Artificial Eardrum from Silk
July 25, 2017 | Terry Sharrer
The eardrum has two main roles: it transmits sound to the sensory cells in the inner ear, and it blocks pathogens from causing inner ear infections. Surgeons can implant a graft from the patient’s own tissue, but this can be a problematic procedure. To improve this situation, bioengineers at the Ear Science Institute Australia have created a contact lens-sized artificial eardrum made from silk. Called “ClearDrum,” because it is transparent, the prosthetic supposedly transmits sound better than the real thing. MORE
Image Credit: Ear Science Institute Australia