Bone conduction stimulation efficiency at coupling locations closer to the cochlea

Bone conduction implants enable patients to hear via vibrations transmitted to the skull. The main constraint of current bone conduction implants is their maximum output force level. Stimulating closer to the cochlea is hypothesized to increase efficiency and improve force transfer, addressing this...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2024-12, Vol.14 (1), p.29943-14, Article 29943
Main Authors: Wils, Irina, Geerardyn, Alexander, Fierens, Guy, Putzeys, Tristan, Denis, Kathleen, Verhaert, Nicolas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/378/2619
639/166/985
Acoustic Stimulation
Aged
Bone Conduction - physiology
Bone implants
Cadaver
Cadavers
Cochlea
Cochlea - physiology
Cochlear Implants
Conduction
Ear canal
Efficiency
Female
Hearing Aids
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Male
multidisciplinary
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Transplants & implants
Vibration
Vibrations
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Summary:Bone conduction implants enable patients to hear via vibrations transmitted to the skull. The main constraint of current bone conduction implants is their maximum output force level. Stimulating closer to the cochlea is hypothesized to increase efficiency and improve force transfer, addressing this limitation. This study evaluated stimulation at four positions in human cadaveric specimens: the cochlear promontory, the posterior wall of the outer ear canal, the lateral semi-circular canal, and the standard Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (Baha) location. To assess potential hearing sensation, three objective measures were simultaneously recorded. For intracochlear pressure and promontory velocity, stimulating at the lateral semi-circular canal and promontory results in the highest response, with a gain of up to 20 dB. Ear canal pressure shows less conclusive results, with significant differences at only a few frequencies. These findings suggest that stimulation closer to the cochlea offers higher efficiency, which could benefit patients needing higher output force levels than currently available or those eligible for electro-vibrational stimulation, e.g. a cochlear implant combined with a bone conduction device.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-81505-9