Initial clinical experience with a totally implantable cochlear implant research device

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and issues associated with a research totally implantable cochlear implant (TIKI). STUDY DESIGN: Limited patient trial. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Three adult human subjects with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were implanted with a research TIKI developed by Cochlear Limited and the Co-operative Research Centre for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation. The TIKI has a lithium ion rechargeable battery, a package-mounted internal microphone, and sound-processing electronics that enable the use of "invisible hearing" without the use of an external device. The TIKI also functions with an exte..