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EarFlo: A Non-Invasive Treatment for Otitis Media With Effusion & Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in Adults

18 augustus 2026 bijgewerkt door: Philip Perez

This study evaluates the use of the EarFlo device in adults with clinically confirmed Eustachian tube dysfunction and/or otitis media with effusion. The purpose of the study is to assess the safety, tolerability, and short-term effects of device use on ear pressure symptoms and middle ear function.

Participants will complete a brief symptom questionnaire, undergo routine ear examinations and testing, and use the EarFlo device once during a clinic visit. Ear examination and testing will be repeated after device use to evaluate any short-term changes. This study involves a single study visit and does not include any surgical or invasive procedures.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Nog niet aan het werven

Conditie

Interventie / Behandeling

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a condition characterized by the presence of fluid in the middle ear and may occur in both children and adults. Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is commonly associated with OME and may contribute to symptoms such as ear fullness, pressure, muffled hearing, and discomfort due to impaired ventilation of the middle ear.

The EarFlo device is designed to promote Eustachian tube opening during swallowing. The EarFlo device has been previously evaluated in pediatric populations with otitis media with effusion and is FDA-cleared for its intended use.This study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and short-term effects of the EarFlo device in an adult population diagnosed with OME and/or ETD.

This is a prospective, single-visit, non-randomized interventional study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and short-term effects of the EarFlo device in adults with otitis media with effusion (OME) and/or Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). The study focuses on short-term changes in subjective symptoms and objective middle ear findings following a single supervised use of the device in a clinical setting.

Eligible participants will attend one study visit. At baseline, participants will complete a validated symptom questionnaire and undergo routine otologic evaluation, including otoscopic examination and tympanometry, as clinically appropriate. Otoscopic images of the tympanic membrane and middle ear will be captured prior to device use.

Participants will then receive instruction on proper use of the EarFlo device from trained study personnel. The device will be used once during the visit while the participant drinks a liquid of their choice. Device use is noninvasive and does not involve surgical procedures or sedation.

Following device use, participants will repeat middle ear assessments, including tympanometry and otoscopic examination. Post-use otoscopic images will be captured and compared with baseline images. Otoscopic images will be reviewed and categorized as improved or not improved by a physician who is blinded to the timing of image acquisition (pre- or post-device use).

The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and short-term effects of the EarFlo device in adults and to obtain preliminary estimates of its short-term effects on ear pressure symptoms and middle ear findings following a single supervised use. As a single-arm pilot study, the findings are intended to inform the design of future controlled studies. No long-term follow-up is required.

Studietype

Ingrijpend

Inschrijving (Geschat)

100

Fase

  • Niet toepasbaar

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Studie Locaties

  • Verenigde Staten
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Verenigde Staten, 15219
        • UPMC Mercy
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Verenigde Staten, 15232
        • UPMC Shadyside
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Verenigde Staten, 15213
        • UPMC Montefiore
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Verenigde Staten, 15213
        • Eye and Ear Institute / UPMC Presbyterian

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

  • Volwassen
  • Oudere volwassene

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Nee

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18 years and older.
  • Adults with confirmed Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) diagnosis with clinical assessment.
  • Adults with confirmed dilatory ETD (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction) on clinical assessment.
  • Willingness to refrain from initiating new treatments for OME/ETD (e.g., new surgical or device treatments, tympanostomy tubes) during the study period. Standard care will not be refrained if needed.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of acute otitis media, ear infection, or otorrhea within the past 4 weeks.
  • Any medical, psychiatric, or cognitive condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would interfere with study participation or compliance.
  • Inability to use the EarFlo device as instructed (e.g., due to severe nasal obstruction, craniofacial anomalies, or neuromuscular disorders).
  • Recent eye, ear or nose surgeries or ear trauma. (<4 weeks)

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

  • Primair doel: Behandeling
  • Toewijzing: NVT
  • Interventioneel model: Opdracht voor een enkele groep
  • Masker: Geen (open label)

Wapens en interventies

Deelnemersgroep / Arm
Interventie / Behandeling
Experimenteel: EarFlo Intervention Arm
Participants in this single arm will undergo baseline assessments, use the EarFlo device once during a clinic visit, and complete post-use assessments to evaluate short-term changes in ear symptoms and middle ear function.
Apparaat: EarFlo Device
The EarFlo device is a non-invasive, cup-based device used during swallowing to help equalize middle ear pressure. By delivering a controlled puff of air through the nose during swallowing, it assists Eustachian tube opening to relieve negative middle ear pressure. Participants will use the device once during a single clinic visit while drinking water or a beverage of their choice. No surgery or invasive procedures are involved.
Andere namen:
  • Earflo (Model EF001)

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Change in middle ear pressure and compliance measured by tympanometry following single use of the EarFlo device
Tijdsspanne: Immediately before EarFlo device use (baseline) and immediately after EarFlo device use (post-intervention) during the single study visit
Change in middle ear pressure measured using tympanometric peak pressure (daPa) immediately before and immediately after a single supervised in-clinic use of the EarFlo device. Tympanometric peak pressure values will be compared to evaluate short-term changes in middle ear function. More positive values indicate improved middle ear pressure equalization.
Immediately before EarFlo device use (baseline) and immediately after EarFlo device use (post-intervention) during the single study visit
Blinded otoscopic image assessment of middle ear effusion before and after EarFlo device use
Tijdsspanne: Immediately before EarFlo device use (baseline) and immediately after EarFlo device use (post-intervention) during the single study visit
Otoscopic images obtained immediately before and immediately after EarFlo device use will be independently reviewed by a blinded physician. Images will be classified as improved or not improved based on predefined evidence of middle ear effusion and tympanic membrane appearance.
Immediately before EarFlo device use (baseline) and immediately after EarFlo device use (post-intervention) during the single study visit

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Incidence, severity, and relatedness of adverse events
Tijdsspanne: From initiation of EarFlo device use through the end of the single study visit, up to 30 minutes.
Safety and tolerability of the EarFlo device in Adults will be assessed based on the number and percentage of participants experiencing adverse events. Adverse events will be summarized according to incidence, severity, and relationship to the EarFlo device or study procedure.
From initiation of EarFlo device use through the end of the single study visit, up to 30 minutes.

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Philip Perez

Medewerkers

Earflo Inc.

Onderzoekers

  • Hoofdonderzoeker: Philip L Perez, MD, University of Pittsburgh

Publicaties en nuttige links

De persoon die verantwoordelijk is voor het invoeren van informatie over het onderzoek stelt deze publicaties vrijwillig ter beschikking. Dit kan gaan over alles wat met het onderzoek te maken heeft.

Algemene publicaties

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Geschat)

27 augustus 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

30 november 2027

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

15 mei 2028

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

21 juli 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

18 augustus 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

20 augustus 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

20 augustus 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

18 augustus 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 augustus 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Trefwoorden

Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden

Andere studie-ID-nummers

  • STUDY25050186

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

NEE

Beschrijving IPD-plan

There is no current plan to share individual participant data (IPD). Any future data sharing would require separate review and approval and would be conducted in accordance with institutional policies and applicable regulations.

Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Ja

product vervaardigd in en geëxporteerd uit de V.S.

Nee

Deze informatie is zonder wijzigingen rechtstreeks van de website clinicaltrials.gov gehaald. Als u verzoeken heeft om uw onderzoeksgegevens te wijzigen, te verwijderen of bij te werken, neem dan contact op met register@clinicaltrials.gov. Zodra er een wijziging wordt doorgevoerd op clinicaltrials.gov, wordt deze ook automatisch bijgewerkt op onze website .

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