ABSTRACT
Middle ear implants (MEI) are divided into active and passive. Passive devices are ossiculoplasty prostheses; their role is to attempt to restore middle ear mechanics. Active MEIs are surgically implanted ‘hearing aids’ that are directly coupled to either the ossicles or inner ear. The middle ear implant describes a device placed within the middle ear in order to improve hearing. Suitable mixed hearing or pure conductive losses may arise as a result of external auditory canal stenosis, external ear malformation, otosclerosis, middle ear disease or lateral petrosectomy with blind sac closure. MEIs can rehabilitate sensorineural hearing losses ranging from mild to severe. MEIs are able to rehabilitate a wide range of conductive or mixed hearing losses. The movement of the floating mass transducer augments the natural movement of the ossicles or directly stimulates the inner ear via the round or oval windows.
