Fully implantable hearing device with transducer on the round window as a treatment of mixed hearing loss

This is a report of three cases of mixed hearing loss that resulted from inner ear disorders. Two cases were unilateral and the third was bilateral. The diagnosis was based on the findings of normal middle and external ears in association with the absence of round window reflexes. The contralateral stapedial reflex was present in the two unilateral cases. This is the first documentation of conductive deafness due to inner ear abnormality. This diagnosis should be considered in cases of conductive hearing loss if the middle and external ears are normal. More studies are needed to establish the pathophysiology of this entity.

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Vibroplasty involving direct coupling of the floating mass transducer to the oval window niche

The Journal of Laryngology & Otology ◽

10.1017/s0022215110000526 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 124 (7) ◽

pp. 716-719 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

T Zehlicke ◽

R Dahl ◽

T Just ◽

H-W Pau

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Soft Tissue ◽

Clinical Application ◽

Round Window ◽

Oval Window ◽

Speech Understanding ◽

Vibrant Soundbridge ◽

Mixed Hearing Loss ◽

Stapes Footplate ◽

Almost All

AbstractObjective:To demonstrate the technique and clinical application of vibroplasty in which the floating mass transducer component of the Vibrant Soundbridge implant is coupled directly to the oval window niche, in patients with a mobile stapes footplate but a malformed or destroyed stapes suprastructure.Methods:The underlying concept was to create a soft tissue casing for the floating mass transducer, while also firmly connecting the transducer to a small, solid cartilage ‘plunger’ attached to the stapes footplate. This was realised by removing almost all the cartilage from a larger piece of cartilage–perichondrium, leaving only a tiny cartilage island about half a millimetre in diameter, attached to a much wider ‘blanket’ of perichondrium.Results:By coupling the floating mass transducer directly to the oval window niche, patients' speech understanding was improved. Post-operative aided thresholds of 30–40 dB HL were achieved by all patients.Conclusions:In patients with mixed hearing loss combined with a destroyed stapes suprastructure but a mobile stapes footplate, we describe the coupling of the floating mass transducer component of a Vibrant Soundbridge to the stapes footplate, as an alternative to coupling to the round window.

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Preliminary Functional Results and Quality of Life After Implantation of a New Bone Conduction Hearing Device in Patients With Conductive and Mixed Hearing Loss

Otology & Neurotology ◽

10.1097/mao.0000000000000208 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 211-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Friedrich Ihler ◽

Laura Volbers ◽

Jenny Blum ◽

Christoph Matthias ◽

Martin Canis

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Bone Conduction ◽

Functional Results ◽

Mixed Hearing Loss ◽

Hearing Device ◽

Bone Conduction Hearing

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Round Window Stimulation of the Cochlea

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2021.777010 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Herman A. Jenkins ◽

Nathaniel Greene ◽

Daniel J. Tollin

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Mechanical Stimulation ◽

Round Window ◽

Ossicular Chain ◽

External Ear ◽

Ear Canal ◽

Hearing Rehabilitation ◽

Mixed Hearing Loss ◽

Conductive Mechanism ◽

Stimulation Of

Mixed hearing loss associated with a sensorineural component and an impaired conductive mechanism for sound from the external ear canal to the cochlea represents a challenge for rehabilitation using either surgery or traditional hearing amplification. Direct stimulations of the ossicular chain and the round window (RW) membrane have allowed an improved hearing in this population. The authors review the developments in basic and clinical research that have allowed the exploration of new routes for inner ear stimulation. Similar changes occur in the electrophysiological measures in response to auditory stimulation through the traditional route and direct mechanical stimulation of the RW. The latter has proven to be very effective as a means of hearing rehabilitation in a group of patients with significant difficulties with hearing and communication.

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Results of the Active Middle Ear Implantation in Patients With Mixed Hearing Loss After the Middle Ear Surgery: Prospective Multicenter Study (ROMEO Study)

Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.21053/ceo.2020.01851 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Chan Il Song ◽

Hyong-Ho Cho ◽

Byung Yoon Choi ◽

Jae Young Choi ◽

Jin Woong Choi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Middle Ear ◽

Hearing Aids ◽

User Satisfaction ◽

Round Window ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Middle Ear Surgery ◽

Mixed Hearing Loss ◽

Age Range ◽

Hearing Aid Benefit

Objectives. To evaluate the user satisfaction, efficacy, and safety of round window (RW) vibroplasty using the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) in patients with persistent mixed hearing loss after mastoidectomy.Methods. The study included twenty-seven patients (mean age, 58.7 years; age range, 28–76 years; 11 men and 16 women) with mixed hearing loss after mastoidectomy surgery from 15 tertiary referral centers in Korea. The VSB was implanted at the RW. The Korean translation of the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire and the Korean version of the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (K-IOI-HA) questionnaire were used to evaluate user satisfaction as the primary outcome. Secondary outcome measures were audiological test results and complication rates.Results. The mean scores on the Ease of Communication (61.3%

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