It seems politics and money are keeping this device from being launched, which will be difficult for people to understand, especially given the lack of open communication from anyone in Auricle about the next steps.
Who is benefitting from the device not being released? Big Audiology doesn't want Auricle to succeed because they'll have too many customers. The US government likes paying over a billion in disability checks to veterans because no politician can think of any pork spending they'd rather spend that billion on. Team Blue and Team Red somehow benefit from veterans, blue-collar workers, musicians, and the rest of us dealing with this horrible affliction.
We all benefit from the FDA vetting drugs and medical devices. It sucks that the department could use another 1,000 scientists to move things along much faster, but this is what we have.
I hate that my ears screech at me all day long, but I prefer to be protected from grifters. We didn't experience the thalidomide disaster that Europe did because of the FDA. We've also been protected from countless worthless or harmful drugs over the years. The FDA isn't perfect, but it is a million times better than I could do. I don't have the medical training to thoroughly vet a medical study. And, even if I did, I can't keep a clear perspective when it is something so close to me and something I so desperately want to work on.
Also, without the FDA vetting things, it might reduce the incentive for real scientists to do solid research. Why do things correctly when your voice will be drowned out by 1,000 grifters selling to desperate people? Why invest in a drug/research when you can invest in a catchy sales pitch instead?
The University of Michigan developed MRIs, and after a few years, they rolled them out to the world. I'm hoping this doesn't take a few years to roll out, but I'm hopeful that U of Michigan, Dr. Shore, and Auricle can build a solid company and get this rolled out to audiologists worldwide.
I worry about its effectiveness on my tinnitus, but I have little worry about conspiracies preventing this from coming to market. We have to remember that Dr. Shore has always moved slowly and cautiously, and sadly, going from university testing machine to consumer product takes time.