IMPLANTATION METHOD FOR A HEARING AID MICROACTUATOR IMPLANTED INTO THE COCHLEA

摘要

A fenestration (36) piercing the otic capsule bone of the cochlea (34) receives a therapeutic appliance, such as a microactuator (78), plug (92), micropump for drug or therapeutic agent delivery, electrode (102), etc. Disclosed are several different ways of achieving a "water tight" seal between the otic capsule bone and the therapeutic appliance. Also disclosed are specific ways of implanting the therapeutic appliance both with and without a sheath (72) lining the wall of the fenestration (36) formed using specialized surgical burrs (122, 124, 162, 164). The burrs (122, 124, 162, 164) permit safely fenestrating the otic capsule bone adjacent to the scala tympani (44) of the cochlea (34) without damaging the basilar membrane (52) or organ of cordi. The invention disclosed herein may also be adopted for safely fenestrating other areas of the inner ear such as the scala vestibuli (42), bony labyrinth of semicircular canals, or walls of the vestibule, or perhaps even the oval or round windows thereof.