The Tula® difference
The Tula System allows Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctors to comfortably place ear tubes in awake children during an office visit. The system consists of:
- A numbing drug solution
- A specially-designed earplug that keeps the solution in the ear canals and a small device connected to the earplug that uses a very low electric current to transport the medicine to the eardrum
- A specialized tube delivery system
- Tula ear tubes, designed to be similar in size, function, and quality as ear tubes commonly used in the operating room
How does the TULA procedure work?
Step 1.
You and your child will meet the care team and get settled in the doctor’s office. The doctor will examine your child’s ears and size them for the earplugs.
Step 2.
The doctor will fill each ear with the numbing drug solution and place an earplug in each ear to keep the solution in place.
Step 3.
Your child will be quietly occupied for about 10 minutes, while the system uses a very low electrical current to deliver the numbing medicine to the eardrum. Your child may watch videos or play with toys during this time but should not touch the earplugs or cables. Throughout the procedure, you may remain with your child or your child may be seated in your lap.
Step 4.
Once your child’s ear drums are numb, a doctor’s assistant gently holds the child’s head still while the doctor quickly and safely inserts the tubes using a specialized device. In order to minimize the time your child must remain still, the specialized tube delivery system inserts the tube in less than half a second per ear.
Step 5.
Once the doctor has completed both ears, he/she will do one last check, and you and your child are free to go home. The procedure typically lasts about 35 minutes. Most children can return to normal activities right after the insertion of the ear tubes.