New ear‑canal sensor that measures sound pressure and tiny air movements to check ear health
Official title: Velocity/Pressure Dual-Sensing Probe for Acoustic Measurements in the Human Ear Canal
Funded at State University of Ny,binghamton · NIH-11344060 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small ear‑canal device that reads both sound pressure and tiny air movements to help find ear and hearing problems in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of Ny,binghamton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Binghamton, United States) |
| Project start | May 4, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $386,911 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC023592-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11344060 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include people having hearing checks or diagnostic ear exams—such as newborns, children, adults with hearing changes, or anyone suspected of having middle‑ear or cochlear dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
People whose hearing issues arise from central (brain) auditory problems, those with significant outer‑ear blockage, or those with active ear infections may not benefit from this device.
What this research studies
You would have a tiny probe placed in the ear canal that records both acoustic pressure and the tiny movement of air (particle velocity) at the same time. Combining these two signals lets researchers characterize ear‑canal sound behavior in a single brief measurement, so results are less sensitive to probe placement and easier to calibrate. The device is designed to pick up otoacoustic emissions at much lower levels than current microphones, meaning quieter ear responses can be detected with less test time. The team will compare the new dual‑sensor probe to standard pressure‑only probes in the lab and with volunteer participants to show improved reliability and usability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make common hearing tests more accurate, faster, and easier to perform, leading to earlier and more reliable detection of ear and cochlear problems.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory work has explored related measurements, but using combined pressure and particle‑velocity sensing inside the human ear canal is largely new and not yet widely tested clinically.
Where this research is happening
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State University of Ny,binghamton
Binghamton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Jian — State University of Ny,binghamton
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Jian
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.