37 results about "Middle ear function" patented technology

Method and systems for accessing a Eustachian tube of a patient are disclosed. The system includes a guide configured for passing into a nasal passage of the patient to position a distal tip of the catheter at or near a Eustachian tube, the guide having distal tip with a bend having an angle between 30 and 90 degrees; and a guidewire configured to pass through the guide into the Eustachian tube.

An apparatus for displacing a partition between a middle ear and an inner ear to treat the symptoms of Meniere's disease or endolymphatic hydrops comprises a treatment member for being disposed in the middle ear adjacent the partition and a driver for driving the treatment member to move against the partition to thereby displace the partition at an infrasonic frequency to influence fluid distribution in the inner ear. A method for treating an ear comprises the steps of disposing a treatment device within the middle ear and moving at least a portion of the treatment device against the partition at an infrasonic frequency to displace the partition to influence fluid in the inner ear.

An implantable middle ear hearing device having a tubular vibration transducer to drive a round window is designed to input sound to a round window opposite an oval window in an inner ear. The tubular vibration transducer has a unique structure that does not attenuate the magnitude of a signal, particularly, in a high frequency band. Sound delivery effect is much higher than those of conventional schemes. It is also possible to minimize difficulties associated with and problems resulting from the operation, which the conventional methods would have. Further, the transducer can have a relatively less compact than ossicle contact type transducers, and thus be easily fabricated. The hearing device can be applied to a sensorineural hearing loss patient with the ossicle damaged. Moreover, since sound is directly transmitted without through the ear drum and the ossicle, high efficiency sound delivery is achievable and hearing loss compensation are easy.

Stimulation of the facial nerve system (e.g., electrically, electromagnetically, etc.) in stroke patients will cause dilation of occluded arteries and dilation of surrounding arteries, allowing for blood flow to circumvent the obstruction and reach previously-deprived tissue. The device approaches the facial nerve and its branches in the vicinity of the ear. In use, the device can be inserted into the ear canal or placed in proximity to the ear in order to stimulate the facial nerve system without puncturing the tympanic membrane (e.g., using an electromagnetic field). The device can also be advanced into the middle ear through a puncture created in the tympanic membrane. Branches of the facial nerve in the middle ear can then be stimulated directly (e.g., by application of electrical current). The device can be used in the emergency treatment of acute stroke or as chronically-implanted / inserted variations for long-term maintenance of blood flow to the brain and stroke prevention

Methods and apparatus for identifying microbiological constituents in the middle ear. A spectrometer receives Raman-scattered light from the region of the tympanic membrane and resolves spectral features of the Raman-scattered light. A processor receives the interferometry signal and the Raman signal, and generates a Raman spectrum of the tympanic membrane and material adjacent thereto. In some embodiments of the invention, low-coherence light and substantially monochromatic excitation light are directed onto a tympanic membrane of the ear of a person via an otoscopic tip that abuts the ear canal. An interferometer combines scattered low-coherence light from the ear tissue with a reference signal to generate an interferometric signal.

Systems and methods are presented for the diagnosis of middle ear pathological conditions based on spectral signatures. Preferred embodiments provide for detection of one or more analytes from the tympanic membrane. Devices use spectral measurements including spectral imaging to non-invasively identify middle ear pathological conditions including cholesteatoma and acute otitis media by providing real-time information of differentially expressed molecules. Devices and methods can also be used to non-invasively detect and quantify blood analytes from the tympanic membrane.

A device for determining the presence of abnormal fluid in a middle ear of a subject includes an elongated probe, a first light source housed within the elongated probe, and a second light source housed within the elongated probe. The elongated probe includes a distal end for inspection of an ear. The First light source is configured to convey an optical beam through a tympanic membrane associated with the middle ear of the subject, without puncturing the tympanic membrane. The second light source is configured to convey light through the distal end of the elongated probe and illuminate the tympanic membrane.

A device and method are provided for clearing obstructions in a body cavity opening behind which a volume of fluid has been accumulated comprising a housing having a longitudinal internal conduit having an end interconnected to a suction source and a motor mechanically interconnected to a second end attachment portion and adapted to impart vibratory movement thereto. Actuation of the motor imparts vibratory movement to the second end attachment portion, and thereby to an attached tip and, when a housing first attachment portion is interconnected to a suction source, suction and vibration are simultaneously applied to the tip second end. Thus, when the tip second end is applied against an obstructed body cavity opening, the vibration acts to break up the obstruction and the suction contemporaneously acts to withdraw the accumulated fluid from the body cavity.

An electrophysiological measurement method and system is provided for positioning an implantable transducer of a hearing instrument relative to a middle ear component or inner ear of a patient. The method and system employ electrophysiological measurement signals obtained in response to test signals applied to an implanted transducer. In one embodiment, the electrophysiological measurements are obtained by an electrocochleography measurement device that measures the cochlear summating potential and / or action potential responsive to test signals applied to an implanted transducer. In another embodiment, an auditory brainstem response measurement device is utilized to obtain electrical potential measurement signals responsive to test signals applied to an implanted transducer.

