A widespread Condition in Need of Transformative Treatment
Obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) affects 5-15% of the adult population and up to 25% of the pediatric population. It occurs when the small passageway connecting the nasal cavity to the middle ear becomes blocked or fails to open properly. This condition lead to reduces mucociliary drainage and disrupts the normal equalization of air pressure between the middle ear and the environment. This leads to persistent and distressing symptoms, which may inhibit everyday activities and interfere with daily life. The condition causes deep discomfort, hearing issues, and in some cases, chronic complications.
For many, current treatment options are limited, leaving a significant number of patients without effective long-term relief.
Common symptoms of ETD include:
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The Challenge: Resource-Heavy Procedures
While some mild cases of ETD may resolve on their own, many cases require intervention. The most effective surgical option—Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty (BET) - also called balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (BDET)—is a minimally invasive procedure that helps open the Eustachian tube. However, the current approach to Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty, is complex, costly, labour-inefficient, and limiting its availability to specialized centers. Because it often requires anesthesia and a full medical team, the procedure is sometimes both resource-intensive for clinics and hospitals, while at the same time physically and financially demanding for patients.
What would be a game changing treatment? Efficient, Scalable, and Accessible
At Venteus it is our goal to make Balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube more accessible for patients and doctors. How? With less burdensome, laborious and time-consuming procedures.
We are currently working on a new medical device, which will change BET by simplifying the procedure and making the treatment both more efficient and widely accessible.
Streamlined Procedure
Increased Efficiency
Lower Costs
Expanded Access
By eliminating the barriers to BET, our device opens the door to a more scalable and cost-effective ETD treatment, improving patient outcomes while optimizing clinical operations.
Frequently asked questions
What causes ETD?
ETD can be caused by various factors, including colds, flu, allergies, and sinus infections, which can lead to inflammation and mucosa thickening in the Eustachian tubes. Children have a much higher risk of developing ETD partly due to developing anatomy.
What is Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD)?
ETD occurs when the small passage connecting the middle ear to the nasal cavity becomes blocked or fails to function properly. This prevents normal pressure equalization and can lead to symptoms like ear fullness, muffled hearing, pain, and tinnitus.
Why is ETD difficult to treat?
Mild cases may resolve on their own, but persistent ETD often requires medical intervention. Current treatment options are either temporary or require complex procedures that involve multiple medical staff, making them costly, difficult to access and burdensome for both healthcare and patients.
How does Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty (BET) work?
BET is a minimally invasive procedure in which a small balloon is inserted through the nose into the Eustachian tube and inflated to gently open the passage, restoring normal function. However, traditional BET procedures require anesthesia and a team of 2-5 medical professionals, making it a high-effort intervention for the clinics, as well as demanding for the patients.
What makes Venteus' solution for BET different?
Our new medical device simplifies the BET procedure, reducing the need for anesthesia and healthcare personnel. This makes treatment more efficient, cost-effective, and accessible to more clinics and patients.
Who can benefit from this new treatment approach?
- Patients with persistent ETD will be able to undergo an ambulatory (in & out) treatment, instead of being hospitalized. Furthermore, due to lower need for resources, the treatment will become significantly cheaper. Finally, due to no need for anasthesia, the treatment is safer.
- With improved accessibility, more clinics will be able to offer BET as a viable solution & clinics which are already performing BET will be able to increase their patient turnover with lower human resources involved.
How will this device impact clinics?
By streamlining the procedure, clinics can treat more patients efficiently, reduce operational costs, and expand their service offerings without requiring extensive staff involvement.
Has it been tested?
Naturally, our device has been designed and tested with high involvement of oto-rhino-laryngologists and medical personnel. It follows a user-centered design, to facilitate the process for both the doctor and the patient.