The Tympa Health Journey: From Clinical Challenge to Tech Solution

Krishan is an ENT surgeon with a Ph.D. in global hearing health. In the early years of his career, while serving as a junior resident on the geriatric service, Krishan encountered a significant number of patients with undiagnosed hearing loss. He realized that this issue extended beyond just geriatric patients. Recognizing the scarcity of specialists and their lengthy waitlists, Krishan conceived the idea of developing a device to assess prevalent ear conditions such as hearing loss, cerumen impaction, and infections through a more accessible approach for primary care clinicians.

The TympaHealth device is a specialized otoscope that connects to a mobile viewing device, enabling high-definition imaging of the tympanic membrane. It also incorporates a spacing mechanism to facilitate cerumen removal with use of a standard suction probe, eliminating the need for a microscope. Additionally, the device is accompanied by headphones for accurate hearing screening assessments. TympaHealth offers a training program for healthcare clinicians to administer the service. In case of uncertainty regarding a finding, clinicians can alert a specialist for remote review and guidance with just one click. TympaHealth recently launched in the US and is currently conducting pilot studies.

Then, the hosts discuss the challenges of establishing a startup, including attracting investigators and building a diverse team. For physicians interested in entrepreneurship, Krishan highlights networking events as a way to gain insight into the commercial world and master the art of giving compelling pitches to potential investors.