New technology for vertigo diagnosis

Purpose and goal

The aim of the present project was to establish a new method for diagnosis of dizziness based on Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) using bone conduction stimulation. A new bone conductor vibrator called B250 has been optimized for stimulation at 250 Hz. This vibrator has been shown to provide clearer and stronger VEMP responses than before and at sound stimulation levels that have been felt to be much more comfortable than before where the sound levels required were on the verge of being able to give permanent hearing damage.

Expected results and effects

The result of the project is that patients now can be diagnosed using VEMP at 30-40 dB lower noise levels than with previously used air conduction stimulation. In addition, B250 now can be used in VEMP investigations on patients who also have a mechanical obstruction/malfunction in the ear canal and/or middle ear which was impossible before.

Planned approach and implementation

The evaluation of the new B250 bone conductor has been performed on three normal hearing subjects as well as one test subject with a maximum conduction hearing loss. In all cases, clinically useful VEMP responses were obtained which is very promising and has led to a great interest in Sweden and internationally to do further clinical studies with the goal to establish a new standard in this field.

External links

Pressmeddelande från Chalmers veckan efter att den vetenskapliga rapporten blivit publicerad. Artikeln i Medical devices: Evidence and Research at Dove Press.