Study Highlight: Vestibular Implant Trial

Photo credit: Arek Adeoye on Unsplash

For those of us who struggle with balance, this is a truly exciting breakthrough! A team from the Johns Hopkins Vestibular NeuroEngineering Laboratory is investigating a new implanted device set to help people suffering from severe inner ear balance dysfunction.

The pilot clinical feasibility study explores the use and safety of the MVI™ Multichannel Vestibular Implant System, produced by Labyrinth Devices, LLC. The device is somewhat similar to a cochlear implant used by those with hearing loss – but rather than sensing sound, the MVI™ is designed to detect motion by stimulating different nerves within the inner ear.

The trial will build on past research which has shown that the reflexes needed to maintain stable posture, balance and vision can be partially restored by using an implanted multichannel vestibular prosthesis to electrically stimulate the vestibular nerve.

For more information, visit the Johns Hopkins Vestibular NeuroEngineering Laboratory website or refer to the ClinicalTrials.gov database.