Device for treatment of barotrauma of the middle ear

摘要

A device for treatment of barotrauma of the middle ear includes a flexible backing portion carrying a peripheral annular cushion portion which fits over and encloses the outer ear. The cushion portion is deformable under hand pressure applied against the flexible backing to fit the contours of the exterior portion of the head around the outer ear. A hand pressure-activated chemical heating package is carried in the device. The package contains chemicals separated in separate compartments. When one of the compartments is ruptured and the chemicals subsequently mixed, an exothermic reaction is produced. The heat generated by the exothermic reaction, when the device is held over the outer ear, is transmitted to the inner ear to treat the barotrauma by directly reducing its painful effects and by increasing the volume of the air in the middle ear.