Med-El Sonata Cochlear Implant (demo)
The Med-El Sonata cochlear implant was made by Med-El GMBH of
Innsbruck, Austria in 2006.
This cochlear implant module worked with the Opus
Audio Processors.
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 (center), receiving coil (right)
and long electrode array (left & bottom). The module measured ¾" x 1
1/16" x ¼" (4.5 x 2.8 x 0.6 cm).
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Close-up view of the front of the electronics module of the Med-El
Sonata cochlear implant. In the "window" are the words "Not for Human
Use" since this is a demonstration module. Below it reads "Sonata TI
100 Demo" and "Med-El".
This electronics module received the sound signals from the
transmitting coil and sent it down the electrode array threaded inside
the cochlea.
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Rear view of the electronics module of the Med-El Sonata
cochlear implant. The whole implant was encased in silicone rubber to
make it impervious to moisture and contaminants.
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Close-up view of the front of the receiving coil of the Med-El Sonata
cochlear implant The transmitting coil matched the size of this
receiving coil so that sound signals were transferred from one to the
other via magnetic induction. The magnet in the center of the 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 outside diameter of the coil was 11/16" (2.3 cm). The magnet
was ⅜"
(1.0 cm) in diameter.
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Close-up view of the back of the receiving coil of the Med-El Sonata
cochlear implant showing the same arrangement as the picture above.
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) creates 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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Side view of the Med-El Sonata cochlear implant showing the flexible bend in
the middle. This allowed the implanted part to better fit the natural contour of
the skull where it was implanted. The two parts were encased in flexible
silicone so the implant could exactly fit the "bowl" the doctor
made in
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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 11/16" (12.0 cm).
Charles Johnson of Med-El donated this Sonata implant module demo to
the Museum. Thanks Charles and Med-El.
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