending from a first end region, and a slant portion therebetween. The outer portion may define an interior space. The inner portion may extend between a first and second end region and may be coupled to the outer portion within the interior space. A distance between an end of the inner portion proximate the second end region of the inner portion and an end of the outer portion proximate the second end region of the outer portion may be greater than a length of the proximal portion of the outer portion measured along the earplug axis.

A deep insert, inflatable hearing protection earplug is provided that is easy for an untrained user to insert correctly, reliably providing high acoustic attenuation and remaining both secure and comfortable for long durations in a human ear. The earplug comprises a soft elastomer shell that forms a sealed volume filled with an inert fluid. The earplug can comprise a slender, flexible stem that is easily insertable into the ear canal when deflated. The proximal end of the earplug can be situated outside the ear canal, within the concha of the ear, and incorporates a bulb with a hemispherical, bistable cap. After inserting the shaft of the earplug into the ear canal, the wearer applies force with a finger to invert the cap, which transitions elastically from a convex to a concave external geometry, displacing a fixed volume of fluid to inflate a sheath that forms the outer covering of the stem, filling and sealing the ear canal. The sheath can be deflated by pulling on or otherwise engaging a release tab or other feature attached to the cap.

Sound attenuation devices are provided that may be temporarily worn in a person's ear. The devices generally include a first flange that is configured to be disposed in a person's ear; a second flange that is positioned proximate to the first flange and is also configured to be disposed in the person's ear (with the second flange having a proximate end that exhibits an oblong perimeter); and a cylindrical shaft extending from an interior portion of the second flange. The shaft includes an integrally connected pull tab; it extends beyond the proximate end of the second flange; and the shaft includes an integrally formed reinforcing member that spans an exterior side of the shaft and at least a portion of the pull tab. The devices further include a sound filter disposed within an internal cavity of the shaft.

The present invention provides a sound attenuation system that includes a base having a first portion on an emitter end of the base and a second portion on a receiver end of the base, wherein the first portion has a first longitudinal axis, wherein the second portion has a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the first longitudinal axis is at a first angle to the second longitudinal axis; an adapter having a first end and a second end; a sound-attenuation plug, wherein the first end of the adapter is configured to couple to the sound-attenuation plug, and wherein the second end of the adapter is configured to couple to the first portion of the base; and a receiver-end component configured to insert into the second portion of the base.

A sound attenuation system can include a first end that can include a shaft and a flange, the flange can be coupled to the shaft, and a second end that can include a filter stem and a cap. The filter stem can have a hole. The cap can have a first position in which the cap occludes the hole and can have a second position in which the cap is clear of the hole.

A push-in earplug is provided. The push-in earplug comprises an elongate core comprising a core material. The push-in earplug also comprises an outer layer comprising a foam material, the outer layer covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the elongate core. The push-in earplug also comprises a channel extending through the elongate core from a first end of the elongate core to the second end of the elongate core.

A deep insert, inflatable hearing protection earplug is provided that is easy for an untrained user to insert correctly, reliably providing high acoustic attenuation and remaining both secure and comfortable for long durations in a human ear. The earplug comprises a soft elastomer shell that forms a sealed volume filled with an inert fluid. The earplug can comprise a slender, flexible stem that is easily insertable into the ear canal when deflated. The proximal end of the earplug can be situated outside the ear canal, within the concha of the ear, and incorporates a bulb with a hemispherical, bistable cap. After inserting the shaft of the earplug into the ear canal, the wearer applies force with a finger to invert the cap, which transitions elastically from a convex to a concave external geometry, displacing a fixed volume of fluid to inflate a sheath that forms the outer covering of the stem, filling and sealing the ear canal. The sheath can be deflated by pulling on or otherwise engaging a release tab or other feature attached to the cap.

An injection moulded acoustic filter comprising a foil piece or filter structure having a plurality of micro-slits configured to act as acoustic channels through the foil piece for filtering sound waves impinging the foil piece. The micro-slits have a maximum slit width across a surface of the foil piece of less than one hundred micrometres and a combined slit length along the surface of the foil piece of at least five millimetres. An earplug comprising the acoustic filter. A method and mould for manufacturing the acoustic filter.

The present invention provides system for shaping at least a foam portion of an earpiece, the system including a sizer configured to receive at least the foam portion of the earpiece such that at least the foam portion of the earpiece is reduced in size before being placed into an ear of a user, wherein the sizer includes a hollow structure having an open first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a first cross-sectional area, wherein the second end has a second cross-sectional area, and wherein the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area.

Systems and methods for occluding a duct and attenuating sound may be provided. In some embodiments, a system may include a toroidal component enclosing an interior volume. The interior volume may contain a fluid and may have an extended state and a retracted state. When the toroidal component is in the extended state, a distal portion of the toroidal component that defines a distal tip is configured to extend in a distal direction and a proximal portion of the toroidal component may define a proximal end of the toroidal component. When the toroidal component is in the retracted state, a portion of the inner surface may extend proximally beyond the proximal end of the toroidal component. A fluid composition and methods for attenuating sound may also be provided. In some embodiments, the fluid composition may be a suspension that includes an interstitial fluid and a plurality of gas-filled spheres.