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

18 augusti 2026 uppdaterad av: 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.

Studieöversikt

Detaljerad beskrivning

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.

Studietyp

Interventionell

Inskrivning (Beräknad)

100

Fas

  • Inte tillämpbar

Kontakter och platser

Det här avsnittet innehåller kontaktuppgifter för dem som genomför studien och information om var denna studie genomförs.

Studiekontakt

Studieorter

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

Deltagandekriterier

Forskare letar efter personer som passar en viss beskrivning, så kallade behörighetskriterier. Några exempel på dessa kriterier är en persons allmänna hälsotillstånd eller tidigare behandlingar.

Urvalskriterier

Åldrar som är berättigade till studier

  • Vuxen
  • Äldre vuxen

Tar emot friska volontärer

Nej

Beskrivning

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)

Studieplan

Det här avsnittet ger detaljer om studieplanen, inklusive hur studien är utformad och vad studien mäter.

Hur är studien utformad?

Designdetaljer

  • Primärt syfte: Behandling
  • Tilldelning: N/A
  • Interventionsmodell: Enskild gruppuppgift
  • Maskning: Ingen (Open Label)

Vapen och interventioner

Deltagargrupp / Arm
Intervention / Behandling
Experimentell: 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.
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.
Andra namn:
  • Earflo (Model EF001)

Vad mäter studien?

Primära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Change in middle ear pressure and compliance measured by tympanometry following single use of the EarFlo device
Tidsram: 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
Tidsram: 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

Sekundära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Incidence, severity, and relatedness of adverse events
Tidsram: 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.

Samarbetspartners och utredare

Det är här du hittar personer och organisationer som är involverade i denna studie.

Sponsor

Samarbetspartners

Utredare

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

Publikationer och användbara länkar

Den som ansvarar för att lägga in information om studien tillhandahåller frivilligt dessa publikationer. Dessa kan handla om allt som har med studien att göra.

Studieavstämningsdatum

Dessa datum spårar framstegen för inlämningar av studieposter och sammanfattande resultat till ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieposter och rapporterade resultat granskas av National Library of Medicine (NLM) för att säkerställa att de uppfyller specifika kvalitetskontrollstandarder innan de publiceras på den offentliga webbplatsen.

Studera stora datum

Studiestart (Beräknad)

27 augusti 2026

Primärt slutförande (Beräknad)

30 november 2027

Avslutad studie (Beräknad)

15 maj 2028

Studieregistreringsdatum

Först inskickad

21 juli 2026

Först inskickad som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

18 augusti 2026

Första postat (Faktisk)

20 augusti 2026

Uppdateringar av studier

Senaste uppdatering publicerad (Faktisk)

20 augusti 2026

Senaste inskickade uppdateringen som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

18 augusti 2026

Senast verifierad

1 augusti 2026

Mer information

Termer relaterade till denna studie

Plan för individuella deltagardata (IPD)

Planerar du att dela individuella deltagardata (IPD)?

NEJ

IPD-planbeskrivning

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.

Läkemedels- och apparatinformation, studiedokument

Studerar en amerikansk FDA-reglerad läkemedelsprodukt

Nej

Studerar en amerikansk FDA-reglerad produktprodukt

Ja

produkt tillverkad i och exporterad från U.S.A.

Nej

Denna information hämtades direkt från webbplatsen clinicaltrials.gov utan några ändringar. Om du har några önskemål om att ändra, ta bort eller uppdatera dina studieuppgifter, vänligen kontakta register@clinicaltrials.gov. Så snart en ändring har implementerats på clinicaltrials.gov, kommer denna att uppdateras automatiskt även på vår webbplats .

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