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Pressure regulating ear plugs testing in a pressure chamber.

Special ear plugs can help air travelers who suffer from ear pain when flying. An integrated filter ensures that the air pressure in front of the eardrum much slower increases than in the aircraft cabin. Thus, the Eustachian tube promote the necessary active opening to the middle ear and with limited function.

Decisive for the schmerzverhindernde effect is the precise operation of the filter. The company INNOSAN GmbH has developed these hearing protectors, which features a high-precision pressure regulator which can regulate the extremely low air volumes accurately. SANOHRA fly ear plugs was developed in Germany and is manufactured here.

The ENT University Hospital Charité in Berlin has studies with subjects who reported a history of pressure equalization problems in rapid changes in ambient pressure performed.

Here, the study participants were exposed in a pressure chamber conditions that correspond to those on the landing approach. When using SANOHRA fly ear plugs the pressure changes were perceived by participants as more pleasant.

Pressure regulating ear plugs tested in a pressure chamber: In June 2010, the scientific study of Charité Berlin on the subject was

as article in the Journal & quot; Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine & quot; the publisher & quot; Aerospace Medical Association & quot; (ASMA) published.

Studie

Jumah MD, Schlachta M, Hoelzl M, Werner A, Sedlmaier B.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité ©-University Medicine Berlin, Germany.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Middle ear barotrauma is a condition frequently associated with flying. It is usually caused by Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction. Pressure-regulating earplugs (PREP) should improve complaints due to pressure equalization problems.

METHODS: There were 21 patients with a history of pressure equalization problems while flying who were examined. ET function was measured with exploratory tests and in a pressure chamber. In a double-blind study, PREP were examined using continuous impedance measurement in the pressure chamber. Eardrum deflection and pressure-equalizing maneuvers were also examined. During pressure exposure the subjective state of patients with and without PREP was compared.

RESULTS: Evidence of ET dysfunction was found in twice as many patients with the impedance method in a pressure chamber compared to tympanometry or the Valsalva test. Use of PREP reduced the rate of pressure changes in the external auditory canal. Maximum pressure was reached with a delay of about 7 min. The number of pressure-equalizing maneuvers did not differ significantly. Using PREP the patients reported a significantly better subjective state on the VAS scale of 2.19 +/- 1.50 compared to 3.38 +/- 2.33 without PREP.
CONCLUSIONS: Continuous impedance measurements in the pressure chamber identified ET dysfunction more often than the exploratory ET function tests commonly used in routine diagnostics. This novel finding requires further validation. Although use of PREP showed no signs of improving ET function, it did significantly improve individual subjective state during sudden pressure changes.

Quelle:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20540447