Apparatus and method for displacing the partition between the middle ear and the inner ear using a manually powered device
First Claim
1. Apparatus for treating a human ear having an outer ear canal separated from a middle ear by a tympanic membrane with a vent therethrough and an inner ear separated from the middle ear by a partition to treat the symptoms of Meniere'"'"'s disease comprising a manual device operable by hand to pressurize air;
- and pressure transmitting means communicating with said manual device and configured to communicate with the outer ear canal to deliver air pressure to the middle ear via the vent to displace the partition to influence fluid distribution in the inner ear.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for treating a disease or condition of the ear, such as Meniere'"'"'s disease or endolymphatic hydrops, includes a manual device operable by hand to pressurize air and pressure transmitting arrangement for delivering the pressurized air to the middle ear, preferably in pulses, to displace the partition between the middle ear and the inner ear to influence fluid in the inner ear.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for treating a human ear having an outer ear canal separated from a middle ear by a tympanic membrane with a vent therethrough and an inner ear separated from the middle ear by a partition to treat the symptoms of Meniere'"'"'s disease comprising
a manual device operable by hand to pressurize air; - and
pressure transmitting means communicating with said manual device and configured to communicate with the outer ear canal to deliver air pressure to the middle ear via the vent to displace the partition to influence fluid distribution in the inner ear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for treating a human ear having an outer ear canal separated from a middle ear by a tympanic membrane with a vent therethrough and an inner ear separated from the middle ear by a partition to treat the symptoms of Meniere'"'"'s disease comprising
a hand-operated, manual air pressurizing device including a chamber, a first check valve in a first port communicating with said chamber allowing air to enter said chamber and preventing air from exiting from said chamber and a second check valve in a second port communicating with said chamber allowing air to exit said chamber and preventing air from entering said chamber; - and
a pressure transmitting arrangement communicating with said second port of said hand-operated manual air pressurizing device receiving pressurized air from said chamber and configured to communicate with the inner ear to deliver the air pressure to the middle ear via the vent to displace the partition to influence fluid in the inner ear. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for treating a human ear having a middle ear and an inner ear separated by a partition to treat the symptoms of Meniere'"'"'s disease comprising the steps of
manually pressurizing air; - and
delivering the manually pressurized air to the middle ear to displace the partition to influence fluid distribution in the inner ear. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification