How does the Carina Fully Implantable Hearing Device differ from a cochlear implant?
There are significant differences between Cochlear Implants and Middle Ear Implants. A Cochlear Implant requires an electrode to be implanted into the inner ear (the cochlea) of patients. This electrode stimulates the auditory nerve directly via electrical stimulation. Once an electrode has been inserted into the cochlea, the normal inner ear function of receiving and processing natural sound will be restricted. On the other hand a Middle Ear Implant provides direct mechanical stimulation to the cochlea, yet without invading or opening the inner ear. The Middle Ear Implant stimulates with amplified mechanical sound, the follows the natural stimulation pathways. Should an Middle Ear Implant ever fail or become insufficient, then a Cochlear Implant (as a terminal therapy) would still be available. A Cochlear Implant patient will have to learn the interpretation of the electrical stimulation that represents sounds, while a Middle Ear Implant patient will be provided with natural sounds, t
