cochlear implant (redirected from Bionic ear)

implant /im·plant/ (im´plant) an object or material inserted or grafted into the body for prosthetic, therapeutic, diagnostic, or experimental purposes.

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cochlear implant  a mechanical alternative to hearing for deaf persons, consisting of a microphone, signal processor, external transmitter, and implanted receiver.

endosseous implant , endosteal implant a dental implant consisting of a blade, screw, pin, or vent, inserted into the jaw bone through the alveolar or basal bone, with a post protruding through the mucoperiosteum into the oral cavity to serve as an abutment for dentures or orthodontic appliances, or to serve in fracture fixation.

penile implant  see under prosthesis.

subperiosteal implant  a metal frame implanted under the periosteum and resting on the bone, with a post protruding into the oral cavity.

transmandibular implant  a dental implant for patients with severe mandibular alveolar atrophy; it is fixed to the symphyseal border and traverses the mandible to attach directly to a denture, bearing the denture directly.

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cochlear implant

n.

An electronic device that stimulates auditory nerve fibers in the inner ear in individuals with severe or profound bilateral hearing loss, allowing them to recognize some sounds, especially speech sounds.

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cochlear implant,

an electronic device that is surgically implanted into the cochlea of a deaf individual. A transmitter placed outside the scalp sends signals to a receiver under the scalp, which in turn transmits an electrical code to the auditory nerve. A microphone is located behind the ear to collect the sound waves that are transmitted through a microprocessor. The microprocessor analyzes the sound waves and relays data back to electrodes in the implanted device. The patient receives electrical pulses that are translated into sound vibrations that can be distinguished as neural sensations. Although the implant does not transmit speech in the same manner as it would be perceived by a person with normal hearing, it allows the individual to perceive and distinguish sounds that would not otherwise be audible to him or her and to use those sounds along with other environmental cues to improve communication. Also called cochlear prosthesis.

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cochlear implant

Audiology A multicomponent electronic prosthetic device for those with severe hearing loss, whose sensory neurons have been damaged, but not completely destroyed, and for whom conventional hearing aids are inadequate; CIs bypass damaged structures in the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. See Cochlea, Hearing aid.