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Tula
The Tula System is an FDA-approved, in-office solution for tube placement. It allows Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctors to comfortably place ear tubes in awake children during an office visit.
Components of the Tula System
- A numbing medication used to gently numb the ear canal.
- A specially designed earplug that holds the numbing solution in place, connected with a small device that uses a very low electrical current to transport the medication to the eardrum.
- A specialized tube‑delivery system used to place the ear tube safely and precisely.
- Tula ear tubes, made to be similar to the size, function, and quality of tubes typically 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/play with toys during this time, but should not touch the earplugs or cables. Throughout the procedure, you may remain with your child or they 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. Your child must remain still while 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, they 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.
Important Safety Information About the Tula® System
Our office uses the Tula® System as an option for in‑office ear tube placement. The information below summarizes important safety considerations for families considering this procedure.
The Tula System is intended to create a myringotomy and insert a tympanostomy tube in pediatric patients (ages 6 months and older) and adults who need ear tubes. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia delivered through the Tula Iontophoresis System using TYMBION™, a specialized numbing medication.
Tula may not be appropriate for patients with:
- Certain types of abnormal ear anatomy
- Known sensitivity or allergy to lidocaine or other local anesthetics
- Electrically sensitive medical implants such as pacemakers
Possible risks include inadequate local anesthesia, dizziness, or other risks typically associated with tympanostomy tube placement.
Rx only.
Please refer to the Tula Instructions for Use (IFU) and the TYMBION Drug Package Insert, available at: