New therapy option Doctors use silkworms to repair the eardrum

Experts are developing new ways to treat a perforated eardrum
Millions of people in the world suffer from chronic otitis media. This disease can lead to a perforated eardrum and affect hearing. Researchers now developed a way to restore the hearing of affected patients with the help of small silkworms.

Scientists from the Ear Science Institute Australia, the University of WA's Ear Science Center and Deakin University found in their study that silkworms can be used to repair a painfully damaged eardrum. The doctors published a press release on the results of their study.

A middle ear infection is very painful and can lead to a perforated eardrum. With the help of silkworms, doctors have now developed an implant that can restore the affected person's eardrum. (Image: Klaus Eppele - fotolia)

Scientists develop tiny device with the help of silkworms
Chronic middle ear inflammation reduces hearing and causes dangerous health complications. These may also include infections that cost the lives of nearly 30,000 people each year, the authors of the study explain. A combination of cutting-edge science and silkworms led to the development of a tiny device known as ClearDrum. The look and size of the device are similar to a contact lens, say the experts.

Biocompatible silk implant ClearDrum works better than original eardrum
This revolutionary new technology is the result of several design, manufacturing, test and analysis teams from the Ear Science Institute Australia and the Ear Science Center at the University of WA in collaboration with Deakin University experts. The scientists have succeeded in creating a small, biocompatible silk implant called ClearDrum. The patient's cells then grow and thrive there, eventually leading to a healed eardrum. The implant has been tested in laboratories for many years and works better than the original eardrum, explain the scientists.

Biocompatibility of ClearDrum is particularly high
The so-called biocompatibility, which describes the strength and transparency of the implant for the patient, is better than ever before. A reduced complexity and operating time offers an even greater advantage. This allows the implant to be used in more cases and by more surgeons in different countries.

About 330 million people suffer from a perforated eardrum
Chronic middle ear infection is the most common cause of perforated eardrums. Worldwide, about 330 million people are suffering from the problem. The infections of the middle ear often lead to damage to the eardrum and the so-called mastoid bone, explain the physicians. Affected suffer from hearing loss and pain in the ears.

How does the previous treatment of a perforated eardrum work??
Current surgical procedures normally used for the repair of a perforated eardrum involve the preparation of transplants from the patient's own tissue. For this purpose, specialized and very sensitive microsurgery technique is used, explain the authors. Often the patient has to undergo further surgical intervention due to limitations of current methods.

New method is less invasive and not so expensive
The innovative new treatment method is expected to be less expensive and less invasive. In addition, it leads to a promising and faster healing of the eardrum, explain the researchers. The implant should now be brought to market as quickly as possible. (As)