VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE is MED-EL’s active middle ear implant, and the most widely used system of its kind. It is designed for people who get little benefit from hearing aids, or who cannot wear them for medical reasons.
How it works
The SAMBA 2 audio processor picks up sound and sends it to the implant. A tiny Floating Mass Transducer, smaller than a grain of rice, turns the sound into mechanical vibrations and moves the structures of the middle ear directly. The vibrations reach the cochlea and travel to the brain as sound. This direct-drive approach does not require surgical changes to the middle ear.
Why people choose it
- Nothing sits in the ear canal, which avoids the blocked feeling and ear infections some hearing aid users experience.
- Sound is strong and clear, without the whistling feedback of some hearing aids.
- Every new SAMBA processor is designed to work with every SOUNDBRIDGE implant, so you can upgrade without surgery.
What to expect
- Assessment: hearing tests and a medical review confirm suitability.
- Surgery: usually 1 to 2 hours under general anaesthesia. Most people are up and about the next day.
- Activation: the processor is fitted a few weeks after surgery. A hearing aid can be used in the meantime.
Technical data
| Implant | VORP 503 |
|---|---|
| Weight | 10.6 g |
| Materials | Titanium, medical-grade silicone and epoxy |
| MRI | MR Conditional at 1.5 Tesla |
| Couplers | Incus-SP, Incus-LP, RW-Soft, Vibroplasty-CliP, Stapes-SH |