Hearing prosthesis

摘要

This invention relates to surgical methods and prosthetic devices for ameliorating hearing loss in patients having ailments of the middle ear. The prosthetic device of the invention includes at least a synthetic gas-filled balloon having a pliant membrane of biocompatible material. The surgical method of the invention places the synthetic balloon in the patient's middle ear in contact with the tympanic membrane to restore tympanic membrane motion so as to enhance transfer of sound through the middle ear to the inner ear of the patient.