Transdermal Foam Earplug for Dryness Relief and Sleep Aid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foam earplugs face difficulties in easy insertion, especially in dry ear canals, and prolonged use leads to dryness and itchiness, with limited benefits for sleep aid.
Innovation Solution
Infusing a transdermal material, such as a humectant or Melatonin, into the outer layer of foam earplugs to enhance lubrication, moisturization, and provide sleep aid through transdermal contact with the ear canal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If foam earplugs are made of resilient foam plastic material, then they provide good noise attenuation and comfort, but they cause dryness and itchiness in the ear canal during prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the porous structure of foam materials to embed and release transdermal materials. The pores allow the transdermal material to be distributed throughout the foam matrix and released gradually onto the ear canal skin, providing continuous moisturization and relief from dryness and itchiness while maintaining the noise attenuation properties of the foam earplug.
2Ease of operation
If the ear canal is dry, then insertion of earplugs becomes difficult, but prolonged use of earplugs causes the ear canal to become dry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating transdermal materials into the earplug before use. These materials are released onto the ear canal skin upon insertion, pre-lubricating and moisturizing the area to facilitate easy insertion. The same materials continue to provide moisturization during prolonged use, preventing the ear canal from becoming dry.
3Reliability
If earplugs are worn during sleep, then hearing protection is provided, but sleep quality may be affected without sleep aid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by combining hearing protection with sleep aid functions in a single earplug device. The transdermal material layer provides both the primary function of noise attenuation and an additional function of sleep aid through the release of soothing or sedative compounds onto the ear canal skin, enhancing overall sleep quality while maintaining hearing protection.
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
Improves ease of insertion, reduces dryness and itchiness, and provides a continuous sleep aid by maintaining transdermal contact with the ear canal.
Implementation Method 1
the active ingredient can be transferred to the body of the wearer by transdermal contact with the ear canal
Implementation Method 2
The foam material has an open cell structure... the outer surface is porous and allows the escape of air
Data Source
AI summary
A foam earplug for reception at least partially within the ear canal and including a body portion formed of resilient foam plastic material having a multiple open cell structure and having a size and shape for at least partial reception within the ear canal. A transdermal material having a particular beneficial action, and with an outer layer of the foam earplug infused with the transdermal material so that the benefits of the transdermal material is in transdermal contact with the ear canal. One example is a humectant material and, specifically, a moisturizer/lubricating material, for providing an increase to the lubrication and moisturizing in the ear canal. A second example is where the beneficial action is provided by systemic distribution such as a sleep aid, i.e., Melatonin, so that when the earplugs are worn during sleep, the earplugs will provide a sleep aid to the wearer.