EarBuddy: treating children with chronic ear infections

Chronic ear infections are common in children, and may cause hearing difficulties, discomfort and a delay in language and speech development. Current treatment usually involves implanting pressure equalisation tubes under general anaesthesia to ventilate the middle ear through the eardrum, however, this is costly and can involve complications.

The team is developing a non-invasive device called EarBuddy, which can potentially drain the middle ear fluid in children with chronic ear infections, avoiding the need for surgery. Resembling a sippy cup, the EarBuddy contains a nasal interface that senses when a child swallows and delivers a gentle puff of air into the nasal cavity, which releases the trapped fluid. Children can use the device independently or with assistance. The device is in a clinical trial stage and working towards an approval as a medical device by Australian TGA in the future.

Team: Dr Matt Oldakowski, Mrs Intan Oldakowska (School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering), Associate Professor Peter Santa Maria (Stanford University), Dr Paul Bumbak (Child and Adolescent Health Service).

Learn more: http://curtin.edu/xmmvpp