International classification of reliability for implanted cochlear implant receiver stimulators.
OBJECTIVE
To design an international standard to be used when reporting reliability of the implanted components of cochlear implant systems to appropriate governmental authorities, cochlear implant (CI) centers, and for journal editors in evaluating manuscripts involving cochlear implant reliability.


METHODS
The International Consensus Group for Cochlear Implant Reliability Reporting was assembled to unify ongoing efforts in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia to create a consistent and comprehensive classification system for the implanted components of CI systems across manufacturers.


METHODS
All members of the consensus group are from tertiary referral cochlear implant centers.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
A clinically relevant classification scheme adapted from principles of ISO standard 5841-2:2000 originally designed for reporting reliability of cardiac pacemakers, pulse generators, or leads.


RESULTS
Standard definitions for device failure, survival time, clinical benefit, reduced clinical benefit, and specification were generated. Time intervals for reporting back to implant centers for devices tested to be "out of specification," categorization of explanted devices, the method of cumulative survival reporting, and content of reliability reports to be issued by manufacturers was agreed upon by all members. The methodology for calculating Cumulative survival was adapted from ISO standard 5841-2:2000.


CONCLUSIONS
The International Consensus Group on Cochlear Implant Device Reliability Reporting recommends compliance to this new standard in reporting reliability of implanted CI components by all manufacturers of CIs and the adoption of this standard as a minimal reporting guideline for editors of journals publishing cochlear implant research results.
Battmer
Rolf-Dieter
RD
Center for Clinical Technology Research, Berlin, Germany.
Backous
Douglas D
DD
Balkany
Thomas J
TJ
Briggs
Robert J S
RJ
Gantz
Bruce J
BJ
van Hasselt
Andrew
A
Kim
Chong Sun
CS
Kubo
Takeshi
T
Lenarz
Thomas
T
Pillsbury
Harold C
HC
O'Donoghue
Gerard M
GM
D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000592:standards*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans