ABI-auditory brainstem implant

Abstract

The Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI) is based on the classic cochlear implant (CI) but uses a different stimulation electrode. At MED-EL, the early development activities on ABI started in the year 1994, with the suggestion coming from J. Helms and J. Müller from Würzburg, Germany in collaboration with the Univ. of Innsbruck Austria. The first ABI surgery in a neuro-fibromatosis (NF2) patient with the MED-EL device took place in the year 1997. Later, the indication of ABI was expanded to non-NF2 patients with severe inner-ear malformation, for whom a regular CI will not be beneficial. Key translational research activities at MED-EL in collaboration with numerous clinics investigating the factors that affect the hearing performance amongst ABI patients, importance of early ABI implantation in children, tools in pre-operative assessment of ABI candidates and new concepts that were pursued with the MED-EL ABI device. The CE-mark for the MED-EL ABI to be used in adults and children down to the age of 12 months without NF-2 was granted in 2017 mainly based on two long-term clinical studies in the pediatric population. This article covers the milestones of translational research from the first concept to the widespread clinical use of ABI in association with MED-EL.

Graphical Abstract

Chinese abstract

听觉脑干植入物（ABI）在设备设计的多个方面模仿了传统CI。根据来自德国维尔茨堡的赫尔姆斯教授和米勒教授提出的建议, MED-EL的ABI的早期开发活动始于1994年。 1997年, 采用MED-EL装置对神经纤维瘤病（NF2）患者进行了第一例ABI手术。后来, ABI的适应症扩大到了严重内耳畸形的非NF2患者, 而常规CL对这些患者不见效果。本章介绍了MED-EL与许多诊所合作开展的重要转化研究活动, 探讨了影响ABI患者听力表现的因素, 儿童ABI植入的重要性, 术前评估ABI候选人的工具以及尝试用于MED-EL ABI设备的新概念。

Keywords:

• Neuro-fibromatosis
• non-tumor
• cochlear nerve deficiency
• non-auditory side effects

Acknowledgments

The authors would gratefully like to acknowledge the key contributors to the development of the subject matter. Their contributions are outlined in this article. The authors further acknowledge Marek Polak from MED-EL for his valuable input and comments during several rounds of review meetings that contributed to the final version of this article.

Disclosure statement

This article is sponsored by MED-EL and has not undergone the regular peer-review process of Acta Oto-Laryngologica. Both the authors are affiliated with MED-EL.