A Piezoelectric Bellows Round-Window Driver (PBRD) for Middle-Ear Implants

Active middle ear implant coupled bilaterally to the round window despite bilateral implanted stapes prostheses.

After stapes surgery, patients with mixed or moderate hearing loss have limited possibilities for hearing improvement. We are reporting on a patient who underwent stapedotomy bilaterally 20 years ago and had sensorineural and mixed hearing loss. Recurrent otitis externa prevented the use of hearing aids. This patient was treated bilaterally with the Vibrant Soundbridge (Med-El, Innsbruck, Austr...

Passive and active middle ear implants

Besides eradication of chronic middle ear disease, the reconstruction of the sound conduction apparatus is a major goal of modern ear microsurgery. The material of choice in cases of partial ossicular replacement prosthesis is the autogenous ossicle. In the event of more extensive destruction of the ossicular chain diverse alloplastic materials, e. g. metals, ceramics, plastics or composits are...

Implementation of a direct install 3-pole type EM transducer in round window niche for implantable middle ear hearing aids.

Since the 1980's, various types of implantable hearing aids using unique means for delivering acoustic power to the inner ear have been developed. Recently, implantable hearing aids that stimulate the round window by the middle ear transducer have received great attention because it reduces loading effect at the ossicular chain. In this study, we have implemented a direct install 3-pole type EM...

Round Window Application of an Active Middle Ear Implant: A Comparison With Hearing Aid Usage in Japan

OBJECTIVE To report on the safety and efficacy of an investigational active middle ear implant (AMEI) in Japan, and to compare results to preoperative results with a hearing aid. DESIGN Prospective study conducted in Japan in which 23 Japanese-speaking adults suffering from conductive or mixed hearing loss received a VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE with implantation at the round window. Postoperative thr...

Safe MR scanning of patients with metallic middle ear implants