Abstract
Intratympanic injection of drugs into the inner ear has been developed for the treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss and Meniere's disease. However, adhesion covering the round window membrane (RWM) was observed in 10-30% of all the cases. To remove the adhesion prior to injection of drugs we developed and tested two types of new otoendoscopy device that allowed visualization of the round window (RW) membrane. The first otoendoscope for inner ear drug delivery has a fine needle with catheter can be used to remove or perforate RW niche (RWN) mucosal adhesions. The second one is thinner and more flexible to perform less traumatic for tympanic membrane and middle ear. The two types of otoendoscope we developed can be used for application of drugs directly onto the surface of the RWN, and to verify the correct placement of an inner ear drug delivery system.
