[Implants for the middle ear, development of a human prototype].

Middle ear implants are a new type of hearing aid. Their principle is direct stimulation of the inner ear fluids, by a vibrator implanted in the middle ear. Two technologies are developed by different teams: electromagnetic vibrators, and piezoelectric vibrators. Middle ear implants should be partially implantable (P-MEI), or totally implantable (T-MEI). Authors develop, concurrently with animal experimentation an in vitro method to measure the performance date of the vibrators. The specifications of a future P-MEI have been defined, and vibrators tested with this method. First results encourage to develop this project.