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Review
. 2017 Dec 18:16:Doc06.
doi: 10.3205/cto000145. eCollection 2017.

Implantable hearing devices

Matthias Tisch  1
Affiliations
Review

Implantable hearing devices

Matthias Tisch. GMS Curr Top Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. .

Abstract

Combined hearing loss is an essential indication for implantable hearing systems. Depending on the bone conduction threshold, various options are available. Patients with mild sensorineural deafness usually benefit from transcutaneous bone conduction implants (BCI), while percutaneous BCI systems are recommended also for moderate hearing loss. For combined hearing losses with moderate and high-grade cochlear hearing loss, active middle ear implants are recommended. For patients with incompatibilities or middle ear surgery, implants are a valuable and proven addition to the therapeutic options.

Keywords: active middle ear implant; active percutaneous systems; active transcutaneous systems; bone conduction implants; fully implantable systems; hearing disorder; hearing loss; middle ear implant; partially implantable systems; passive systems.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author received lecture fees and travel expenses from the company MED-EL in the past.

Figures

Table 1
Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of fully and partially implantable hearing systems (based on [8])
Table 2
Table 2. Overview of AMEI
Table 3
Table 3. Overview of BCI
Figure 1
Figure 1. Number of people with hearing impairment and users of hearing aids in Germany in 2015
Source: Federal Statistical Office
Figure 2
Figure 2. CE certified implantable hearing systems that are currently and were formerly approved in Europe
Figure 3
Figure 3. Structure of the Cochlear Carina system
Figure 4
Figure 4. Structure of the Envoy Esteem system
An animated presentation is found on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRop0NSiKlM.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Structure of the Maxum system
Figure 6
Figure 6. Structure of the MET system
An animated presentation is found on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBe1mFZCPcc.
Figure 7
Figure 7. Structure of the Codacs system
An animated presentation is found on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKIH-IAkxS8.
Figure 8
Figure 8. Structure of the Rion Device (according to [70])
Figure 9
Figure 9. Structure of the Implex TICA
Figure 10
Figure 10. Structure of the VSB system
An animated presentation is found on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzpNY6Rk-Hc.
Figure 11
Figure 11. Audiological indication range for the Vibrant Soundbridge
Figure 12
Figure 12. Different couplers of the Vibrant Soundbridge for positioning of the FMT at the short (a) or long (b) incus process, at the round window (c) or at the stapes head (d)
Figure 13
Figure 13. Structure of the Baha Attract
Figure 14
Figure 14. Structure of the Sophono Alpha
Figure 15
Figure 15. Structure of the Baha Connect, implant behind the ear
Figure 16
Figure 16. Structure of the Oticon Ponto
Figure 17
Figure 17. Structure of the Oticon BCI Best
Figure 18
Figure 18. Structure of the Med-EL Bonebridge
An animated presentation is found on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1EJkCoXlrI.
Figure 19
Figure 19. Lifter system for lifting the skin in the context of Bonebridge
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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