First results of the Clarion CII Bionic Ear System

Abstract

) shows an improved stability of the device and a higher rate of stimulation in comparison to former generations of cochlear implants. The increased number of channels allows higher pulsatile rates and creates the possibility of measuring objective parameters such as electric field imaging (EFI) and neural response imaging (NRI). Study designWe examined 23 patients with pre-and post-lingual deafness who received the new CII Bionic Ear System between March and September 2001, and compared the results with those of 31 patients fitted with the Clarion CI HiFocus System. The criteria for comparison were the intra-and postoperative impedances, the energy consumption, the postsurgical complications and the results of speech tests after three and six months respectively. All patients received the device monaurally after a standardized procedure of pre-operative examinations. In all cases the CII electrode array was inserted with the Clarion positioner system, which is no longer in use.Our study group comprised 16 children with pre-lingual deafness and seven adults with post-lingual deafness; 15 female and eight male patients. The time of follow-up was nine months after the date of operation. ResultsThe mean age of the patients with pre-lingual deafness was 5 years, the mean age of the adults was 51 years. The youngest patient was 2 years of age at the time of operation, the oldest 76 years.