Evaluation of Bone Tissue Formation in a Flat Surface Attachment of a Bone Conduction Implant: A Pilot Study in a Sheep Model

Abstract

The bone conduction implant (BCI) is a new bone conduction hearing device implanted under intact skin. The transducer has a flat direct contact with the mastoid part of the temporal bone, and no screws are used. The sound signal is transmitted from the external audio processor to the implant by means of magnetic induction. In this study, osseointegration of a flat passive BCI transducer dummy in sheep skulls was assessed using quantitative and qualitative histology as well as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and computed tomography (CT). The histology results were also related to the mechanical properties of the bone-to-implant interface. Eight months after the surgical implantation, histology sections of the bone close to the implant showed bone remodeling, compact bone and osseointegration. The histological findings corresponded well to the mechanical measurements indicating stiffer bone close to the implant and unaffected skull vibration transmission. Neither CBCT nor CT had enough resolution to visualize the bone-to-implant interface in detail. In this study, using an animal model, it is shown that a flat implant in contact with bone can be a feasible method for efficient vibration transmission to the skull bone.