Methods and apparatus for performing interferometric measurements on ear tissue within a person's ear, wherein the measurements are performed as a function of pressure within the ear canal. Measurements may be performed at a plurality of pressures, including pressures greater than, and less than, atmospheric pressure. Using an apparatus in accordance with the invention, methods are provided for characterizing a tympanic membrane, as well as a biofilm adjacent to the tympanic membrane, and an effusion in the middle ear. The tympanic membrane may be characterized as to geometrical features and mobility. Characterizations provided by the apparatus serve to diagnose ear pathology.

A ventilation tube has a tubular member with generally circular flanges at opposite ends. Each flange has a respective tab that is angled obliquely to the axis of the tubular member. The tabs are diametrically opposite, and angled in opposite senses. Each tab has straight non-cutting edges tangential to its associated flange, and an arcuate nose portion. Each flange (may be used either for grasping the ventilation tube, or for insertion into an incision in a tympanic membrane, thereby permitting the ventilation tube to be used reversibly.

Methods and devices for providing a gas pathway between the nasopharynx and the Eustachian tube are provided. One device may include a lumen with a valve. A portion of the valve may be tethered to adjacent muscle. Another portion of the valve may be tethered to adjacent cartilage. When the muscle contracts the valve may open through movement of the tethers, and provide a gas pathway between the nasopharynx and the Eustachian tube.

An implantable fixation structure includes a c-shape bone fixation clip adapted to fit over and attach to a bony bridge element in the middle ear of a patient. A c-shape electrode fixation clip is adapted to fit over and attach to an electrode array element in the middle ear of the patient. A connecting bar has a first end connected to the bone fixation clip and a second end connected to the electrode fixation clip. A coupling clip is connected to the connecting bar between the first end and the second end and adapted to fit over and attach to a cochlear implant element and hold the cochlear implant element in a desired position relative to the middle ear of the patient.

A device for determining a length of a middle ear prosthesis has a base part for mounting prosthesis models of different lengths, and an applicator with which the prosthesis models after being released from the base part, are introducible during an operation into the middle ear.

A middle ear prosthesis comprises a body of deformable material capable of retaining different shapes. The body comprises a slotted wall defining a cavity for receiving a bone of the middle ear. The wall is deformable proximate slots in the wall between an open position for receiving the bone and a closed position wherein the body is reshaped to grasp the bone.

A device for determining the required length of a middle ear prosthesis, having a disk-shaped base part to which prosthesis mockups or prostheses of different lengths are fastened, which, after being detached from the base part, can be inserted by an applicator into the middle ear of a patient during an operation for length determination purposes, in which the base part is provided with accessories for measuring and / or shaping the middle ear prosthesis to be inserted, so that this provides the operator with an even more simplified handling of prosthesis mockups or prostheses during the operation; no additional separate parts have to be used and instead, the handling means are compactly provided on or integrated into the device itself.

An implantable fixation structure includes at least one implantable holding element. The holding element is connected to an implantable cochlear implant element and maintains the cochlear implant element in a desired position relative to the middle ear of a patient user.

An implantable middle ear hearing device having a tubular vibration transducer to drive a round window is designed to input sound to a round window opposite an oval window in an inner ear. The tubular vibration transducer has a unique structure that does not attenuate the magnitude of a signal, particularly, in a high frequency band. Sound delivery effect is much higher than those of conventional schemes. It is also possible to minimize difficulties associated with and problems resulting from the operation, which the conventional methods would have. Further, the transducer can have a relatively less compact than ossicle contact type transducers, and thus be easily fabricated. The hearing device can be applied to a sensorineural hearing loss patient with the ossicle damaged. Moreover, since sound is directly transmitted without through the ear drum and the ossicle, high efficiency sound delivery is achievable and hearing loss compensation are easy.

A system and method for examining a patient for an ear disorder. Reflectance ultrasound is applied to a portion of the ear to determine the presence of ear effusion in a middle ear. If ear effusion is present, motion of the tympanic membrane is induced and ultrasound is further applied to the moving tympanic membrane. Echo signals resulting from the ultrasound applied to the moving tympanic membrane are analyzed to obtain information regarding the motion of the tympanic membrane and is used to characterize the ear effusion.

The present disclosure discussed a handpiece for trans-canal delivery of a therapeutic substance to the inner ear. The handpiece can be inserted into the middle ear via a surgical tympanotomy approach. The handpiece can enable a controlled injection of a therapeutic substance directly through the round window membrane and into the inner ear. The direct delivery of the therapeutic substance to the inner ear can enable the delivery of a precise amount of therapeutic substance into the inner ear. Because the therapeutic substance is delivery directly to the inner ear the delivery of the therapeutic substance is not subject to limitations on molecule size and inconsistent diffusion rates that are present when therapeutic substances are diffused across the round window membrane.

