CPC A61F 11/10 (2013.01) [A61F 11/00 (2013.01); A61F 11/08 (2013.01); A61M 25/10181 (2013.11); H04R 1/1083 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
1. A device configured to be used in an ear, comprising:
a plate;
a flexible membrane;
a stop flange;
a flexible reservoir filled with a fluid, wherein the flexible reservoir is formed by the stop flange, the flexible membrane, and the plate;
an inflation channel;
an inflatable element operatively attached to the inflation channel;
wherein the flexible reservoir is attached to the inflation channel, and wherein the flexible reservoir and the inflation channel and the inflation element form a closed system;
wherein the flexible reservoir is configured to be compressed by the plate, wherein a pressing force exerted by the plate onto a portion of the reservoir maintains an expansion of the inflatable element; and
wherein moving the plate away from the inflatable element moves fluid from the inflatable element to the flexible reservoir deflating the inflatable element, where the device is configured to be used in ambient environments with ambient pressures ranging from 0.1 atmospheres to 1.5 atmospheres.
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