Ear Center: ESTEEM® Implants at The Ear Center
Envoy ESTEEM® Totally Implantable Hearing Device at The Ear Center
Navigate this page:
ESTEEM implant criteria
ESTEEM implants at The Ear Center
Conventional hearing aid dilemma
Development of the ESTEEM
The Result
Many "Firsts" at The Ear Center
Training ESTEEM surgeons from around the world
ESTEEM scientific presentations
Kraus K-Helix Prostheses for reconstruction
ESTEEM programming expertise
What Makes Us Different? - Highly Qualified, Experienced Ear Surgeons
Experience counts
ESTEEM Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Envoy ESTEEM look like?
How Does the ESTEEM work?
Do I have to wear anything in my ear or behind my ear if I have an ESTEEM implant?
Will I still have to hassle with a hearing aid?
If the ESTEEM is totally implanted, how do I control the device? Change the volume, etc.?
How long does the ESTEEM battery last?
What happens when the Sound Processor battery becomes depleted?
When the battery is replaced, do I have to have the same type of procedure that was used for my initial implant?
May I have an MRI scan after having an ESTEEM implant?
May I have a CT scan after having an ESTEEM implant?
How Many People Have Had an ESTEEM™ Device Implanted?
What Surgical Procedure is used to Implant the ESTEEM™?
Click here for more information About the ESTEEM
Graphic of ESTEEM Device
Drs. Kraus was proud to be among a small group of ESTEEM® implant surgeons in the United States. He was one of three original surgeons who helped to develop the current ESTEEM surgical technique.
APPROVED FOR MODERATE-TO-SEVERE
SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS
The Envoy ESTEEM Totally Implantable Hearing System is a first-of-a-kind totally implantable, active middle ear device approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the surgical treatment of moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss. The purpose of the Esteem is to help improve hearing in adult patients who are
"beyond hearing aids but before cochlear implants".
The ESTEEM received FDA approval on March 17, 2010.
The ESTEEM received CE Mark clearance for implantation in Europe in 2006.
ESTEEM Implant Criteria
Candidates for the ESTEEM implant must meet the following criteria:
- be 18 years of age or older
- have stable, moderate-to-severe, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (Range = 40 dB to 70 dB, defined as the average of pure tone thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000 Hz)
- have speech discrimination test score (WRS) of greater than, or equal to, 40% in the worst hearing ear
- have normal tympanic membrane & middle ear anatomy
- have normally functioning Eustachian tubes
- have worn properly fit hearing aids for at least one month
- have no history of immune compromise or chronic staphylococcal skin infections
- have enough room in their mastoid cavity (space behind the ear) to accept the ESTEEM components
- be able to undergo a 3-4 hours general anesthetic
ESTEEM IMPLANTS AT THE EAR CENTER
CUTTING EDGE APPROACH TO INNOVATION
IN TREATING SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a condition in which the nerve cells within the inner ear (cochlea) do not work properly. The ear has three major parts: (1) the outer ear for gathering sound, (2) the middle ear for transmission of sound from air to mechanical motion (hearing bone vibration), and (3) the fluid-filled inner ear for changing sound into signals that are sent to the brain to be interpreted as meaningful sound. Conditions that may cause SNHL include: complex genetics (congenital, familial non-syndromic or syndromic), noise exposure, infection, trauma, neoplasms, degenerative forces, vasculitis, auto-immune disorders, metabolic abnormalities, ototoxic exposure, and inner ear malformations. Hearing loss may be gradual and progressive or may occur suddenly without warning.
Conventional Hearing Aids: The Dilemma
Until recently, moderate-to-severe SNHL has been treated with powerful digital hearing aids. Patients with such SNHL become dependent on their hearing aids and must wear them in order to function at home and at work. Most find that their hearing aids help them to an extent. They learn to live with many inherent compromises. These include:
- frequent doctor's visits for recurrent ear infections
- lack of clarity (especially in noisy environments such as restaurants) & annoying distortion
- embarrassing feedback noise
- frequent adjustments and repairs
- initial hearing aid expense, inadvertent loss, and the need to purchase a "backup pair" of hearing aids
- constant battery changes, and battery depletions at the most inopportune times
- limitations when participating in sports and water activities
- trouble using telephones and cell phones
- cumbersome interference with safety equipment such as goggles, masks, etc. in the workplace
Patients tolerate these inconveniences because they have had no other choice. In many situations, their jobs depend on their ability to hear. But, even with the best hearing aids and the best fit, many patients simply do not feel normal.
