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Soft Brainstem Implant Moves Closer to Human Trials with Promising Macaque Results

EPFL researchers have developed a flexible auditory brainstem implant that enhances hearing precision and reduces side effects, with intraoperative human testing being the next step.

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The soft auditory brainstem implant (ABI) developed at EPFL is designed to gently conform to brain tissue, enhancing signal precision and patient comfort.

Overview

  • EPFL's soft auditory brainstem implant (ABI) uses micrometer-scale platinum electrodes embedded in silicone, allowing it to conform to the brainstem's curved surface.
  • The implant demonstrated high-resolution 'prosthetic hearing' in macaques, with the animals responding to electrical stimulation as they would to natural sounds.
  • The soft design improves tissue contact, reducing off-target nerve activation and common side effects like dizziness and facial twitching seen in rigid ABIs.
  • Long-term testing in macaques showed no discomfort or electrode migration over several months, addressing key challenges of current ABI technologies.
  • Researchers are preparing for intraoperative human trials in Boston to evaluate reduced stray nerve activation, a critical step toward clinical translation.