Abstract: A device for providing assistance in otologic surgery of a patient who is to be implanted with a cochlea implant. The device includes a mechanism for identifying the positions of an entry point (21) on the surface of the cochlea and of a control point (20) in the sinus tympani, and operable via the external auditory canal; a processor (100) to respond to the coordinates of the points to determine a straight-line path (T) passing through the two points and defining a docking point (22) on the outside surface of the mastoid bone; and a drilling mechanism (25, 27) for drilling a passage up to the cochlea through the mastoid bone along the straight-line path, so as to create a passage up to the cochlea.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for providing assistance in otologic surgery of a patient who is to be implanted with a cochlea implant, the device comprising: means for identifying the positions of an entry point (21) on the surface of the cochlea and of a control point (20) in the sinus tympani, these position-identification means being operable via the external auditory canal; processor means (100) to respond to the coordinates of said points to determine a straight-line path (T) passing through those two points and defining a docking point (22) on the outside surface of the mastoid bone; and drilling means (25, 27) for drilling a passage up to the cochlea through the mastoid bone along said straight-line path, so as to create a passage up to the cochlea.

Abstract: A device that is implantable in the temporal bone for dispensing at least one component of a liquid product, comprising a catheter and means for moving the component along the catheter, wherein the product incorporates particles for transporting the component, the particles being movable under the effect of a magnetic field, wherein the catheter comprises portions for discharging the component from the catheter, the discharging portions being distributed along the catheter, and wherein the moving means comprise means for generating a magnetic field near each discharging portion so as to move the product from discharging portion to discharging portion, the field-generating means comprising windings that surround the discharging portions and that are connected to a control module designed to successively power at least some of the windings. A hearing aid, such as a cochlear implant, comprising an internal unit having an electrode holder provided with such a device.

Abstract: A tool for inserting fine tubular objects into the cochlea is provided. The tool has a gripping body, which forms a handle and ends in a tubular guide for the fine tubular object, and a pusher engaged in the tubular guide in order to push the fine tubular object out of the guide and into the cochlea. The tool is equipped with: an electronic control unit; motorized means controlled by the control unit in order to move the pusher; a force-measuring means connected to the control unit and arranged so as to be sensitive to a resistance force experienced by the fine tubular object during insertion into the cochlea and supplying a signal that can be exploited in order to estimate the resistance force; and means for indicating the resistance force connected to the control unit.

Abstract: A device for detecting the passage of at least one mobile body in at least ne location fixed by its travel along a path inside of a space in reference to which the said travel of the mobile body is evaluated.