EarFlo, a medical device that treats otitis media with effusion, won the World Congress of Audiology (WCA) Innovation Prize this past September in Paris, France.
Disguised as a sippy cup, the EarFlo was created by a group including Peter Santa Maria, MD, PhD, Vice Chair of Clinical and Translational Research, Chief, Division of Otology/Neurotology, Director of Faculty Innovation, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Matthew Oldakowski (an engineer in Australia); and Jozef Bartunek (a cardiologist from Belgium).
Dr. Santa Maria described the competition as akin to the TV show Shark Tank. Around 10 finalists pitched to a panel of judges. To be eligible, the innovation had to address an unmet medical need.
“It’s a really good recognition for the EarFlo team that audiologists and ENTs also see the value in potentially having a non-surgical treatment,” Dr. Santa Maria said.
He recalled the question-and-answer period during the pitch when one of the ENT surgeons stood up in the crowd. Dr. Santa Maria was thinking he would pitch second or third, but this surgeon said about EarFlo, “I don’t need to hear anything else. You’re going to win. This is such an amazing invention.”
“It was really fun to have that feedback live,” Dr. Santa Maria said.
The award and prize were presented during the plenary session of the WCA. Dr. Santa Maria then had the opportunity to showcase EarFlo to an international audience. EarFlo is also receiving extensive media coverage.
Stay tuned for a forthcoming Sight + Sound article, which goes in depth about the EarFlo.