Impact of Floating Mass Transducer Coupling and Positioning in Round Window Vibroplasty

• DOI: 10.1097/mao.0b013e318206fda1
• Publication Date: 2011-01-04T23:54:09Z
• Authors: Gunesh P. Rajan; Peter Lampacher; Ranjeeta Ambett; Gregor Dittrich; Jafri Kuthubutheen; Bradley Wood; Anne McArthur; Roberta Marino
• Keywords: Round window; Conductive hearing loss

The round window application of the Vibrant Sound bridge, so-called vibroplasty, is gaining increasing popularity for hearing rehabilitation patients with mixed loss or conductive loss. In these patients, conventional amplification and/or surgical restoration either not possible has failed because chronic ear disease, extensive otosclerosis, malformations. exact mechanisms direct cochlear stimulation via membrane are yet completely understood. It unclear what kind and degree contact required between floating mass transducer (FMT) (RWM) to elicit a functional perception implant. We investigated coupling efficiency FMT RWM how altered by position, FMT-RWM contact, use soft tissue coupler.Prospective cohort study.Tertiary referral center in Western Australia.Patients undergoing vibroplasty otherwise aidable.Patients underwent received audiological analysis follow-up. These data were then correlated positioning extent interface as determined postoperative high-resolution temporal bone computed tomography.Coupling levels relation contact.Of 10 8 available behavioral threshold testing. 2 testing could be done wound breakdown requiring device explantation 1 case, other conduction thresholds dropped months after implantation, thus falling out performance range device. Postoperative migration occurred 50% (3/6) recurrent disease status multiple previous operations. All including 3 repositioning FMT, attained significantly improved speech quiet noise when compared preoperatively best aided performance. showed average Abbreviated Profile Hearing Benefit scores FMT. Direct (partial complete) resulted good efficiency; reduced efficiency.