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Review
. 2009 Sep;13(3):206-14.
doi: 10.1177/1084713809346262.

Middle ear implantable hearing devices: an overview

David S Haynes  1 , Jadrien A Young, George B Wanna, Michael E Glasscock 3rd
Affiliations
Review

Middle ear implantable hearing devices: an overview

David S Haynes et al. Trends Amplif. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Hearing loss affects approximately 30 million people in the United States. It has been estimated that only approximately 20% of people with hearing loss significant enough to warrant amplification actually seek assistance for amplification. A significant interest in middle ear implants has emerged over the years to facilitate patients who are noncompliant with conventional hearing aides, do not receive significant benefit from conventional aides, or are not candidates for cochlear implants. From the initial studies in the 1930s, the technology has greatly evolved over the years with a wide array of devices and mechanisms employed in the development of implantable middle ear hearing devices. Currently, these devices are generally available in two broad categories: partially or totally implantable using either piezoelectric or electromagnetic systems. The authors present an up-to-date overview of the major implantable middle ear devices. Although the current devices are largely in their infancy, indications for middle ear implants are ever evolving as promising studies show good results. The totally implantable devices provide the user freedom from the social and practical difficulties of using conventional amplification.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Soundbridge Device.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Soundbridge Device Implanted.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Soundtec.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Totally integrated cochlear amplifier.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Otologics Device Implanted.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Otologics Device.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Envoy.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Baha Device.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Baha Device Implanted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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