Clinical Experience with the Vibrant Soundbridge Implant Device

Fisch, Ugo; Cremers, C.W.R.J.; Lenarz, Thomas; Weber, Benno; Babighian, G; Uziel, Alain; Proops, David W.; O’Connor, Alec Fitzgerald; Charachon, R; Helms, J.; Fraysse, Bernard

doi:10.1097/00129492-200111000-00042

Cited by 131 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Several factors may contribute to the positive results: -patients were familiar with wearing uni-or bilateral conventional hearing aids prior to being implanted with the VSB; they had, most likely, developed a mental ability to adapt to amplified sound in quiet and noisy environments, and an ability to draw the most benefit from any form of hearing aid; -3 of the 9 patients were fitted with the most recent audio processor, containing the Signia 8-channel digital signal processor; the patent-pending artificial intelligence system (ConTrast ® ), which distinguishes speech from noise, may have further assisted these patients; -an electromagnetic transducer that directly drives the ossicular chain, thus avoiding occlusion of the ear canal, results in a very efficient transfer and amplification of high-frequency sounds [1,2,4]. Although our study does not permit distinguishing the relative influence of each of these factors, it shows a very satisfactory objective result that tallies with the patients' subjective satisfaction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Speech Discrimination in Background Noise with the Vibrant<sup>®</sup> Soundbridge™ Middle Ear Implant

Garin

Thill

Gérard

et al. 2002

Otorhinolaryngol Nova

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Objective: Evaluate speech intelligibility in competing background noise for monaural users of the Vibrant^® Soundbridge™ (VSB) middle ear implant (Symphonix). Patients and Material: Nine adults with moderate to severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and implanted with a unilateral VSB, were included in the study. The patients’ experience of the implant ranged from 9 to 24 months. Retrospective single-subject repeated measures of speech intelligibility in background noise were performed using 2 different test procedures, the Elbaz test and the Garin and Galle test. The patients were tested VSB aided and VSB unaided in a variety of signal-to-noise ratios. The correct-score percentage for each ratio for each condition was averaged for the group of patients and compared with normative data for each test method. Results: The VSB-aided condition showed results approaching normative data for both test methods. At a signal-to-noise ratio of zero, the Elbaz test showed a mean correct score of 55% for the VSB-unaided condition versus 85% for the VSB-aided condition. The Garin and Galle test showed a mean score of 34% for the VSB-unaided condition versus 94% for the VSB-aided condition. Conclusions: Although the unilateral VSB middle ear implant does not restore stereophony, it does improve speech intelligibility in background noise.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…high-frequency transmission fidelity and absence of occlusion, of such a direct drive system have already been described by several authors. These two characteristics help achieve speech comprehension in background noise beyond that which conventional amplification can attain [1][2][3][4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Speech Discrimination in Background Noise with the Vibrant<sup>®</sup> Soundbridge™ Middle Ear Implant

Garin

Thill

Gérard

et al. 2002

Otorhinolaryngol Nova

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“…The surgical approach was similar to cochlear implantation but had been slightly modifi ed [5,6] . No intra-or postoperative complications were found.…”

Section: Patientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hearing Benefit of Patients after Vibrant Soundbridge Implantation

Todt

Seidl

Ernst³

2005

ORL

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The present paper compares the audiometric results of different digital Vibrant Soundbridge audio processors (D and Signia) of patients with mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss. In a retrospective study, the audiometric results were evaluated and compared in terms of functional gain of warble tone measurements and speech audiometric data. 23 patients implanted between 1998 and 2003 with the Vibrant Soundbridge were included. At the time of implantation, they fulfilled the indication criteria for an implantation (7 patients with a D type, 16 with a Signia type while 3 patients changed from the D to the Signia type). The mean functional gain was increased from 22.8 dB (±6.5 dB SD) in the D type to 29.8 dB (±2.9) in the Signia type group. The speech-in-noise understanding was better in the Signia compared to the D type (59.3 ± 11.5 dB and 65.7 ± 10.1 dB, respectively). The latest upgrade of the external processor from the 3-channel, digital D type to the 8-channel, digital Signia type led in our data to an auditory benefit in all patients.

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“…Over the last decades, despite ongoing advances in speech processing technology and miniaturization of hardware, researchers have continued to examine alternative methods to conventional hearing aids to stimulate and provide amplified sound to the impaired hearing sensory organ [Suzuki et al, 1985;Ko et al, 1995;Maniglia et al, 1997;Fisch et al, 2001]. Implantation of middle ear devices for the rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing losses has become part of routine clinical practice in Europe and more recently in the United States [Snik et al, 2001].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Pilot Study of the Safety and Performance of the Otologics Fully Implantable Hearing Device: Transducing Sounds via the Round Window Membrane to the Inner Ear

et al. 2008

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Objectives: The safety and performance of the Otologics fully implantable hearing device were assessed in adult patients with mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Methods: The subcutaneous microphone of this fully implantable device picks up ambient sounds, converts them into an electrical signal, amplifies the signal according to the user’s needs, and sends it to an electromechanical transducer. The transducer tip is customized with a prosthesis in order to be in contact with the round window membrane and is protected by fascia; this translates the electrical signal into a mechanical motion that directly stimulates the round window membrane and enables the user to perceive sound. The implanted battery is recharged daily via an external charger and the user can turn the implant on and off as well as adjust the volume with a hand-held remote control. In this pilot study, 6 patients with mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss were implanted with the Otologics fully implantable hearing device. Pre- and postoperative air conduction, bone conduction, as well as aided and unaided thresholds and speech scores were measured. Results: No significant differences between preoperative and postoperative pure-tone averages were noted. Average improvement ranged from 19.16 to 35.8 dB of functional gain across audiometric frequencies with a mean of 26.17 ± 5.15 dB. Long-term average functional gain at 12 months was 20.83 ± 6.22 dB. Word recognition scores demonstrated significant differences between unaided and implant-aided conditions. Conclusions: Preliminary results of this trial of the Otologics fully implantable hearing device provide evidence that this fully implantable device is capable of efficiently transferring the sound to the inner ear via the round window membrane in patients with mixed hearing loss.

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Clinical Experience with the Vibrant Soundbridge Implant Device

Abstract: The VSB is a new middle ear implant device that can be used safely in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss.

Cited by 131 publications

References 11 publications

Speech Discrimination in Background Noise with the Vibrant<sup>®</sup> Soundbridge™ Middle Ear Implant

Speech Discrimination in Background Noise with the Vibrant<sup>®</sup> Soundbridge™ Middle Ear Implant

Hearing Benefit of Patients after Vibrant Soundbridge Implantation

A Pilot Study of the Safety and Performance of the Otologics Fully Implantable Hearing Device: Transducing Sounds via the Round Window Membrane to the Inner Ear

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