Middle ear implant

Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, Nov, 2007

The VIBRANT Soundbridge[R] is the first implantable middle ear hearing device approved by the FDA for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss. Now available in the United States from MED-EL Corporation, this device is for adults who have moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss and desire an alternative to an acoustic hearing aid.

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The VIBRANT Soundbridge consists of two major components: the implanted component, called the Vibrating Ossicular Prosthesis[TM], and the externally worn receiver, called the Audio Processor[TM]. Unlike a hearing aid, the Soundbridge is a direct-drive prosthesis, which mechanically vibrates the bones in the middle ear without surgically altering middle ear structures.

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