Graeme Clark Collection

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    The biologic safety of the Cochlear Corporation multiple-electrode intracochlear implant
    Webb, Robert L. ; Clark, Graeme M. ; Shepherd, Robert K. ; Franz, Burkhard K-H. ; Pyman, Brian C. ( 1988)
    Studies have been undertaken to confirm the biologic safety of the Cochlear Corporation multi-electrode intracochlear implant. The materials used are biocompatible. The electrode array is flexible: it can be inserted with minimal or no trauma, providing the insertion is stopped when resistance is first felt. An atraumatic insertion is facilitated if a good view is obtained along the scala tympani of the basal turn of the cochlea by drilling through the crista fenestrae. The passage of the electrode around the cochlea can be facilitated if the electrode is rotated during insertion (clockwise for the left and anticlockwise for the right cochlea). The electrode can be explanted and another one reinserted with minimal or no trauma. A seal established around the electrode after an implantation period of 2 weeks can prevent infection extending from the middle to the inner ear. The electrical stimulus parameters produced by the Nucleus receiver-stimulator cause no loss of spiral ganglion cells or corrosion of the platinum band electrodes. Long-term stimulation has been carried out for up to 8 years in patients without affecting their clinical performance.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Middle ear infection postimplantation: response of the round window membrane to Streptococcus pyogenes
    Cranswick, N. E. ; Franz, B. K-H. ; Clark, Graeme M. ; Shepherd, R. K. ; Bloom, D. M. ( 1987)
    The seal of the implanted round window membrane to resist Streptococcus pyogenes invasion from the middle ear was investigated in 12 cats. Results showed that the implanted round window membrane is able to form a barrier for S pyogenes starting 1 week postimplantation. Under normal conditions S pyogenes did not pass through the round window membrane, nor through the gap that existed between the membrane and the prosthesis. Mechanical disruption of the round window seal, however, and severe inflammatory response to S pyogenes caused the infection to extend into the inner ear.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Surgery for the safe insertion and reinsertion of the banded electrode array
    Clark, Graeme M. ; Pyman, B. C. ; Webb, R. L. ; Franz, B. K-H. G. ; Redhead, T. J. ; Shepherd, R. K. ( 1987)
    Adhering to the surgical technique outlined in the protocol for the Nucleus implant has resulted in over 100 patients worldwide obtaining significant benefit from multichannel stimulation. A detailed analysis of the results in 40 patients shows that it improves their awareness of environmental sounds and their abilities in understanding running speech when combined with lipreading. In addition, one third to one half of the patients also understand significant amounts of running speech without lipreading and some can have interactive conversations over the telephone. It is clear that any insertion trauma is not significant, which is confirmed by the excellent clinical results.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Pneumococcal middle ear infection and cochlear implantation
    Berkowitz, R. G. ; Franz, B. K-H. ; Shepherd, R. K. ; Clark, Graeme M. ; Bloom, D. M. ( 1987)
    A limited study for the experimental induction of pneumococcal otitis media is presented. It is a useful model to study the effects of otitis media in the implanted and nonimplanted cochlea of the cat. Pneumococcal otitis media caused minor pathological changes in two nonimplanted cochleas and more widespread changes together with significant loss of neural elements in two implanted cochleas. However, the small number of animals used in this study did not allow us to distinguish between the effects of electrode insertion trauma, infection, or the combination of both.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    The histopathology of the human temporal bone following cochlear implantation in a patient: a summary
    Clark, Graeme M. ; Shepherd, R. K. ; Webb, R. L. ; Franz, B. K-H. ( 1987)
    The macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of the implanted and unimplanted temporal bones in a patient who had a cochlear prosthesis for 27 months prior to his death from cardiac disease has shown that the device is biocompatible, and does not lead to any significant adverse effects. The cause of deafness was meningitis.