PASSIVE PIEZOELECTRIC PROSTHESIS FOR THE INNER EAR

A tubular prosthesis formed by an assembly of electrode segments enclosing n elongated inner chamber, is inserted into the inner ear of a patient for piezoelectric generation of electrical impulses and localized injection thereof in response to externally generated sound waves. Such electrical impulses are applied from the prosthesis to nerve endings adjacent to cochlea contact locations on the electrode segments so as to improve hearing adversely affected by biological damage to the inner ear.