Development of the ESTEEM
More than 20 years ago, a team of highly skilled engineers began to develop a new totally implantable, active middle ear device, the Envoy ESTEEM, to treat moderate-to-severe SNHL. Their ingenious efforts, along with a dedicated group of ear surgeons who helped to develop the surgical refinements needed to implant the device, led to FDA approval of the Envoy ESTEEM hearing implant on March 17, 2010, after six years of clinical trials.
Dr. Eric M. Kraus (The Ear Center of Greensboro, P.A.), Dr. Jack A. Shohet (Shohet Ear Clinic), and Dr. Peter J. Catalano (while at the Lahey Clinic) played instrumental roles in providing surgical consultation, leadership as co-investigators in the clinical trials to evaluate the device and surgical technique to implant them, and the initiation of genuinely new and innovative techniques for implanting active middle ear devices as well as reversing implants when necessary.
The Result
The results? Patients from all walks of life and professions have traveled to The Ear Center of Greensboro, P.A. for their ESTEEM implants.
Among his ESTEEM patients are: two physicians, two attorneys, a dentist, multiple engineers, a physicist, a pharmaceutical representative, a rancher, a truck builder, an oil rigger, an IT consultant, grandmothers, grandfathers, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters.
Many "Firsts" at The Ear Center
Beginning in 2004, Dr. Kraus was one of three co-investigators participating in the ESTEEM Pivotal Research Trial that ultimately led to FDA approval in March, 2010. Dr. Kraus implanted the first patient in the U.S. with a first generation ESTEEM I implant in June, 2004. Since that time, Dr. Kraus has implanted 43 patients from around the U.S., including 23 patients implanted with the second generation ESTEEM. Battery replacement procedures have also been performed.
Training of Ear Surgeons from Around the World
In addition to participating in U.S. FDA Pivotal Trials 0203 and 0204, Dr. Kraus has trained ESTEEM surgeons, beginning in 2004 from around the world, including surgeons from: England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil.
ESTEEM Scientific Presentations
Dr. Kraus has presented scientific papers concerning the ESTEEM around the world - Marseille, France; San Diego, CA; London, England; Vail, Colorado, Irvine, CA; and Chapel Hill, NC. On December 18, 2009, he was one of three ESTEEM surgeons to present at the FDA ENT Advisory Panel meeting that resulted in a 15-0 unanimous recommendation for FDA approval.
Kraus K-Helix Prostheses: A Novel Invention
In 2007, Dr. Kraus invented the Kraus K-Helix Crown and Piston middle ear prostheses that are used for the surgical reconstruction of the hearing bones (ossicular chain reconstruction). These novel titanium prostheses have been used successfully in the rare occasion when it is necessary to reverse the ESTEEM implant. Hearing in such patients has been restored to baseline pre-implant levels.
Since 2008, the Kraus K-Helix prostheses have been successfully used around the world to help many patients who suffer from chronic ear disease. Dr. Kraus has trained surgeons in K-Helix implantation from the U.S., France, Germany, and Belgium.
ESTEEM Programming Expertise
Along with ESTEEM implants, The Ear Center specializes in computer programming of the ESTEEM by a team of experienced, highly trained audiologists One of our research audiologists has programmed more ESTEEM implants than any audiologist in the U.S.
What Makes Us Different?: Highly Qualified, Experienced Ear Surgeons
"The Ear Center of Greensboro continues to be on the very leading edge of hearing implant surgery for hearing restoration in the U.S.", explained otologic surgeon, Eric M. Kraus, M.D. "Here you will find very experienced surgeons who understand the engineering as well as the medicine and surgery of implantable hearing devices. Through our experience, we are providing innovative insights for the design of the next generation of active middle ear devices. Through our surgical skill, we are helping patients with significant hearing loss to hear better again and to feel normal again".
Our motto: "Good judgment comes from experience. And, experience come from bad judgment."
