Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41840300›Full record

ArticleJournal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JARO2026

The UmboMic: Characterization and Testing of a Middle Ear Microphone.

Emma F Wawrzynek, John Z Zhang, Ioannis Kymissis, Elizabeth S Olson, Jeffrey H Lang, Hideko Heidi Nakajima

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JARO, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Emma F WawrzynekElectrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA.
John Z ZhangMechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA.
Ioannis KymissisElectrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York City, 10027, NY, USA.
Elizabeth S OlsonOtolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York City, 10027, NY, USA.
Jeffrey H LangElectrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA.
Hideko Heidi NakajimaOtolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, MA, USA. heidi_nakajima@meei.harvard.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1377-1934

Funding

Implantable Microphones for Fully Implantable Hearing ProstheticsR01DC016874 · NIDCD · MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY · PI LANG, JEFFREY H, NAKAJIMA, HIDEKO HEIDI · 2019 to 2023
$1.8M
Advancement of an Implantable MicrophoneR01DC021996 · NIDCD · MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY · PI Jeffrey H Lang, Hideko Heidi Nakajima · 2025 to 2026
$1.3M
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program 1745302National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program 2141064NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC016874NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC021996
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeWe report developments on the "UmboMic," a piezoelectric microphone for fully implanted cochlear implants. Internal implantation of the microphone for fully implantable cochlear implants is the goal of future technology, as it has the potential to significantly improve the device performance and user experience.

methodsThe UmboMic is designed for implantation in the middle ear cavity, where it detects the motion of the umbo via the piezoelectric effect. The UmboMic sensor is made from two layers of the piezoelectric material called polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). Steps towards biocompatibility necessitated material changes to the device structure, including the conducting and glue layers. Seven individual UmboMic sensors are characterized on the bench and implanted in five human cadaveric ears (1 female and 4 male).

resultsExtensive UmboMic testing and characterization demonstrates high sensitivity across frequencies, low noisefloor, shielding from electromagnetic interference, and good linearity. The UmboMic's performance is comparable to a Knowles external hearing-aid microphones, with an equivalent input noise of 32.4 dB SPL from 100 Hz to 7 kHz. Less than a 6 dB difference between UmboMic sensor sensitivity indicates fabrication repeatability. Studies on UmboMic sensor positioning demonstrate the design's resilience to implantation variations.

conclusionThis UmboMic design represents a promising advancement towards a viable microphone for fully implanted cochlear implants. With very good microphone performances on the bench and in cadaveric human ears, research can turn towards complete device biocompatibility, fixation hardware, and testing for long-term implantation.

Indexed as

Cochlear ImplantsEar, MiddleFemaleFluorocarbon PolymersHumansMalePolyvinylsFluorocarbon Polymerspolyvinylidene fluoridePolyvinylsCochlear implantFully implantableImplantable devicesImplantable microphone

Identifiers

PMID41840300
PMCPMC13020673

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.