Labassi S, Beliaeff M, Péan V, Van de Heyning P
a MED-EL France , Sophia Antipolis , France.
b Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Antwerp University Hospital , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.
Cochlear Implants Int. 2017 Nov;18(6):314-323. doi: 10.1080/14670100.2017.1358913. Epub 2017 Aug 8.
To present a historical overview of the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) middle ear implant (MEI), since its beginning in the 1990s to date and to describe its course and contemplate what it might become in the future.
MEIs started to take form in researchers' mind in the 1930s with the first experiment of Wilska. In the 1970s, several devices, such as the Goode and Perkins', the Maniglia's, or the Hough and Dormer's were created but remained prototypes. It is only in the 1990s the devices that emerged remained on the market. In 1994, Symphonix, Inc. was created and aimed to manufacture and commercialize its semi-implantable MEI, the VSB. The principle of the VSB lies on a direct drive of the sound to a vibratory structure of the middle ear through an electromagnetic transducer, the floating mass transducer (FMT). The particularity of the system VSB is the simplicity of the transducer which is made of both the magnet and the coil; thus, the FMT, fixed on a vibrating middle ear structure, mimics the natural movement of the ossicular chain by moving in the same direction. The goal of the VSB was to give an alternative to patients with mild-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss who could not wear hearing aids (HAs) or who were unsatisfied conventional HA users. Subsequent to Tjellström's experiment in 1997, implantations started to include etiologies such as otosclerosis, radical mastoidectomy, failed ossiculoplasty/tympanoplasty, and atresia. Nowadays, the VSB, with more than 20 years of experience, is the oldest and most used middle ear implant worldwide. It is well acknowledged that the straightforward design and reliability of the transducer have certainly contributed to the success of the device.
介绍活力声桥（VSB）中耳植入物（MEI）自20世纪90年代问世至今的历史概况，描述其发展历程，并思考其未来可能的走向。
20世纪30年代，随着威尔斯卡的首次实验，中耳植入物开始在研究人员的脑海中初具雏形。20世纪70年代，出现了几种装置，如古德和珀金斯的、马尼利亚的、霍夫和多尔默的，但都只是原型。直到20世纪90年代，出现的装置才得以进入市场。1994年，Symphonix公司成立，旨在制造其半植入式中耳植入物VSB并将其商业化。VSB的原理是通过一个电磁换能器，即浮动质量换能器（FMT），将声音直接驱动到中耳的一个振动结构上。VSB系统的独特之处在于换能器的简单性，它由磁体和线圈组成；因此，固定在中耳振动结构上的FMT通过沿相同方向移动来模拟听骨链的自然运动。VSB的目标是为那些不能佩戴助听器（HA）或对传统HA使用者不满意的轻至重度感音神经性听力损失患者提供一种替代方案。1997年，在谢尔斯特伦的实验之后，植入手术开始涵盖诸如耳硬化症、根治性乳突切除术、鼓室成形术/鼓膜成形术失败以及耳道闭锁等病因。如今，拥有20多年经验的VSB是全球最古老且使用最广泛的中耳植入物。人们普遍认为，换能器的直接设计和可靠性无疑促成了该装置的成功。
