Apparatus and methods for directly displacing the partition between the middle ear and inner ear at an infrasonic frequency

摘要

An apparatus for displacing a partition between a middle ear and an inner ear to treat the symptoms of Meniere's disease or endolymphatic hydrops comprises a treatment member for being disposed in the middle ear adjacent the partition and a driver for driving the treatment member to move against the partition to thereby displace the partition at an infrasonic frequency to influence fluid distribution in the inner ear. A method for treating an ear comprises the steps of disposing a treatment device within the middle ear and moving at least a portion of the treatment device against the partition at an infrasonic frequency to displace the partition to influence fluid in the inner ear.