Importance

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Abstract

An implant produces an auditory response in the auditory nerve of a person's ear. The implant is a flexible, coiled strip of piezoelectric material dimensioned for insertion into the scala tympani of the ear in general alignment with the spiral path that the scala tympani follows. The length of the strip corresponds substantially to the full length of the scala tympani. The implant relies on the natural hearing mechanism of the ear. Sound vibration are transmitted along the normal pathways of the ear and are ultimately transmitted along the scala tympani. The vibrations induce a piezoelectric response in the material proximate to the basilar membrane, stimulating fibres of the auditory nerve along substantially the full spiral path of the cochlea. Perceived sound intensity can be adjusted with a hearing aid or other audio amplifier. Amplified sounds simply increase the intensity of the piezoelectric response of the implant and the intensity of the stimulus applied to auditory nerve fibres.

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First Claim