For an optimal connection of the Floating Mass Transducer® (FMT) of the Vibrant Sound Bridge® (VSB) to the ossicular chain, the oval or the round window, different couplers have been developed, which have all been evaluated in studies. In all current couplers for the stapes, the FMT is applied directly above the stapes, which can lead to problems in reconstruction due to the height of the system. To minimize this, a new coupler, the Stapes Head (SH) coupler, was developed that attaches the FMT to the side of the stapes head. The aim of the study was to retrospectively evaluate 10 VSB surgeries with this new coupler.
During the surgeries, the SH coupler was applied differently to the stapes head, either over the promontory or over the facial nerve. In addition, the cable was led to the FMT either from medial or lateral.
All possible coupling positions resulted in a stable fixation of the FMT, which was monitored by ABR measurements up to the bone conduction threshold. All patients (median 44.7 years, 5 female and 5 male) showed an increase in free-field hearing threshold of 36.3 dB, resulting in improved speech understanding of more than 50% at 65 dB. No deterioration in bone conduction thresholds was measured.
In conclusion, due to its lower height and flexible application possibilities, the newly developed SH coupler is a useful addition to the currently available couplers with satisfying audiological results, especially in situations with limited height beneath the reconstruction.

Comparison of different coupling options for head of the stapes of an active middle ear implant

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm, that on behalf of the Cochlear Implant centers of the Radboud UMC in Nijmegen and Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam to invite you to attend the 16th European Symposium on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation to Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 2023.

Yours sincerely, on behalf of the CI Centers at Radboud UMC and Erasmus MC,