[How middle-ear implants work].
Middle-ear implants consist of a microphone, an audioprocessor, a battery, a receiver and a transducer. Transducers can be classified in three groups: piezoelectric, electromagnetic, and electromechanical. The middle ear transducer (MET) system (Otologics) is composed of an outer part that uses a multichannel digital acoustic signal processing system that transforms this acoustic signal into an electromagnetic stimulus. This system has fully implantable devices. The Vibrant Med El Soundbrige uses an electromagnetic design in which a floating mass transducer is crimped around the long process of the incus by a titanium strap, transmitting vibration to the ossicular chain.
Cenjor Español
Carlos
C
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, España. ccenjor@fjd.es
Morera Pérez
Constantino
C
Ramos Macías
Angel
A
D006801:Humans; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D011474:Prosthesis Design