In this episode, Marcus Schmidt discusses with Prof. Stefan Weder and Dr. Ilona Anderson how a flexible electrode array design and advanced surgical tools, such as OTOPLAN and OTODRIVE, are helping surgeons achieve more precise outcomes while supporting residual hearing preservation by protecting the delicate structures in the cochlea. They also look at the latest clinical data on hearing preservation, including FDA-approval for hearing preservation, and they discuss how these innovations are improving quality of life for CI users.
Weblinks:
MED-EL Professional Blog: 5 Ways to Maximize Residual Hearing Preservation With Precision Surgery
How MED-EL Cochlear Implants Provide the Closest to Natural Hearing
Literature References:
Aebischer, P., Anschuetz, L., Caversaccio, M., Mantokoudis, G., & Weder, S. (2024). Quantitative in-vitro assessment of a novel robot-assisted system for cochlear implant electrode insertion. International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery, 1-10.
Heyning, P. H. V. de, Dazert, S., Gavilan, J., Lassaletta, L., Lorens, A., Rajan, G. P., Skarzynski, H., Skarzynski, P. H., Tavora-Vieira, D., Topsakal, V., Usami, S., Rompaey, V. V., Weiss, N. M., & Polak, M. (2022). Systematic Literature Review of Hearing Preservation Rates in Cochlear Implantation Associated With Medium- and Longer-Length Flexible Lateral Wall Electrode Arrays. Frontiers in Surgery, 9, 893839. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2022.893839.
Oetiker Y, Aebischer P, Caversaccio M, Mantokoudis G, Weder S. Hearing preservation outcomes with motorized cochlear implant electrode insertion: matched-cohort observations. Front Surg. 2025 Nov 7;12:1700744. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2025.1700744. PMID: 41282565; PMCID: PMC12637026.
US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval confirming that there is sufficient evidence that MED-EL's FLEX electrodes preserve residual functional hearing in the majority of recipients: Document "Summary of safe-ty and effectiveness Data" of Premarket Approval Application (PMA) Number: P000025/S129, MED-EL Cochlear Implant System, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf/P000025S129B.pdf.
von Ilberg C, Kiefer J, Tillein J, Pfenningdorff T, Hartmann R, Stürzebecher E, Klinke R. Electric-acoustic stimulation of the auditory system. New technology for severe hearing loss. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 1999 Nov-Dec;61(6):334-40. doi: 10.1159/000027695. PMID: 10545807.
