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OtoNexus Medical Technologies: A Revolutionary Device for Diagnosing Middle Ear Infections

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Caitlin Cameron, CEO

Middle ear infections are the number one reason for both surgery and antibiotic prescriptions for children, accounting for more than 30 million annual pediatric visits and up to $15 billion in estimated healthcare and related costs every year in the U.S. With shorter and near-horizontal Eustachian tubes that get blocked easily with mucus, 90 percent of children contract middle ear infection. The lack of an effective method or solution to accurately diagnose middle ear infection is mainly responsible for children being subject to unnecessary antibiotics. Overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of resistant organisms, a world-wide healthcare challenge.

Although the Centre for Disease Control suggests prescribing antibiotics for about 15 percent of all middle ear infections, they are actually prescribed nearly 85 percent of the time. On the one hand, owing to the lack of a handy and accurate solution to precisely detect the cause of the middle ear infection, physicians tend to prescribe antibiotics “just to be safe.” Having to see 25-40 patients a day pediatricians need a tool that can quickly determine the appropriate treatment. Moreover, infants can be fussy with all the squirming during a consultation, making it all the more difficult for diagnosis and treatment. On the other hand, “watchful method” of middle ear infection diagnosis and treatment can also be inconvenient to the working parents for whom, an episode of their child’s middle ear infection means no daycare and missing several days of work.

Nonetheless, the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Middle Ear Infections states that antibiotic therapy should not be prescribed unless the diagnosis is unequivocal. Unfortunately, today physicians do not have tools that will provide quantitative data and are in a frustrating and challenging position.

To this end, OtoNexus Medical Technologies has developed an easy to use device that provides the diagnostic data needed by physicians to determine clearly when an antibiotic is appropriate for a middle ear infection. “Our goal is to decrease the usage of antibiotic therapy by 50% for the treatment for middle ear infections by instantly providing doctors with quantitative diagnostic data that will differentiate the four disease states of middle ear infection,” says Caitlin Cameron, CEO at OtoNexus.

In our product development research, a focus group survey of 60 physicians got 100 percent positive results - every single doctor said they would buy the product as described

OtoNexus has developed a unique patented miniaturized ultrasound transducer that can be placed in the tip of a speculum. The transducer scans the middle ear for effusion behind the tympanic membrane and characterizes the type of fluid present. It provides a quantitative score to the physician so they can determine if an antibiotic prescription is necessary. In effect, the company’s ultrasound otoscope provides data in seconds for pediatricians to instantly know the best treatment for middle ear infections.

The OtoNexus device resembles an otoscope in shape and usage to fit seamlessly into the pediatricians’ current routine with no learning curve, additional steps, or interpretation necessary. It provides actionable quantitative data that is not available today with any other technology or tool. The use of this data significantly improves patient care while adhering to the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines. The data can also be shared with parents to enhance their understanding of the treatment plan for their child. All in all, the OtoNexus device reduces the ear examination to a two-second process. The physicians can immediately have the information they need to treat appropriately with antibiotics and practice good antimicrobial stewardship.

Despite being in the developmental stage, and awaiting FDA approval, the OtoNexus device have garnered testimonials from the physician community. “In our product development research, a focus group survey of 60 physicians got 100 percent positive results - every single doctor said they would buy the product as described,” prides Caitlin. OtoNexus has also established that there will be a reimbursement code for the use of the device. This will translate as an economic appeal for physicians as currently, they are not reimbursed for performing middle ear infections exams with a standard otoscope.

OtoNexus is, therefore, in a unique position to minimize unnecessary antibiotics, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the cost of care at the same time—a valuable trifecta in healthcare. Improving the diagnosis of middle ear infection is long over due. The OtoNexus device is the first device that permits physicians to acquire objective data about the status of the middle ear and provide an objective basis for treatment decision-making. The physician can then decide whether watchful waiting or antibiotic therapy is appropriate on a rational basis.

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Company
OtoNexus Medical Technologies

Headquarters
Seattle, WA

Management
Caitlin Cameron, CEO

Description
OtoNexus has developed an easy-to-use device that provides the right diagnostic data needed by physicians to determine clearly when an antibiotic is appropriate for a middle ear infection. The OtoNexus device resembles an otoscope in shape and usage to fit seamlessly into the pediatricians’ current routine with no learning curve, additional steps, or interpretation necessary. It provides actionable quantitative data that is not available today with any other technology or tool. The use of this data significantly improves patient care while adhering to the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines. The data can also be shared with parents to enhance their understanding of the treatment plan for their child.