Earplug Piston Chamber for Leak-Safe Ear Canal Drug Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for administering medicaments or agents are not as efficient, convenient, or reliable as desired, particularly in delivering fluid agents to the ear canal.
Innovation Solution
An earplug with a chamber for containing the fluid agent and a piston mechanism for injection into the ear canal, ensuring the agent remains in place and is sealed to prevent leakage, while also providing acoustic sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional device for administering medicaments is used, then the treatment can be provided, but the device is not efficient, convenient or reliable and the fluid agent may leak out
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the earplug, fluid containment chamber, and injection mechanism into a single integrated device. The first part (earplug with chamber) and second part (piston with push member) work together as one unified system, eliminating the need for separate administration devices and improving reliability while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston is disposed within the elongated member, and the chamber is contained within the first part. This nested arrangement allows the injection mechanism to be housed within the earplug structure itself, preventing leakage while keeping the overall device compact and easy to use.
2Productivity
If the earplug is removed after injection, then the device can be reused or sterilized, but the fluid agent may leak out and treatment efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The earplug is inserted into the ear canal before the fluid agent is injected. This preliminary positioning ensures that the ear canal is sealed and ready to receive the fluid, preventing leakage and ensuring treatment efficiency without requiring subsequent adjustments or interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The earplug remains in place in the ear canal throughout the treatment duration, maintaining continuous contact and sealing. This continuous presence ensures the fluid agent stays in place for the required treatment time, maximizing productivity while keeping the device simple to operate.
3Ease of manufacture
If the chamber is positioned distally of the ear canal, then the device structure is simpler, but the fluid agent cannot be effectively delivered to the ear canal
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is positioned within the ear canal (changing its spatial location from external to internal), and the piston moves along the longitudinal axis of the elongated member to inject the fluid. This dimensional repositioning ensures effective fluid delivery to the target location while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The earplug effectively delivers fluid agents to the ear canal, enhancing treatment efficiency and providing additional benefits such as noise reduction, with potential for transdermal drug delivery through the ear canal.
Implementation Method 1
The piston is displaceable from a first position distally of the chamber to a second position within the chamber, such that the fluid agent is injected from the chamber through the outlet into the ear canal
Implementation Method 2
The malleable member is disposed laterally of the elongated member
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
An earplug (1) for administering a fluid agent into an ear canal is provided. The earplug (1) comprises a first part (10) adapted for insertion in the ear canal. The first part comprises an elongated member (11) having a chamber (12) for containing the fluid agent, the chamber (12) having at least one outlet (13) at a proximal end (14) of the elongated member (11); and a malleable member (17) disposed laterally of the elongated member (11). The earplug (1) further comprises a second part (20) comprising a piston (21). The piston (21) has a first end (22) which is insertable in the elongated member (11), and a second end (23) which has a push member (24). The piston (21) is displaceable from a first position (A) distally of the chamber (12) to a second position (B) within the chamber (12), such that the fluid agent is injected from the chamber (12) through the outlet (13) into the ear canal.