Thanks to a new medical imaging device invented by University of Illinois researchers, doctors can now visualize areas behind the eardrum to better diagnose and treat chronic ear infections.

Studies have found that patients who suffer from chronic ear infections may have a film of bacteria or other microorganisms that builds up behind the eardrum, very similar to dental plaque on unbrushed teeth. Finding and monitoring these so-called biofilms are important for successfully identifying and treating chronic ear infections.

Antibiotics don’t always work well if you have a biofilm, because the bacteria protect themselves and develop resistance. In addition, middle-ear biofilms are difficult to diagnose. A doctor looking through a standard otoscope sees only the eardrum’s outer surface. Invasive tests can provide evidence of a biofilm, but are unpleasant for the patient and cannot be used routinely.

The new device (pictured below) is an application of a technique called optical coherence tomography (OCT), a non-invasive imaging system. It uses beams of light to collect high-resolution, 3-D tissue images, scanning through the eardrum to the biofilm behind it. The concept is similar to ultrasound imaging, but uses light instead of sound.

The single scan is performed in a fraction of a second, which is helpful for treating squirming children. The scan will image a few millimeters deep behind the eardrum, allowing doctors to see not only the presence of a biofilm, but also how thick it is and its position against the eardrum.

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