Auditory midbrain implant: research and development towards a second clinical trial

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Cochlear implants are successful neural prostheses but exclude patients with non-functional auditory nerves or cochleas.
• A significant unmet need exists for auditory prostheses in patients unable to benefit from cochlear implants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the development and clinical translation of the auditory midbrain implant (AMI) as a central auditory prosthesis.
• To present the rationale and initial results of the first clinical study using a single-shank AMI.
• To explore the potential of a two-shank AMI for enhanced hearing performance.

Main Methods:

• Review of the development and translation of the auditory midbrain implant (AMI).
• Presentation of data from the first AMI clinical study utilizing a multi-site single-shank array.
• Analysis of animal and human data to support the efficacy of a two-shank AMI array.

Main Results:

• The single-shank AMI demonstrated safety and improved lip-reading and environmental awareness.
• Current AMI technology has not yet achieved sufficient speech perception.
• A two-shank AMI array shows potential for improved hearing performance by targeting specific inferior colliculus neurons.

Conclusions:

• The auditory midbrain implant (AMI) is a promising central auditory prosthesis for patients ineligible for cochlear implants.
• Further development, including a two-shank array and refined stimulation strategies, is underway to enhance speech perception.
• Upcoming clinical trials funded by the NIH aim to validate improvements in hearing performance for AMI recipients.