Defense dollars and tinnitus R&D

Tinnitus is a condition that afflicts about 12% of adults aged 55 to 65. Other younger adults, US combat service veterans are also affected. According to a recent Scientific American article, the U.S. Department of Defense has commissioned a firm to address the problem by developing the concept for a small delivery device inserted near the membrane-covered window separating the middle ear from the inner ear. Once there, the device would utilize embedded micro-wireless to allow controlled  release of a drug into the cochlea. When the device has used up its supply of drugs, it would dissolve.

The project is in the very early stages and years away from any clinical testing.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=tinnitus-treatment