title: International classification of reliability for implanted cochlear implant receiver stimulators.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Technology Research, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf-Dieter
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Battmer
authors.forename: Douglas D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Backous
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Balkany
authors.forename: Robert J S
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Bruce J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gantz
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Hasselt
authors.forename: Chong Sun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.forename: Harold C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pillsbury
authors.forename: Gerard M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: O'Donoghue
mesh_terms: D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000592:standards*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans