Successful introduction of the totally implantable hearing aid.The extraordinarily great potential benefit of a totally implantable hearing aid implantable hearing aid ENT An electromagnetic or piezoelectric device used to correct hearing loss in as 'physiologic' a manner as possible; IHAs may improve sound fidelity in person with sensorineural hearing loss for patients who suffer from hearing loss has been discussed in these pages before. [1] Despite many delays, the totally implantable hearing aid is now available. In this issue of EAR, NOSE & THROAT JOURNAL, Professor Hans Zenner, MD, chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Tubingen in Germany, describes the current status of the Implex TICA LZ 3001 totally implantable hearing aid. The first implants in humans were performed in 1998, and the system was approved for routine use in Europe in October 1999. The device is completely implanted. The system is similar to that developed by Suzuki and Yanagihara and colleagues in Japan. It involves a hermetically sealed conventional microphone, battery, electronic unit, and piezoelectric The property of certain crystals that causes them to produce voltage when a mechanical pressure is applied to them such as sound vibrations. This technique is used to build crystal microphones, phonograph cartridges and strain gauges, all of which turn mechanical movement into voltage. vibrator of the ossicular os·si·cle n. A small bone, especially one of the three bones of the middle ear. [Latin ossiculum, diminutive of os, bone; see ost- in Indo-European roots. chain. The major advance that made this system possible was the perfection of a battery that could be safely implanted. It is likely that all patients who wish to have their hearing restored to normal without the use of a conventional hearing aid, and who can afford to do so, will obtain totally implanted hearing aids. The surgery required to implant the device can be performed under local or general anesthesia in an outpatient setting. This procedure confers far less risk of postoperative vertigo and sensorineural hearing loss Sensorineural hearing loss Hearing loss caused by damage to the nerves or parts of the inner ear governing the sense of hearing. Mentioned in: Tinnitus sensorineural hearing loss than does stapedectomy Stapedectomy Definition Stapedectomy is a surgical procedure in which the innermost bone (stapes) of the three bones (the stapes, the incus, and the malleus) of the middle ear is removed, and replaced with a small plastic tube of stainless-steel wire (a . The battery life of this prosthesis prosthesis (prŏs`thĭsĭs): see artificial limb. prosthesis Artificial substitute for a missing part of the body, usually an arm or leg. is acceptable, and it will no doubt increase significantly with advanced technology in the future. The same totally implantable microphones and batteries will also be used soon for cochlear implants, which will make them totally implantable as well. We have entered a new and exciting phase in otology otology /otol·o·gy/ (o-tol´ah-je) the branch of medicine dealing with the ear, its anatomy, physiology, and pathology.otolog´ic o·tol·o·gy n. The branch of medicine that deals with the ear. that will remain prominent until hearing loss can be prevented and lost hearing can be restored by advances in gene engineering and molecular biology. JACK L. PUBLEC Editor-in-Chief EAR, NOSE & THROAT JOURNAL Reference (1.) Pulec JL. The totally implantable hearing aid [editorial]. Ear Nose Throat J 1994:73:69. |
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