Scientists from the University of Washington will insert a vestibular prosthesis into a 56-year-old Washington man’s head in a bid to stop the vomiting and dizziness caused by Meniere's disease - a balance disorder characterised by episodes of vertigo and tinnitus.
The device consists of a cochlear implant and processor made from a configuration of electrodes. The patient wears the processor behind the affected ear and activates it as an attack starts. The processor then wirelessly signals the implant device, which in turn transmits electrical impulses that will attempt to rewire the body’s balance centre.
Dr James Phillips, one of the clinicians who spent four years developing the device, said, "It's an override. It doesn't change what's happening in the ear, but it eliminates the symptoms while replacing the function of that ear until it recovers".
The disease affects hearing and balance with varying intensity and frequency but can be extremely debilitating. Its episodic attacks are thought to stem from the rupture of an inner-ear membrane. Surgery is often an effective option, but it typically causes the patient to sacrifice function in the affected ear to halt the vertigo.
A successful human trial could lead the implant to become the first-choice surgical intervention for Meniere's patients, Dr Phillips said, and spark collaboration with other researchers who are studying more widespread balance disorders.
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