Comments | oddharmonic: FDA approves the EarPopper, a medical device I'd like to own in the near future.

oddharmonic

FDA approves the EarPopper, a medical device I'd like to own in the near future.

Dec 02, 2005 15:30

Listening to Morning Edition today, I have been struck with acute object lust for a device recently approved by the FDA: the EarPopper. Available by prescription, it relieves negative ear pressure and helps fluid in the ears drain by blowing air up your nose ( Read more... )

object_lust, 616.212_sinusitis

Comments 10

rainingvodka December 2 2005, 21:37:36 UTC

Vasalva maneuvers have played a large role in my life as well. We had to do them as part of our Airborne Physicals for the army (where wax buildup my bane for a while . . . longish story there), and i used it frequently to equalize during SCUBA dives in Okinawa =) I haven't heard of the Politzer before -- I imagine it is safer but potentially less effective?

i suppose a side benefit to the Politzer, however, it that it drains fluids out trapped by wax / swimmers / shower ear?

oddharmonic December 3 2005, 05:46:39 UTC

The Politzer requires having air blown up your nose, which is what I think makes it less commonly performed outside of a doctor's care. Prior to the EarPopper, it was often performed with a handheld air-bag -- figures 9 and 10 on this page show both an early air-bag and an illustration of it being used.

Swimmer's ear is typically an inflammation of the outer ear. I'm not sure that either the Politzer or the Vasalva maneuver would help since the middle ear and outer ear are separated by the eardrum.

rainingvodka December 3 2005, 08:05:23 UTC

ah. well i always thought swimmers ear was a result of water being trapped in there and that one could blow it out with something like this and prevent it. /shrug.

oddharmonic December 5 2005, 02:53:16 UTC

I was under the impression it's usually water trapped behind wax in the outer ear.

The best prevention I've seen for swimmer's ear are over-the-counter earwax drops. Some people are hypersensitive to ear wax softening or removal drops, so for them I'd recommend a product like the Ototek Loop.

Thread 5

jessis December 2 2005, 21:37:54 UTC

Let me know when you get what I sent.

oddharmonic December 5 2005, 02:34:39 UTC

Your envelope arrived Saturday; we opened it today. Thanks!

I was afraid Laurel was going to annoy our downstairs neighbor jumping in excitement, but we read the book together at bedtime. I think it'll get many, many repeats in the next few weeks.

We only get snow here in Dallas about once a year. It's a little sad, but she'll get her fill of snow when we visit Colorado.

king_chiron December 3 2005, 05:56:39 UTC

Wow, it's one of those really cool things that just seems so obvious you wonder why it hadn't been done before. Any idea how much they are? Or would insurance pay since they're a medical device?

oddharmonic December 3 2005, 18:57:03 UTC

The news stories that mention the price say around $300. I haven't sent an e-mail to the manufacturer yet to ask for a specific out-of-pocket price, but I plan to since I'll be asking my doctor about prescribing one the next time I see him.

I hope the EarPopper will be covered by health insurance providers because it's much less expensive than tympanostomy (ear tube surgery), which runs in the $3000-5000 range, and doesn't require follow-up to remove the tubes later.

saarlander December 12 2005, 02:01:02 UTC

I listened to that story too. It sounds like a good idea, but I'm personally looking forward to more tests being conducted using the device. But then again, I do not have a child that could benefit from it. If I did, I'd be inclined to find a source and buy one for the kidlet try.