Coming with a cochlear implant

Thanks to state-of-the-art technology and the development of electronic cochlear implant technology, hearing impaired people can now partially restore hearing.

But to reduce the equipment and increase the aesthetics for users, MIT researchers at Harvard Medical School in collaboration with the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute have built a chip that can Fully implanted inside the ear, instead of having an external ear attachment.

This cumbersome electronic cochlear implant will soon be replaced by a new cochlear implant. (Photo: Photostock)

Often, the cochlear implant consists of two external and internal organs. Accordingly, the external unit is integrated with a voice microphone and converted to audio frequency. This audible voltage audio signal is received by the implant in the ear canal and converted into an electronic pulse to stimulate the auditory nerve.

But instead of using a collection device like before, experts say the new device uses a microphone system deep inside the ear based on cochlear implant technology . This unit uses a sensor to detect small bone vibrations. The sensor signal is transmitted to the chip inside the ear. Here, they are converted into electronic pulses to the cochlear implant for processing. Cochlear implants will then be stimulated and help the deaf or hearing-impaired to hear the sound.

According to the research team, the chip uses ultra-low power so users can easily recharge in just 2 minutes with the wireless charger attached to the smartphone. The only downside to this technique is that implant surgery is more complicated than cochlear implantation, but the team believes this will be fixed soon.