Surgery for an improved multiple-channel cochlear implant

This is a publisher’s version of an article published in Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology published by Annals Publishing Company. This version is reproduced with permission from Annals Publishing Company. http://www.annals.com/An improved multiple-channel cochlear implant has been developed. The titanium container with enclosed electronics, the receiver coil and the connector are embedded in medical-grade Silastic. The upper half of the implant has a diameter of 35 mm and a height of 4.5 mm. and the lower half a diameter of 23 mm and a height of.5 mm. The electrode array has also been designed to reduce the possibility of breakage due to repeated movements over many years. The surgery involves drilling a bed in the mastoid bone for the receiver-stimulator, and fixing the proximal electrode under the mastoid cortex. Gentle insertion of the electrode array through the round window and along the seala tympani is achieved with a specially designed microclaw