Better hearing with polymers

Micro injection molding is an ideal method for the production of optimized middle ear implants for patients suffering from sensorineural hearing loss. The molding process makes it possible to give the implant entirely new geometries such as freely shapeable surfaces and undercuts that could be done only at prohibitive expense with conventional ceramic and metal implants. Micro injection molding includes engineering of ear stable structures to a width of 1μm at a height of 5μm. The areas of a middle ear implant in direct contact with tissue can be modified by the micro injection process in such a manner that they encourage osteointegration of particular types of cells. The surface texture of the micro injection molded implant should be finer than the cellular texture to realize an implant that encourages growth of connective tissue toward the eardrum.