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First Hearing Device in Lake County | |
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A Good Listener | |
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Miracles Happen at
Saint Therese Medical Center |
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Tuner's Bad Ear Revived in Operation | |
Surgery Helps Restore Woman's Hearing |
| Condell Patient Received
First Hearing Device Inplant in Lake County HOUSE CALLS Condell Medical Center September, 1992 |
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| Carol Cartwright
of Zion recently became the first patient in Lake County to undergo Electromagnetic
Ear Implant Surgery. William Gatti, MD, Otolaryngologist and a member of Condell's
Medical Staff, performed the surgery in late July. According to Dr. Gatti, Cartwright had a significant hearing deficit caused by middle ear scar tissue in one ear and previous removal of an ear cyst in the other ear. Consequently, she had a conductive hearing loss in both ears. By implanting an electromagnetic device in the mastoid bone, sound will bypass the blocked ears and go directly to the hearing nerve for natural sound reception. "She was the ideal candidate for this surgery," said Dr. Gatti, |
explaining that the procedure
surgically implants a biocompatible magnetic hearing device, called the XOMED Audiant Bone
Conductor, behind the ear. This allows a transfer of electromagnetic energy from an
external processor across the skin to the skull, which causes bone conduction of sound
directly to the inner ear. Dr. Gatti feels the operation went smoothly. "Healing will take about 12 weeks. Then we will be able to attach the hearing device and establish her hearing level." In 1987, Dr. Gatti joined the ranks of pioneering medical specialists when he became certified to perform this surgical procedure. His offices are in Libertyville and Gurnee. |
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