Otoscopic examination using white-light illumination has remained virtually unchanged for well over a century. However, the limited contrast of white-light otoscopy constrains the ability to make accurate assessment of middle ear pathology and is subject to significant observer variability. Here, we employ a modified otoscope with multi-color imaging capabilities for superior characterization o...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Many designs of prostheses are available for middle ear surgery. In this study we propose a design for a new prosthesis, which optimises mechanical performance in the human middle ear and improves some deficiencies in the prostheses currently available. Our objective was to design and assess the theoretical acoustic-mechanical behaviour of this new total ossicular rep...

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of Z-palatopharyngoplasty plus radiofrequency of the base of the tongue on middle ear function. DESIGN A retrospective review of a prospective data set at a tertiary care center. SETTING University-affiliated medical center. PATIENTS The study population included 47 patients (42 men and 5 women; mean age, 40.8 years) who underwent Z-palatopharyngoplasty plus ...

BACKGROUND A systematic quantitative review was conducted of evidence relating parental smoking to acute otitis media, recurrent otitis media, middle ear effusion, and adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy. METHODS Forty five relevant publications were identified after consideration of 692 articles selected by electronic search of the Embase and Medline databases using keywords relevant to passi...

Biographies Danny Kelly is a PhD student in the Bioengineering Group at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. He graduated with a first class honors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Trinity College in 1999. For his masters degree in 2001 he wrote a thesis entitled " A study of middle ear biomechanics using the finite element method ". A W Blayney is a consultant ENT surgeon and P J Prendergast...