Chamber stapes prosthesis with an improved fastening of the membrane

¹ Institute of Radioelectronics, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 15/17, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland
² Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mochnackiego 10, 02-042 Warsaw, Poland
³ Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics, Warsaw University of Technology, św. Andrzeja Boboli 8, 02-525 Warsaw, Poland

^* Corresponding author: mgpudlik@gmail.com

Abstract

Stapes prostheses are dedicated to assisting patients with otosclerosis. Currently used stapes prostheses have the form of a piston and are called piston prostheses. However, the perilymph excitation by piston prosthesis is not perfect so a new chamber stapes prosthesis (ChSP) has been proposed. The ChSP allows for a more effective stimulation of the cochlea than the piston. A crucial element of the ChSP is a flexible membrane. The membrane transmits vibrations from the plate to the fluid that fills the chamber and then to the inner ear. In the first prototype, the membrane was glued to the chamber, which is an unacceptable solution in a real medical device because of a risk to patient's health. Therefore, there is a need to improve the membrane fastening. In this study, we present a new improved method for attaching the membrane to the chamber. A modified 3D model of the ChSP was build and an additional fastening element was designed. The design process of the fastening element was based on the analysis of deformation conducted for elements made of different materials. As a result the optimal geometry of the element was determined. The new fastening has been experimentally tested using the 3D printed model. Fastening the membrane to the prosthesis was a success and assessed as efficient. The results of the experimental tests confirmed that presented modification can be used in the ChSPs intended for clinical trials.