FP02-7. PROPERTIES AND HANDLING OF TUBINGEN TITANIUM PROSTHESES

H.Peter Zenner (Dept. ORL-HNS, U of Tubingen, Germany)

The purpose of the study was to investigate passive middle ear prostheses that fulfill four requirements: (i) biostability, (ii) biocompatibility, (iii) improved handling including a good view of head of stapes or footplate and adjustable length, (iv) improved acoustical characteristics that are adequate for ossiculoplastics. Various materials such as Teflon, polyetheretherketone, polyethylenterephtalate, polysulfone, gold, Al₂O₃ ceramics, carbon and titanium were investigated using laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) in middle ear models.  A two-part clinical study was performed on 216 patients undergoing ossiculoplasty. First part was a prospective study using TTPs^® (n=114). Second part was a historical control (n=102) with gold and ceramics prostheses. Final results were filigreed titanium prostheses with an open head that fulfilled the four requirements detailed above. The prostheses (Tübingen titanium prostheses, TTP^â) are produced in defined lengths of between 1.75 –3.5 mm (partial) and 3.0 – 6.5 mm (total) as well as in adjustable lengths (TTP-Vario^â). When the ABG ”gold-standard”, i.e. the ≤ 10 dB level, was investigated in the main speech spectrum partial TTPs^® reached this level at 2 kHz in 44% (n=22) and at 3 kHz in 38% (n=19). Gold and ceramics revealed significantly lower values. Similar results were obtained for total prostheses. Differences for TTP^®/ ceramics were statistically significant (Mann-Whitney, α=5%).

* Contact person email: zenner@uni-tuebingen.de