A homegrown invention treating a common chronic ear condition in infants is ready to expand clinical trials in Perth and the WA outback.
A homegrown invention treating a common chronic ear condition in infants is ready to expand clinical trials in Perth and the WA outback.
The Perth-founded EarFlo has been put through its paces in a small scale clinical trial where 80 per cent of children using the device have shown improvement after a five-minute session.
The device looks like a sippy cup and delivers air through a child’s nose while drinking to clear out fluid causing glue ear, a condition affecting up to 90 per cent of children at least once which can cause hearing, balance and sleep problems, as well as pain and irritability.
With initial trial success, the firm is now reaching out for more participants in Perth and engaging the Earbus Foundation to take the product up to the Pilbara.
EarFlo co-founder Intan Oldakowska said the next stage of the trial would see parents take the device home for daily use with their children.
“It looks very familiar to the child and can fit easily within the morning and evening routine during mealtimes,” she said.
“Over a period of two to four weeks of daily treatment what we would like to see is the fluid in the middle ear can be drained and the hearing can be restored to the child so they can get earlier treatment to avoid developmental delay and avoid the surgery.
“We are really hopeful that this can be a good startup and good success story for WA.”
EarFlo is among 17 ideas up for the state government’s innovator of the year awards, nominated in the emerging innovation, great for the state and wellbeing categories.
The company founders, all from Perth, met in the US, came up with the idea at California’s Stanford Hospital and are now split between the two countries.
Ms Oldakowska said having a presence in the US would help commercialise the product.
“Having people on the pulse with the US market is really, really critical,” she said.
“In WA there is a small industry, but it's definitely growing.
“Everyone in this ecosystem knows each other and we really try hard to help each other out.”
Glue ear is currently treated by waiting to see if the issue can resolve on its own or surgery and insertion of a tube through the eardrum. Surgery wait times can be as long as three years.
