Publications

Foreign body response (FBR), inflammation, and fibrotic encapsulation of neural implants remain major problems affecting the impedance of the electrode-tissue interface and altering the device performance. Adhesion of proteins and cells (e.g., pro-inflammatory macrophages, and fibroblasts) triggers the FBR cascade and can be diminished by applying antifouling coatings onto the implanted devices. In this paper, we report the deposition and ...

Cochlear implant restores hearing loss through electrical stimulation of the hearing nerve from within the cochlea. Unfortunately, surgical implantation of this neuroprosthesis often traumatizes delicate intracochlear structures, resulting in loss of residual hearing and compromising hearing in noisy environments and appreciation of music. To avoid cochlear trauma, insertion techniques and devices have to be adjusted to the cochlear ...

Hearing preservation may be achieved initially in the majority of patients after cochlear implantation, however, a significant proportion of these patients experience delayed hearing loss months or years later. A prior histological report in a case of delayed hearing loss suggested a potential cochlear mechanical origin of this hearing loss due to tissue fibrosis, and older case series highlight the frequent findings of post-implantation ...

The risk of insertion trauma in cochlear implantation is determined by the interplay between individual cochlear anatomy and electrode insertion mechanics. Whereas patient anatomy cannot be changed, new surgical techniques, devices for cochlear monitoring, drugs, and electrode array designs are continuously being developed and tested, to optimize the insertion mechanics and prevent trauma. Preclinical testing of these developments is a crucial ...

Advancements in intracochlear diagnostics, as well as prosthetic and regenerative innerear therapies, rely on a good understanding of cochlear microanatomy. The human cochlea is verysmall and deeply embedded within the densest skull bone, making nondestructive visualization of itsinternal microstructures extremely challenging. Current imaging techniques used in clinical practice,such as MRI and CT, fall short in their resolution to visualize ...

In cochlear implant surgery, insertion of perimodiolar electrode arrays into the scala tympani can be complicated by trauma or even accidental translocation of the electrode array within the cochlea. In patients with partial hearing loss, cochlear trauma can not only negatively affect implant performance, but also reduce residual hearing function. These events have been related to suboptimal positioning of the cochlear implant electrode array ...

OBJECTIVE: We aim to compare the modified Veau-Wardill-Kilner push-back technique (VWK) and the Sommerlad intravelar veloplasty (Sommerlad IVVP) in terms of middle ear outcomes and oronasal fistulae frequency in three years old children. METHODS: For this retrospective cohort study, data were collected and anonymized from consecutive patients with cleft palate (with or without cleft lip) who underwent surgery in our hospital between January 2008 ...

The use of medical technologies in both the diagnosis and treatment of several health issues has become common practice. In medical diagnostics, magnetic resonance imaging or MRI has become a widely accepted and preferred imaging technique for many pathologies. This is mainly thanks to the fact that MRI is superior in visualizing soft tissue structures, whilst it does not rely on the use of potentially harmful ionizing radiation. With respect to ...

AIMS AND HYPOTHESES: In an environment of absolute silence, researchers have found many of their participants to perceive phantom sounds (tinnitus). With this between-subject experiment, we aimed to elaborate on these research findings, and specifically investigated whether-in line with the fear-avoidance model of tinnitus perception and reactivity-fear or level of perceived threat influences the incidence and perceptual qualities of phantom ...

BACKGROUND: The generally accepted method to assess the functionality of novel bone conduction implants in a preclinical stage is to experimentally measure the vibratory response of the cochlear promontory. Yet, bone conduction of sound is a complex propagation phenomenon, depending on both frequency and amplitude, involving different conduction pathways. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to validate the use of intracochlear sound pressure ...