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DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1640623
Exemplary comparative studies on explanted cochlear implant (CI) electrodes and the associated clinical data
Introduction:
A small percentage of cochlear implant (CI) patients develop a significant deterioration of hearing performance during the wearing period. As a possible cause of this hearing loss, associated with electrode impedance increases, tissue deposits on the platinum electrodes of the implant array are discussed in the literature. To what extent these processes damage the electrode surface was investigated for explanted electrodes using different parameters.
Material and methods:
The individual electrode surfaces of explanted CI-arrays were analyzed by microscopy (light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) and classified. Laser microscopic recordings allowed the determination of the surface roughness. The corresponding clinical data were assigned and analyzed.
Results:
The visual analysis showed an increase of abrasion of individual electrodes with the residence time (average 11.7 years). The roughness of stimulated electrodes revealed different variations within an array, which were increased compared to non-implanted arrays. The SEM analysis could not detect cell deposits on the electrodes.
Conclusion:
The explanted CI electrodes partially show structural changes of the individual electrode surfaces, which can lead to impedance changes.
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No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).
Publikationsverlauf
Publikationsdatum:
18. April 2018 (online)
© 2018. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York