Description

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A cochlear implant is made up of two parts: one internal, the other external. The internal part is inserted under the skin behind the ear during a surgical procedure requiring general anaesthesia.  The external part includes a speech processor linked to an antenna. The antenna has a magnet that allows it to be maintained towards the internal part, so that the contact can occur.

Here are the different models of internal part and sound processor you could be given.
(These photos are courtesy of Advanced Bionics, Cochlear and MED-EL).

                                                                                                     
Advanced Bionics


                            
Cochlear                                 
      

MED-EL
 
   
                        

Our team is currently working with four cochlear implant manufacturers:  Advanced Bionics, Cochlear and MED-EL. Their technological products provide similar results. The audiologist will advise the patient for the choice of sound processor in consideration with his needs. Under exceptional circumstances, the choice is made by the surgeon if the patient presents certain medical conditions.  
 

Operation 

1. The microphone captures sounds from the environment that are then analyzed by the sound processor. 
2. The coded sounds are transmitted to the internal part that converts them to electrical impulses. 
3. The electrical impulses are transmitted to the electrodes. 
4. The electrodes stimulate the auditory nerve which sends information to the brain.