Wireless communications tackle vertigo in Meniere's sufferers

e14news — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 07:10:39 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by e14news on 10/7/2021 7:10:39 AM
Sufferers of Meniere's disease could escape hours of lying motionless on their backs thanks to innovative use of wireless communications.

The condition is linked with leakages in the inner-ear membranes and can disrupt the brain's normal awareness of balance.

When an attack strikes, the patient is typically thrown off balance to an extreme that can cause vertigo and nausea.

But a new cochlear implant developed at the University of Washington can help to overcome the attack using wireless communications.

The individual can trigger a signal from outside the body which is transmitted to an implant within their inner-ear canal.

In turn, this transmits electrical signals which block the brain's own processing of balance and shut out the inaccuracies of the leaking inner ear.

Further innovations from the academic institution in recent weeks include a means of conducting brain surgery without causing scarring, by entering through the eye socket.