gms | German Medical Science

77. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e. V.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e. V.

24.05. - 28.05.2006, Mannheim

Influence of surface modifications of cochlear implant electrodes on impedances and stimulation level

Einfluss von Oberflächenmodifikationen von Cochlea Implantat Elektroden auf Impedanzen und Stimulationslevel

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author presenting/speaker Gerrit Paasche - MHH, Hannover, Germany
  • Jan Assmann - MHH, Hannover, Germany
  • Thomas Lenarz - MHH, Hannover, Germany
  • Anke Lesinski-Schiedat - MHH, Hannover, Germany

German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 77th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Mannheim, 24.-28.05.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. Doc06hno022

Die elektronische Version dieses Artikels ist vollständig und ist verfügbar unter: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/hno2006/06hno022.shtml

Veröffentlicht: 7. September 2006

© 2006 Paasche et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

Introduction: The electrical impedance of cochlear implant electrodes is one of the factors determining the energy consumption of the implants. It can be influenced by modification of the surface of the electrical contacts.

Methods: In the current study, we investigated the time dependent development of the impedance in different study groups: a) Contour electrode (control), b) Contour electrode plus intraoperative application of steroids, c) Iridium coated Contour electrode and d) Iridium coated electrode plus intraoperative application of steroids. Impedances were measured using standard fitting software. Furthermore, another software was used that allows variation of the pulse width and therefore of the carrier/ stimulation frequency. T- and C-level of the patients were investigated up to two years post fitting.

Results: Intraoperative application of steroids caused a reduction in impedances still to be found after more than two years. Coating of the contacts with Iridium showed no effect even if stimuli with larger pulse width were applied. The stimulation level remained unaffected.

Conclusion: Coating of the contacts with Iridium did not lead to a reduction of the impedances whereas intraoperative application of steroids was efficient. The influence of the impedance on the patients T- and C-level seems to be very low.