Peter Zoth (Gilching), Dörte Fischer, Mohamad Anbari, Tino Just (KMG Klinikum)
Moayad Anbari1, Shirin Zhumabaeva2, Munar Beishenova2, Dörte Fischer1,3, Shayirbek Sulaimanov2 and Tino Just1
This study presents pressure-less acoustic immittance (PLAI®) measurements in patients with chronic ventilation disorders. An acoustic signal (100 – 3000 Hz) is introduced into the outer ear canal, allowing for determining the resonance frequency (RF) and the admittance peak. This study aims to re-evaluate test results in patients with chronic tube ventilation disorders using PLAI® in conjunction with tympanometry, pure tone audiometry, and otoscopy.
Moayad Anbari1, Shirin Zhumabaeva2, Munar Beishenova2, Dörte Fischer1,3, Shayirbek Sulaimanov2 and Tino Just
With a pressure free measurement of the acoustic immittance (PLAI®) an acoustic signal (100 – 3000 Hz) is given into the outer ear canal. The technique provides the resonance frequency (RF) and the peak of the admittance. Aim of this prospective pilot study was to measure the reliability of PLAI® and to compare the results with those of the conventional tympanometry. Additionally, it was assessed whether PLAI® may differentiate between healthy and pathological tympanic membrane/middle ear.
Francesco Bassi, Aleksandar Miladinovic, Agostino Accardo
Conventional tympanometry, the gold standard for assessing middle ear function, has limitations in infants and patients with tympanic membrane perforations due to its potential invasiveness, as it requires the application of varying pressure in the ear canal. To address these limitations, recently, the Pressure-Less Acoustic Immittance (PLAI®) device was developed as a non-invasive tool for assessing middle ear function without applying pressure. However, as with all novel technology, reference values and age-specific ranges are unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study is to establish age specific reference ranges for key acoustic admittance parameters across a broad age range in healthy subjects.
Francesco Bassi and Agostino Accardo
Tympanometry is a gold standard method for the evaluation of hearing function, allowing the identification of pathological alterations of the outer and middle ear by a non-invasive approach. However, in order to make the measurement it is necessary to alter the pressure of the outer ear, which limits the use of the technique for newborns and people with perforation. To overcome this problem, a complete Pressure Less technique (PLAI®) was proposed. This paper aims to present the statistically significant correlations between the resonance frequency measured with PLAI® and compliance obtained through tympanometry in both healthy subjects and patients affected by Otitis Media with Effusion (OME).
Bioengineering Group – Trieste University
The aims of investigation activities were:
• to validate and demonstrate that the use of the med·wave® device on subjects younger than 2 years of age is completely safe and free of contraindications and adverse events;
• to confirm its effectiveness, which has already been established in previous clinical investigation MEDWAVE-1.
Dott.ssa Giulia Devoto
Neuranix Product Specialist
The med·wave® device can be used to quickly assess middle ear and tympanic functions non-invasively. Neuranix verified med·wave® application in a field test in which audiologists at two major hearing centers were asked to fill out a questionnaire after conducting each test. This study analyzes the responses obtained and the benefits that an innovative device like med·wave® can bring to hearing aid applications.
The probe emits a chirp signal in the external ear canal towards the tympanic membrane. The tympanic membrane (TM) and middle ear are evaluated, through assessment of the sound energy absorbed or reflected by the ear system across the wide range of frequencies. The PLAI® device utilizes a chirp stimulus over a multi-frequency measurement band from 100Hz to 3000Hz. (bandwidth for data analysing is limited to 1500Hz) . The PLAI® measurement technique allows to find the fraction of acoustic energy which is absorbed by the tympanic membrane with respect to the total energy present in the ear canal.
Dr. Flavia Sorrentino
Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, University of Padua, Italy
The principal aim of this study was to analyse the repeatability of measurement with variations in the positioning of the probe inside the patient’s ear canal during acoustic impedance measurement with the med·wave® multi-frequency instrument and also to provide operators with clear instructions on how to position the probe in order to obtain the most accurate and repeatable result.
Dr. Flavia Sorrentino, Dr. Marco Greggio Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, University of Padua, Italy
The classic impedance test that uses pressure in the detection of the tympanogram and stapedial reflexes has represented for years the main procedure in determining the functionality of the middle ear; the aim of this paper is to highlight the main difficulties in the clinical performance of tympanometry reported by Italian technicians specialized in audiometry.
Dr. Flavia Sorrentino
Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Italy
Traditional tympanometry provides information on the status of the middle ear system and the presence of fluid in the tympanic cavity. It is widely used in the ENT field to diagnose otitis media with effusion (OME). In a clinical condition of OME, a type B tympanogram with a flat curve and normal canal volume is considered diagnostic (Liden-Jerger classification).1 Several studies on the diagnostic value of tympanometry have been published, especially in its detection of OME. Tympanometric accuracy is expressed in terms of sensitivity and specificity.
