The Round Window Electromagnetic Implantable Hearing Aid Approach

Abstract

The round window electromagnetic implantable hearing aid (RWEM) approach uses a magnet surgically implanted onto the round window membrane of the cochlea to impart vibrational energy to the inner ear when driven by a nearby electromagnetic coil. In this article, experimental methods used in animal ABR studies are described for this approach and evidence for the viability of this technique is demonstrated by the similarity of ABR waveforms obtained using RWEM and acoustically-evoked stimuli.