Clinical results with an active middle ear implant in the oval window.
BACKGROUND
Some patients with chronic middle ear disease and multiple failed revisions, who also need a hearing aid, may benefit from an active middle ear implant. An advantage of an active middle ear implant is that the ear canal is unoccluded.


METHODS
Following extensive experimental development in temporal bones and investigations of various locations and attachments of a Vibrant Soundbridge transducer, a new titanium clip holder for the vibrant floating mass transducer was developed. This assembly is a total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) that is placed on the stapes footplate. Six patients were implanted with this device.


RESULTS
Acoustic results demonstrate significantly improved gain, especially in the high frequencies, which is typically unobtainable by conventional hearing aids.


CONCLUSIONS
The simple procedure of placing an active TORP assembly on the stapes footplate, similar to the implantation of a passive TORP prosthesis during tympanoplasty, offers promising treatment for cases of incurable middle ear disease.
Hüttenbrink
K B
KB
Beutner
D
D
Zahnert
T
T
D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D010046:Oval Window, Ear / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D014025:Titanium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014025:Titanium