Experience Counts
When considering an ESTEEM implant, trust your ears and your hearing to experienced ESTEEM surgeons, nurses, and audiologists:
- who helped to develop the surgical implant techniques and surgical refinements
- who were co-investigators for six years in the human FDA clinical trials with the ESTEEM
- who understand the complex engineering and hardware components
- who have extensive ESTEEM programming experience
- who have taught other ESTEEM surgeons how to implant the device
- who developed the K-Helix prosthesis and surgical reconstruction technique used to reverse the implant, if necessary
- who performed the first binaural ESTEEM implant in the U.S (ESTEEMs now implanted in both ears, 5-5-10)
- who have performed ESTEEM revision procedures, explantations, and reconstructions, when necessary
- who have 30 years of experience performing complex ear surgery
- who have the surgical knowledge and skill required to implant this cutting edge technology
- who have performed many ESTEEM battery replacements
- who have presented ESTEEM scientific presentations around the world
- who have performed ESTEEM implants for physicians, attorneys, dentist, engineers, physicists, etc.
- and who understand all of the ramifications of being significantly hearing impaired.
For more information, please contact our Audiology Department at 336-273-9932.
Envoy ESTEEM Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Envoy ESTEEM look like?
Graphic of the ESTEEM Device
An Envoy ESTEEM™ Totally Implantable Middle Ear Device (TIMED) is shown implanted under the skin of the right ear. The ESTEEM™ device consists of:
- a Sensor-PZT transducer that serves as a microphone
- an implantable ESTEEM™ Sound Processor containing a non-rechargeable battery
- connecting IS1-like leads that detach from the Sound Processor
- a Driver-PZT transducer that vibrates the stapes.
Black arrows indicate the pathway that sensed sound energy travels through the ESTEEM™ system. The second (incus) and third (stapes) hearing bones are separated from each other during the implant procedure in order to prevent feedback vibrations.
The ESTEEM has no external hardware to wear. Everything is implanted. The ear canal is not occluded.
The ESTEEM is completely invisible to others. There is no constant changing or recharging of batteries.
Audiologist control and programming of the ESTEEM™ are achieved through transcutaneous telemetry. Patients control their ESTEEM with a Personal Programmer that looks like an iPod.
How Does the ESTEEM work?
Piezoelectric Components
The totally implanted ESTEEM™ Device is composed of two piezoelectric bimorph crystals connected to a Sound Processor (contains electronics and the battery source). One piezoelectric crystal, the Sensor, is interfaced to the second hearing bone (the incus). The Sensor serves, in conjunction with the patient's native eardrum (tympanic membrane), as a "semi-biologic" microphone. The eardrum serves as the "diaphragm" of the microphone. The Sensor generates its own power.
The second piezoelectric crystal, the Driver, is coupled, through a facial recess tympanomastoidectomy surgical approach (bone behind the ear), to the third hearing bone (the stapes). During the surgical procedure, the incus is separated from the stapes to prevent feedback vibrations.
Sound Pathway
Sound signals enter the ear canal and vibrate the eardrum and incus. The vibrations are then "sensed" from the incus by the Sensor . The sound signal is then "relayed" to the implanted Sound Processor to be amplified and processed. The processed signal is "relayed" to the Driver that is coupled to the third hearing bone, the stapes. The stapes vibrates fluid within the inner ear (the cochlea). The fluid vibrations cause tiny hair cells within the cochlear to send neural signals to the brain that result in the sense of hearing.
Do I have to wear anything in my ear or behind my ear if I have an ESTEEM implant?
No External Hardware to Wear
Because the ESTEEM™ is totally implanted, the patient does not wear any external hardware. None! The ESTEEM™ is totally invisible. Nothing is worn in the ear canal or behind the ear. The ear canal is completely open. There are no ear molds. Hearing while bathing, swimming, and all active water sports is possible. There are no external components to remove.. Patients may leave their ESTEEM™ device turned on 24/7 just like their natural ear.
Will I still have to hassle with a hearing aid?
No more hearing aid hassles.
None! No more fumbling around in the dark at night to find your hearing aid. No more embarrassing situations when your hearing aid batteries suddenly die at the most inopportune time.. No more ear canal infections from hearing aid molds. No more occlusion effect from a hearing aid blocking your ear canal. No more broken battery doors, cracked tubing, and ear wax blocking the microphone. No more hearing aid repairs and replacements. No more lost hearing aids when you jump into the water without removing your aids or inadvertently send the hearing aid to the dry cleaners in your shirt pocket. No more hearing aid batteries...period. No more hearing aid hassles.
If the ESTEEM is totally implanted, how do I control the device? Change the volume, etc.?
iPod-like Personal Programmer.
