Surgical Robotics Technology
MicroPort Medical (Group) Co., Ltd., in partnership with Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, has recently introduced a prototype of its totally implantable cochlear implant (TICI).
A cochlear implant is an active implantable medical device that restores hearing sensation for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss caused by inner ear damage. Conventional cochlear implants consist of two components: an internal implant and an external sound processor. The external processor converts sound signals into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the internal implant to stimulate the cochlear nerve, thereby enabling auditory function.
TICI represents a transformative advancement in the field of hearing solutions. Unlike conventional cochlear implant systems, all components of the TICI are implanted entirely under the skin, making it completely invisible externally. This innovation allows for 24-hour seamless sound access and indistinguishable appearance from others, encouraging more patients to consider this technology.
The development of an implantable acoustic sensor and body noise cancellation technique has been one of the greatest challenges to overcome while developing TICI. Through close collaboration with Shanghai Ninth Hospital, MicroPort® has overcome this challenge by achieving breakthroughs in subcutaneous high-sensitivity acoustic sensing technology and body noise cancellation algorithm.
Prof. Hao Wu, the project’s chief scientist, has highlighted the broad frequency response, wide dynamic range, and exceptional sensitivity of this prototype. Furthermore, the prototype is compatible with 3.0T MRI and incorporates novel neural stimulation encoding strategy to enhance patients’ music perception capabilities.
Source: MicroPort®
