Abstract: A myringotomy tube is disclosed for transtympanic placement in an ear to ventilate the middle ear and relieve infection. The tube includes body with a bore that is angled to provide a view of portions of the middle ear that are not immediately in line with a longitudinal axis of the body. An extension member is attached to the body, and may be grasped by forceps to rotate the tube, and direct the line of view through the bore to different portions of the ear. Rotation of the body and its angled bore permits a panoramic view of the inner ear. The extension may also be grasped by forceps to extract the tube from the ear. Longer extensions, that protrude out of the external opening of the auditory canal, may be used for temporary placement and manual digital removal without requiring forceps.

Abstract: A molecularly imprinted substrate and sensors employing the imprinted substrate for detecting the presence or absence of analytes are described. One embodiment of the invention comprises first forming a solution comprising a solvent and (a) a polymeric material capable of undergoing an addition reaction with a nitrene, (b) a crosslinking agent (c) a functionalizing monomer and (d) an imprinting molecule. A silicon wafer is spincoated with the solution. The solvent is evaporated to form a film on the silicon wafer. The film is exposed to an energy source to crosslink the substrate, and the imprinting molecule is then extracted from the film. The invention can be used to detect an analyte by forming films which are then exposed to a reaction energy to form a crosslinked substrate. The imprinting molecules are extracted from the crosslinked substrate. The film is exposed to one or more of the imprinting molecules for a period of time sufficient to couple the imprinting molecules to the film.