Ménière's Disease is a complex, progressive disorder of the inner ear characterized by the feeling of dizziness or a "spinning" sensation (rotational vertigo) associated with hearing loss, fullness or pressure in the ear, and roaring or ringing in the ear (tinnitus).The cause of Ménière's Disease is nearly always idiopathic, meaning it is unknown. Research suggests that the primary problem is in the endolymphatic sac, an organ in the inner ear, which maintains the level of fluid (endolymph) in the hearing and balance canals of the inner ear. It is possible, but unproven, that a viral infection of the sac may trigger the onset of Ménière's Disease.
It has been discovered that the endolymphatic sac contains a substance that stimulates the kidneys to get rid of water and sodium. Although the nature of this substance and how it is regulated are still unknown, it is tempting to speculate that the endolymphatic sac is involved in the body's system to regulate sodium concentration. If this were true, it would explain why a low-sodium diet helps some people with Ménière's Disease.
It has been discovered that the endolymphatic sac contains a substance that stimulates the kidneys to get rid of water and sodium. Although the nature of this substance and how it is regulated are still unknown, it is tempting to speculate that the endolymphatic sac is involved in the body's system to regulate sodium concentration. If this were true, it would explain why a low-sodium diet helps some people with Ménière's Disease.
The Meniett device is a product of MEDTRONIC to alleviate Ménière's Disease symptoms.
The inner ear consists of the cochlea (hearing canal), endolymphatic sac, semicircular canals (balance canals), and the hearing and balance nerves.This image shows endolymphatic fluid circulating in the cochlea (1) and semicircular canals (2), as well as the endolymphatic sac (3), where the endolymph is accumulated.
In Ménière's Disease, excess endolymphatic fluid accumulates in the hearing and balance canals, causing pressure to build and the canals to swell. The swollen canals cannot function properly, which leads to problems with the hearing and balance systems of the ear.
Treatment begins after the Meniett device performs a leakage test to verify that the earpiece is properly sealed in the external ear canal . Once the leakage test is completed successfully, the device will begin sending pressure pulses that are transmitted to the middle ear through the ventilation tube.
Pressure pulses help reduce excess endolymphatic fluid and restore the balance of the inner ear's hydrodynamic system.
In Ménière's Disease, excess endolymphatic fluid accumulates in the hearing and balance canals, causing pressure to build and the canals to swell. The swollen canals cannot function properly, which leads to problems with the hearing and balance systems of the ear.
Treatment begins after the Meniett device performs a leakage test to verify that the earpiece is properly sealed in the external ear canal . Once the leakage test is completed successfully, the device will begin sending pressure pulses that are transmitted to the middle ear through the ventilation tube.
Pressure pulses help reduce excess endolymphatic fluid and restore the balance of the inner ear's hydrodynamic system.
The ventilation tube allows the pressure pulses to reach the middle ear, where they influence the fluid system of the inner ear through two membranes, the oval window and the round window.
Although the actual mechanisms are still not fully understood, one theory is that the action of the pressure pulses on the fluid system, combined with other physiologic reactions in the ear, forces the excess endolymphatic fluid back into the endolymphatic sac.
Once the treatment is completedthe volume of endolymphatic fluid in the inner ear has been reduced. However, the body constantly produces endolymphatic fluid, thus requiring the patient to perform the Meniett treatment on a daily basis to control the symptoms of Ménière's Disease.
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