An embodiment of the invention discloses an ear vibration measurement method and device. An SLD (superluminescent diode) emits near infrared light, the near infrared light is transmitted to a sample arm and a reference arm through an OC (optical circulator); light of the reference arm is focused on a reference mirror through a pair of lenses, light of the sample arm is input into a handheld probe through an optical fiber and is scanned to a tympanic membrane and a stapes head below the tympanic membrane through a scan lens and a relay lens in the probe; light returning from the sample arm and the reference arm is transmitted to the OC through an optical fiber coupler; projection is performed to a line-scan digital camera through a lens and grating scattering. By means of a low-coherence characteristic of a broadband light source and tissue penetrability of the near infrared light, the high-resolution tomography technology for internal microstructure of biological tissue is developed to vibration measurement, and the current situation that the department of otology can only perform indirect detection on middle ear functions clinically is changed.

An ear therapeutic device comprises middle ear ambient pressure equalizing means and vibrations means for providing oscillating vibrations. Middle ear pressure equalizing means comprises at least one conduit comprising at least one first end configured for receiving an airflow blown thereinto and at least one second end configured for external attachment to the ear aperture being in a fluid communication therebetween; and said vibration means induces vibrations propagating into said patient Eustachian tube.

Methods and apparatus for identifying microbiological constituents in the middle ear. A spectrometer receives Raman-scattered light from the region of the tympanic membrane and resolves spectral features of the Raman-scattered light. A processor receives the interferometry signal and the Raman signal, and generates a Raman spectrum of the tympanic membrane and material adjacent thereto. In some embodiments of the invention, low-coherence light and substantially monochromatic excitation light are directed onto a tympanic membrane of the ear of a person via an otoscopic tip that abuts the ear canal. An interferometer combines scattered low-coherence light from the ear tissue with a reference signal to generate an interferometric signal.

The invention discloses a variable-pressure pure-tone audiometry device which comprises a sealing ear cover, an earphone, a hearing meter, an air inflation and deflation device, an MCU controller anda pressure sensor, wherein the earphone and the pressure sensor are both fixed in the sealing ear cover, the earphone is connected with the hearing meter, the air inflation and deflation device is connected with the sealing ear cover and can be used for inflating or deflating the sealing ear cover, the air inflation and deflation device is connected with the MCU controller, and the pressure sensoris connected with the MCU controller. The invention further discloses a variable-pressure pure-tone audiometry method which comprises the following steps: S1, acquiring a pure-tone air-conduction hearing threshold value under normal pressure; S2, setting the test sound intensity; S3, carrying out hearing test under the variable pressure and recording a test result; S4, repeating the steps S2-S3 to obtain a whole-frequency-band test result. According to the invention, a simple method is adopted, and air pressure adjustment can be carried out in a pure tone sounding process, the listening function monitoring is realized and more diagnosis information is provided, and the testing efficiency is improved, a means is provided for improving the accuracy of the listening function test, and a verification tool is also provided for other hearing inspection methods. The device and the method are a novel device and method for conveniently testing the sound transmission state of the middle ear.

The invention relates to the field of medical apparatuses in the otology department, in particular to a middle ear repeated dosing device and an artificial cochlea implanted electrode. The middle earrepeated dosing device comprises a hollow bag and a connecting pipe connected to the lower side of the bag. A check valve is arranged at the joint of the bag and the connecting pipe. An opening is formed in the upper side of the bag and provided with a biological semi-permeable film. The bag is placed between malleus and incus long crus. The upper side of the bag makes contact with a tympanic membrane. A groove is transversely formed in the upper side of the bag. The groove of the bag is clamped on a malleus handle. A quite safe, convenient and economical new technique method is created for relieving the cochlea electrode implanting traumatic reaction, conducting regeneration inducing and substituting on auditory nerve cells, optimizing the artificial cochlea implanting effect and improving the speech recognition ability of a patient.

A hearing protection system including a detection subsystem configured to determine bone conducted sound vibrations and one or more actuators placed proximate a predetermined location on the skull of a user configured to generate cancellation vibrations out of phase with the bone conducted sound vibrations to mitigate the effect of bone conducted sound vibrations on the middle and / or inner ear of a user.

The invention discloses a science popularization display device for displaying a human ear structure and a working principle. The science popularization display device comprises an external ear auricle model, a structure for simulating vibration of a tympanic membrane and a fenestra vestibule membrane through silicon thin membranes, a motor-cam-driven auditory ossicle simulation structure, and a structure for demonstrating the working principle of an internal ear through cooperation of a three-dimensional cochlea model and an LED lamp strip. The basic structure of a human ear is intuitively displayed, the exercise mode of a middle ear and the working principle of the internal ear during working of the human ear are simulated, the collaboration relationship of all the parts of the human ear is demonstrated, understanding is easy, and by cooperating with interaction forms such as audio input and output, the good displaying and science popularization effects are achieved.

A hearing actuator (10) for implantation in the middle ear of a user. The actuator comprises transducer means (for example a piezoelectric device) (12) for converting electrical input signals into mechanical vibrations, and attachment means (16) for attaching one end of the transducer means to a first part of the middle ear. The actuator also comprises contacting means (14) which extends from an opposite end of the transducer means such that a longitudinal axis of the contacting means is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the transducer means. The contacting means is for contacting a second part of the middle ear (to which it may be attached), so as to transmit the mechanical vibrations of the transducer means thereto.