Stapes vibration produced by the output transducer of an implantable hearing aid. Experimental study

The function of the output transducer of an implantable hearing aid was assessed by applying it to the stapes head in seven fresh human cadaver temporal bones while observing vibration of the stapes under a microscope with the use of a stroboscope and a video measuring system. The transducer was a 5 X 1.2 X 0.6-mm piezoelectric ceramic bimorph with attached metal holder. Transmission changed with the amount of force holding the transducer tip on the head of the stapes. An optimal connection between the vibrator and stapes produced better transmission than a tight or loose connection. Gluing the connection with cyanoacrylate cement decreased transmission in the optimal connection, produced no change in the tight connection, and improved transmission in the loose connection. Comparison of stapes displacement produced by the vibrator at 1 kHz with that produced by normal middle-ear sound transmission revealed that the vibrator-induced stapes displacement for a 1 V peak-to-peak input was equivalent to that produced by a sound stimulus of 90-dB sound pressure level at the tympanic membrane.