US 12,310,821 B2
Foam earplug with transdermal material
Mark Magidson, Los Angeles, CA (US); James Hornstein, Studio City, CA (US); and Fred Ryan, Venice, CA (US)
Assigned to Moldex-Metric, Inc., Culver City, CA (US)
Filed by Moldex-Metric, Inc., Culver City, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 24, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/782,854.
Application 18/782,854 is a continuation of application No. 18/520,400, filed on Nov. 27, 2023, granted, now 12,082,994.
Application 18/520,400 is a continuation of application No. 17/480,116, filed on Sep. 20, 2021.
Application 17/480,116 is a continuation of application No. 16/164,013, filed on Oct. 18, 2018, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2024/0374432 A1, Nov. 14, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 11/08 (2006.01); A61M 31/00 (2006.01); A61F 11/12 (2006.01); A61L 31/16 (2006.01); A61M 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 11/08 (2013.01) [A61M 31/002 (2013.01); A61F 11/085 (2022.01); A61F 11/12 (2013.01); A61L 31/16 (2013.01); A61M 35/00 (2013.01); A61M 2210/0662 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A foam earplug for reception at least partially within an ear canal of a user, the foam earplug including:
an inner body portion formed of resilient foam plastic material, the inner body portion having a size and shape for at least partial reception within the ear canal of the user; and
an outer layer of the foam earplug formed of the resilient foam plastic material, the outer layer having an open cell structure infused with a transdermal material comprising at least one active ingredient providing a beneficial effect and being capable of being brought into transdermal contact with the ear canal when the foam earplug is received at least partially within the ear canal,
wherein the infused foam earplug is configured to be at least partially compressed and inserted into the ear canal and recovering to an original shape, to cause the transdermal contact of the at least one active ingredient with the ear canal,
wherein the outer layer infused with the transdermal material has a thickness of at least 0.1 mils, and
wherein the at least one active ingredient comprises a sleeping aid ingredient.