[Experimental model of cochlear implant in newborn guinea pigs: different techniques of implantation]

To answer the question whether a chronic electrical stimulation might be capable to induce a post-natal development of the auditory pathway, we performed a chronic prothetic implantation of the inner ear of 28 guinea pigs. Three stimulation systems have been utilized. An implantable solid state system, an external stimulator with head fixation and an external stimulator with fixation on the back of the animal. Because of the very small size of the new-born guinea pig, the most suitable system proved to be the external stimulator with fixation on the back.