A small remote control device that looks like an iPod, the Personal Programmer, is used by the patient to control the ESTEEM™ for volume, distance, noisy environments, etc. The Personal Programmer uses standard AA batteries that are user replaceable and has a USB port. It easily fits into a pocket or a purse. The Personal Programmer has:
- an "On-Off" control
- 3 user definable program modes (A, B, and C)
- up and down volume controls
- a "Query ?" button in case you forget how your ESTEEM is set
- a "Send" button to send your settings to your ESTEEM
- low battery lights for both your ESTEEM and for your Personal Programmer
Computer Programmability
In addition to the patient's ability to control their ESTEEM™, the implanted Sound Processor is totally computer programmable by our audiologists using special Commander Software. The Sound Processor can be reprogrammed at any time.
How long does the ESTEEM battery last?
A 4.5 - 9 Year Non-Rechargeable Battery
Power for the ESTEEM ™ Sound Processor is provided by a non-rechargeable battery that is hermetically sealed within the Sound Processor. Patients never have to change batteries or charge batteries. Battery life of the ESTEEM™ II Sound Processor is 4.5 - 9 years depending on individual power requirements. In the worst case scenario,listening to continuous 90 dB sound for 24/7 results in a battery life of 2.8 years. Most patients will enjoy longer battery life.
2 Month Signal
Two months before the battery becomes depleted, the patient will hear two brief tones when turning on their ESTEEM. The two tones are a signal from the device that its battery has 2 months of battery life left and that the patient should contact his surgeon to schedule a battery change.
What happens when the Sound Processor battery becomes depleted?
Sound Processor/Battery Replacement
When the battery eventually becomes depleted, the combined Sound Processor/Battery unit is explanted and a new unit is implanted. When a battery replacement is performed, the patient automatically receives an updated, latest generation Sound Processor along with a new, fully charged battery, as permitted by regulation.
When the battery is replaced, do I have to have the same type of procedure that was used for my initial implant?
Battery replacement is an outpatient procedure.
Battery replacement is a much more limited procedure and is usually performed in the morning at an ambulatory surgery center under local anesthesia with sedation. The sedation is similar to what is used during a colonoscopy procedure. The procedure itself is similar to having a cardiac pacemaker battery replaced. The procedure takes approximately 45 minutes and is performed through the same behind-the-ear incision (although the incision is more limited) that was used for the initial implant. Only the Sound Processor/Battery is replaced. Original transducers and leads are left in place because they are backward compatible.
Reprogramming
Reprogramming of the new Sound Processor and Personal Programmer are performed at The Ear Center, usually in the afternoon, on the same day that the battery is replaced. Sutures are removed seven to ten days after the procedure.
May I have an MRI scan after having an ESTEEM implant?
The ESTEEM is not compatible with MRI imaging
The current generation of ESTEEM™ device is not MRI compatible. ESTEEM patients should not undergo magnetic resonance imaging of any kind. MRI scanning involving exposure to strong magnetic fields. If you have been told that you need an MRI scan, please call your ESTEEM surgeon.
May I have a CT scan after having an ESTEEM implant?
Yes. CT scanning (involving conventional x-ray irradiation) is permitted after having an ESTEEM implant. Standard x-ray tests are also permitted.
How Many People Have Had an ESTEEM™ Device Implanted?
United States
The first generation Esteem™ Clinical Trial was performed from 2004-2006. A total of seventy-two (72) participants were implanted. The second generation Esteem™ Clinical Trial began in 2008. A total of fifty-seven (57) participants have been implanted. Several additional patients have been implanted in a trial extension.
Of the 72 first generation implants in the USA, 20 patients were implanted in Greensboro. Of the 57 second generation implants, 22 patients were implanted in Greensboro.
Europe
Approximately 100 European patients have had the Esteem™ device implanted.
What Surgical Procedure is used to Implant the ESTEEM™?
Surgical Procedure
Ambulatory Surgery Center
The ESTEEM™ device is implanted behind the ear and in the middle ear space during a 3-4 hours surgical procedure. The operation is performed under general anesthesia at an ambulatory surgery center, the SCA Surgical Center of Greensboro, Greensboro, NC. The Surgical Center is located five blocks from our office.
Experienced OR Team
Our experienced operating room team has been specifically trained in implantable device technology during the past six years.
23 Hour Overnight Observation
Usually, patients are observed for 23 hours overnight and are discharged the next morning. One loved one may stay with you overnight at the SCA Surgical Center of Greensboro.
Further details concerning the operative procedure will be explained during your initial visit.
To learn more the ESTEEM, please visit our ESTEEM web pages.
Last revised March 13, 2014