Evaluation of bone tissue formation in a flat surface attachment of a Bone Conduction Implant - A pilot study in a sheep model

• The Bone Conduction Implant (BCI) is a new bone conduction hearing device implanted under intact skin. The transducer has a flat direct contact to the mastoid part of the temporal bone and no screws are used. The sound signal is transmitted from the external audio processor to the implant by means of magnetic induction. In this study, osseointegration of a flat passive BCI transducer dummy in sheep skulls was assessed using quantitative and qualitative histology as well as Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and Computed Tomography (CT). The histology results were also related to the mechanical properties of the bone to implant interface. Eight months after the surgical implantation, histology sections of the bone close to the implant showed bone remodelling, compact bone and some degree of osseointegration. The histological findings corresponded well to the mechanical measurements indicating stiffer bone close to the implant, and unaffected skull vibration transmission. Neither CBCT nor CT had enough resolution to visualize the bone to implant interface in detail. In this study, using an animal model, it is shown that a flat implant in contact with bone, can be a feasible method for efficient vibration transmission to the skull bone.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Cell- och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Cell and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinsk bioteknologi -- Biomaterialvetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Medical Biotechnology -- Biomaterials Science (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oto-rhino-laryngologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Otorhinolaryngology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Bone Conduction

Implantable bone conduction hearing devices

Bone Conduction Implant

Osseointegration

Histomorphometry

Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Bone Conduction

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)