Artificial Organs and Related Bioinorganic Materials

Bioinorganic compounds or materials play the momentous role in all living organisms. Artificial organs are generally defined as any device, machine or complex biological structure which is partially or completely synthetic in nature and that could be implanted or integrated into human body to perform the tasks of a particular biological structure which has been damaged and should be replaced due to some medical reasons. Various artificial organs like bone, heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, skin, urinary bladder, auditory brainstem implant, bionic contact lens, cochlear implant, direct acoustic cochlear implant, retinal implant and visual prosthetic parts have been developed. In this paper we are disusing about artificial biomaterial and organs.

Successful hearing improvement with direct acoustic stimulation in a patient with schizophrenia

ObjectiveA direct acoustic cochlear implant provides its power directly to the inner ear by vibrating the perilymph via a conventional stapes prosthesis. Our experience with a patient with severe mixed hearing loss due to otosclerosis is described.Case reportThe patient, a 47-year-old male, had a pre-operative speech recognition score of 10 per cent and had been treated for many years for schizophrenia, both of which made him a poor candidate for a direct acoustic stimulation device. Nevertheless, the surgery was performed, which preserved the pre-operative bone conduction level and significantly improved hearing. His speech recognition score rose to 100 per cent. He uses the device all day and his auditory hallucinations have subsided. Improvement of schizophrenia symptoms has enabled the patient to reduce his psychiatric medications intake.ConclusionHearing restoration was the main reason for the reduction of auditory hallucinations in our patient. Hearing loss is a potentially reversible risk factor for psychosis, but this association is often overlooked.

A Role for Acoustic Stimulation in Advanced Otosclerosis: Direct Acoustic Cochlear Implant versus Cochlear Implant

Recent findings support the efficacy of the direct acoustic cochlear implant (DACI) in patients with advanced otosclerosis whose rehabilitation is very challenging. Standard treatment consists of stapes surgery combined with hearing aids or a cochlear implant (CI). CI surgery, however, is often challenging depending on the grade of otosclerosis. This study aims to compare speech perception scores in quiet and noise of 6 DACI and 12 CI patients with advanced otosclerosis at 3 and 12 months after fitting. Preoperative computed tomographic scans of all patients were scored by experts using an existing otosclerosis grading system (stages 1–3). Speech perception in quiet was significantly better for DACI compared to CI users at 3 months after fitting. At 12 months, no difference was found between DACI and CI patients. Speech perception scores in noise were significantly better in the DACI group. In summary, a DACI system seems to provide an effective treatment option as the acoustic component can be preserved in patients with advanced otosclerosis.