Artificial cochlea

See :
http://researchenterprise.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/artificial-cochlea-study-group-seeks-collaborators/

Infusion device and microscopic tube possible tool to treat cochlea deafness

A infusion device and miscrosopic tube developed by French scientists might possible be a useful tool to deliver stem cells or other healing agents directly into the cochlea if the micro-surgery does not cause damage to the inner ear.

See :

http://www.neurosystec.com/Phase_1b_Clinical_Trial-Eng_Long_8-17-09.pdf

Some recent update :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1242460/Revealed-The-drug-end-misery-tinnitus.html

Electrodes possible device to treat or reduce T

hiI read a scientist in Belgium has implanted 30 patients with electrodesto reduce T with some success. See below which is 2008 aricle. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7175306.stm?(external (external link, opens new browser window) link,?opens new browser window)

Just the other day (28 Sep Mon or so), I read 38 blind volunteers (I think it is from US) have volunteered to test electrodes which enabled them to see some images. The results was hailed as a success and it was stated the cure for blindness , 1 of the holy grail , was found.

Hearing loss and tinnitus next ?

The article also mentioned a Germany scientist has 1 success by running electrical current near the brain. So fellow T sufferers in Germany may want find out more from that German scientist, Berthold Langguth, who is a neurologist in Germany.

Antibody Against Cancerous Stem Cell

It appear 1 of the major problems with stem cell therapy is that the stem cells which are being re-generated (by the new technologies) might grow and grow ie after the damaged part in our inner ear is replaced with the regenerated stem cells, the stem cells might still continue growing and become cancerous. This is of course not acceptable. I found this article which said a Bioprocessing Technology Institute's researchers have uncovered a protein that kills only embryonic stem cells. This will prevent the potential cancer risk of future stem cell cures.So it seem the barriers are coming down, slowly but surely!

Ps : It might be also of real practical importance now that since this month Sep of 2009, e-mails are starting to come out from China that a Qingdao hospital there is starting to use stem cell to treat human nerve deafness.

See :

http://www.singaporemedicine.com/news/new0201c.asp?id=6068


For more scientific details, seehttp://www.bti.a-star.edu.sg/ASTAR_team_Develops_First_Cytotoxic_Antibody_against_Undifferentiated_Stem_Cells.pdf

Nanotechnology

See :


http://www.nanoear.org/disease-burden.html

Delivery engine for use in treatment

See :

http://www.nanobmi.com/images/OAD_Technology_for_Inner_Ear_Therapeutics_June_2009.pdf

Spiral tissue for treatment

See (the Spanish are also working hard):

http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-deafness&tid=4884