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Middle Ear Implants

Middle ear implants (MEIs) are hearing devices that directly stimulate the ossicular chain in the middle ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. There are two main types - piezoelectric and electromagnetic - that convert sound waves into vibrations. MEIs are indicated for moderate to severe sensorineural or conductive hearing loss when traditional hearing aids don't work. They consist of external and internal components including a microphone, processor, and transducer that vibrates the ossicles or round window. MEIs provide an alternative to hearing aids for certain types of hearing loss.

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125 views2 pages

Middle Ear Implants

Middle ear implants (MEIs) are hearing devices that directly stimulate the ossicular chain in the middle ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. There are two main types - piezoelectric and electromagnetic - that convert sound waves into vibrations. MEIs are indicated for moderate to severe sensorineural or conductive hearing loss when traditional hearing aids don't work. They consist of external and internal components including a microphone, processor, and transducer that vibrates the ossicles or round window. MEIs provide an alternative to hearing aids for certain types of hearing loss.

Uploaded by

Pulkit
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Middle Ear Implants

DEFINITION

MEI have been developed to overcome the limitations of Conventional Hearing Aids.
They utilizes a hearing technology that directly drives the ossicular chain, bypassing the ear canal and
tympanic membrane.

VIBROPLASTY

Vibroplasty is the treatment of hearing loss via vibratory stimulation in the middle ear with varied
stimulation paths ranging from ossicles to direct placement of MEI Transducer over the round
window.
Direct stimulation of round window helps to treat both Conductive & Mixed Deafness unlike
ossicular prosthesis.

INDICATIONS

1. Moderate to severe Cochlear or SNHL.


2. CHL where there is total loss of ossicles or failed
tympanoplasties.
3. Mixed hearing loss in otosclerosis
4. Patients experiencing difficulty with their own voice quality
due to occlusion, feedback or reverberation issues with conventional hearing aids.
5. Patients who are experiencing multiple hearing aid repairs due to debris or cerumen.
The device also eliminated the problems that hearing aids can cause, such as ear canal problems,
amplification of background noise and distortion of sounds.

COMPONENTS

External:
Internal Reciever
Microphone
Amplifier
External Device
Internal:

Receiver
Connecting link between receiver and transducer
Transducer (FMT i.e. Floating Mass Transducer)

TYPES OF DEVICES

There are two types of middle ear implants based on transducer type :

Floating Mass Transducer


Piezoelectric Devices

Sound Microphone Processor and amplifier Electrical signals to Piezoelectric device


causes vibration of ossicles.
E.g. : ENVOY, MET, RION, TICA

Electromagnetic devices

Microphone Signal processor and Amplifier Electromagnetic transducer electromagnetic


field set up causes the vibration of ferro magnetic unit coupled to the ossicles.
E.g. – Vibrant Sound Bridge
Vibrant Sound Bridge is currently the only middle ear implant approved by the FDA for the
treatment of hearing loss. It is manufactured by the Med El Corporation.

TOTAL VERSUS PARTIALLY IMPLANTABLE DEVICES

Partially Implantable Devices – Have an external microphone and speech processor that is
connected to a transmitter with external coil that transmits electrical energy transcutaneously to the
internal device.
Battery powered system is contained within external device.
E.g. : Vibrant Sound bridge is a semi implantable hearing aid having a :
VORP – Vibrating ossicular prosthesis (typically attached to long process of incus).
VORP of vibrant sound bridge has a rare earth magnet surrounded by receiving coil, in a package, a
conductor link, and a propriety Floating Mass Transducer.
Audio Processor – Externally worn receiver
The tiny Floating Mass Transducer, attached to the incus bone in the middle ear, is approximately the
size of a grain of rice. It is 100 percent digital and is programmed by an Audiologist eight weeks after
the implant procedure to fit the user's specific hearing loss.
Fully Implantable Devices – all the components are fully implanted. Eg : MET and CARINA.
MET (Middle Ear Transducer) or Carina features a rechargeable battery that has to be charged for 1
hour every 1 to 2 days. An implantable microphone is placed under the skin near implant housing.
ESTEEM – features battery which need not be recharged and works for 6 to 7 years. Fully
implantable device with piezoelectric sensor, implanted on malleus serves as microphone and the
transducer is placed on stapes. To avoid feedback ossicular chain needs to be distorted.

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