Med-El Pulsar Cochlear Implant (demo)
The Med-El Pulsar cochlear implant was made by Med-El GMBH of
Innsbruck, Austria in 2004.
This cochlear implant module worked with the Tempo+
Audio Processor.
Note: this is a demo model put out by Med-El so potential cochlear
implant users could see and handle the part that was actually implanted in
the skull behind and above the ear.
It consisted of an electronics module with receiving coil (left), a
ground electrode (top & right), and a long electrode array (right & bottom). The module measured
1 5/16" x 1
1/16" x 3/16" (3.3 x 2.6 x 0.5 cm).
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Close-up view of the top of the Med-El Pulsar cochlear implant. On
the front it reads "Med-El Pulsar Demo". The Pulsar cochlear implant
was made of white ceramic and covered on the left half by silicone.
This implant module consisted of three parts—electronic components, a
receiving coil and a magnet. The receiving coil sent the received sound signals
from the transmitting coil to the electronics part where it was sent down the electrode
array threaded inside
the cochlea.
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Close-up view of the bottom of the Med-El Pulsar cochlear implant. On
the bottom in reads "Not for Human Use" since this is a demo unit. The magnet in the center of this module
was oriented such that it attracted the corresponding magnet in the the
center of the transmitting coil, thus holding the transmitting coil in
place on the outside of the head.
The way the two coils worked with each other is exactly the same way transformers work. Varying current flowing through the primary winding
(the transmitting coil) create a varying magnetic field that induces an
equal and opposite current flowing in the secondary winding (the receiving
coil).
Thus, the sound signal passed through the skin of the cochlear
implant wearer via magnetic induction. |
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Close-up view of the end of the ground electrode. The total length of the
ground electrode was 2⅝" (6.7 cm). |
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Close-up view of the end of the electrode array showing the
individual electrodes. This electrode array was threaded through the
cochlea and placed such that the electrodes lined up with the tonotopic
"map" of the cochlea. This means that the frequencies controlled by each
of the electrodes match the natural frequency distribution of that part
of the cochlea.
The total length of the electrode array was 4 9/16" (11.6 cm).
Charles Johnson of Med-El donated this Pulsar implant module demo to
the Museum. Thanks Charles and Med-El.
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