IMAI

Together with the project partners Auric Hörsysteme, Fraunhofer IPA and the Hearing Research Center of the University ENT Clinic Tübingen, an active middle ear implant for outpatient implantation is being developed.

In the IMAI project, a novel individualized middle ear implant for outpatient implantation
for outpatient implantation, which will create the conditions for significantly more severely hearing impaired patients to benefit from the audiological advantages of an active middle ear implant at a reasonable cost. The implant is based on a piezoelectric micro-bending actuator, which is placed at the round window in the middle ear by means of an attachment element specially adapted to the patient. Signal and energy are transmitted through the eardrum by means of an optical transmission path.
The mechanical and electrical connection between receiver module
(photodiodes and chip for signal adaptation) and the actuator is made by means of a flexible, biostable
a flexible, biostable cable. The 3D micro assembly and connection technology required for this and the appropriate biostable encapsulation of the middle ear implant are carried out in the clean room and laboratories at the NMI.