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A New Stapes-Head Coupler for the Vibrant Soundbridge System
Birthe Warnholtz1,2, Merlin Schär1,2, Pascale Cuny1,2
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Audiology & Neuro-Otology
|March 1, 2021
Summary
A new stapes head (SH) coupler for the Vibrant Soundbridge active middle ear implant offers stable fixation in reduced middle ear spaces. This coupler effectively stimulates the cochlea, providing an alternative for patients with hearing loss after mastoidectomy.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Audiology
Background:
- The Vibrant Soundbridge is an active middle ear implant for various hearing losses.
- Current implants use a floating mass transducer (FMT) coupled via a clip, which may be unsuitable in reduced middle ear spaces post-mastoidectomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a new stapes head (SH) coupler designed for the Vibrant Soundbridge.
- To assess its compatibility with reduced middle ear spaces and its effectiveness in stimulating the cochlea.
Main Methods:
- Eleven human cadaveric temporal bones were used to test the new SH coupler.
- Placement on the stapes was examined, and cochlear stimulation was measured via stapes footplate motion with 1 mA FMT current.
Main Results:
- The new SH coupler achieved perfect stapes coupling in 9 of 11 temporal bones.
- Vibrational motion was slightly reduced above 3 kHz compared to the existing coupler, with <10 dB attenuation.
Conclusions:
- The new SH coupler provides a stable fixation alternative when space is limited after canal-wall-down mastoidectomy.
- It effectively delivers auditory stimuli to the cochlea.
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