[Implants for the middle ear, development of a human prototype].
Middle ear implants are a new type of hearing aid. Their principle is direct stimulation of the inner ear fluids, by a vibrator implanted in the middle ear. Two technologies are developed by different teams: electromagnetic vibrators, and piezoelectric vibrators. Middle ear implants should be partially implantable (P-MEI), or totally implantable (T-MEI). Authors develop, concurrently with animal experimentation an in vitro method to measure the performance date of the vibrators. The specifications of a future P-MEI have been defined, and vibrators tested with this method. First results encourage to develop this project.
Dumon
T
T
C.H.R.U. Pellegrin Tripode, Clinique ORL, Laboratoire d'Audiologie Expérimentale, Unité INSERM 229, Bordeaux, France.
Zennaro
O
O
Charlet de Sauvage
R
R
Aran
J M
JM
Bébéar
J P
JP
D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D012107:Research Design; D014732:Vibration
Implants d'oreille moyenne, développement d'un prototype humain.