Techniques For Increasing The Acoustic Impedance Of The Cochlea's Round Window Membrane
A method for increasing the acoustic impedance of the round window membrane of the cochlea in a human patient includes surgically opening access to the round window membrane and placing a packing layer over the round window membrane. Optionally a layer of collagen graft may be obtained from the patient and placed between the round window membrane and the packing layer. Optionally the packing layer may be enclosed within the collagen graft. Optionally bone paté may be obtained from the patient and used to form at least a portion of the packing layer. Optionally a silastic buttress may be placed under compression between the packing layer and the bone of sinus tympani of the patient.
1 . A method for increasing the acoustic impedance of the round window membrane of the cochlea in a human patient, the method comprising:
surgically opening access to the round window membrane;
placing a packing layer over the round window membrane.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining a collagen graft from the patient;
placing the collagen graft between the round window membrane and the packing layer.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining bone material from the patient;
forming a bone paté out of the bone material;
forming the packing layer to comprise bone paté.
4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
obtaining bone material from the patient;
forming a bone paté out of the bone material;
forming the packing layer to comprise bone paté.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
placing a layer of absorbable biocompatible material over the packing layer.
6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
placing a layer of absorbable biocompatible material over the packing layer.
7 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
enclosing the packing layer within the collagen graft.
8 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
enclosing the packing layer within the collagen graft.
9 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
enclosing the packing layer within the collagen graft.
10 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
enclosing the packing layer within the collagen graft.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
placing a silastic buttress layer under compression between the packing layer and the bone of sinus tympani of the patient.
12 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
placing a silastic buttress layer under compression between the packing layer and the bone of sinus tympani of the patient.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
enclosing the packing layer within the collagen graft.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
enclosing the packing layer within the collagen graft.