Dr. Hamid Djalilian, Dr. Harrison Lin, and Dr. Fan Gang Zeng contributed to the development of a transtympanic electrical stimulation system for the treatment of tinnitus. A patent was recently issued for the system, which is designed to deliver electrical stimulation directly to the inner ear. Unlike traditional treatments that rely on sound therapy or cochlear implants, this device offers a non-invasive alternative for treating tinnitus that can benefit a broader range of patients, including those without severe hearing loss.

Dr. Djalilian and his team also recently learned that a patent on the custom combination of nortriptyline and topiramate has been allowed for the treatment of tinnitus. There are plans to bring this custom combination to market as the first medication for tinnitus treatment. This development follows a randomized clinical trial published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, where participants showed improved outcomes based on the Tinnitus Functional Index and Visual Analog Scale.

A third patent was also recently granted: an oral irrigation system for managing bad breath and tonsil stones.