Investigation of a Device to Deliver Intra-Operative Therapeutic Hypothermia for Hearing Preservation in Cochlear Implantation

Cochlear implants (CI) have dramatically changed the treatment and prognosis for patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. With the recent advent of electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS), the combined acoustic amplification at low frequencies with electrical stimulation of high frequency cochlear regions promises to benefit patients with even partial residual hearing by improving difficult listening situations like speech-in-noise and music appreciation. Unfortunately, trauma associated with the implant surgery results in inflammation, mechanical and vascular damage, and loss of remaining sensory hair cells (HC) and neurons. As a result, more than 44% of EAS patients lose residual hearing post-CI surgery and the residual hearing deteriorates by more than 30 dB over time in a majority of patients. This loss of residual hearing post-CI surgery has been the primary barrier for an extended application of CI/EAS. This clinical trial will evaluate a novel mild therapeutic hypothermia device as an effective therapy to preserve residual hearing post-CI. This system does not require modification of the current surgery or CI devices and will deliver localized, controlled mild hypothermia to the sensitive inner ear structures. With preclinical published results, the investigators have already shown that localized hypothermia during CI surgery is highly effective and safe for residual hearing preservation. Here, the investigators will investigate the implementation of a therapy that benefits patients undergoing CI by improving post-surgical audiological outcomes. Extensive prior commercialization and development experience, intellectual property and engineering expertise coupled with the investigators' collaborators' clinical expertise in Otolaryngology and Audiology will ensure the successful clinical and commercial outcome of this therapy. Overall, the aim of this clinical trial is: Validate the clinical applicability, safety and efficacy of the system and device assembly for preservation of residual hearing after CI surgery. The device and hypothermia delivery system will be tested on adult patients undergoing CI surgery at the University of Miami. For clinical translation, the investigators aim to demonstrate that the application of hypothermia combined with the current standard of care for cochlear implantation for residual hearing preservation (steroids) is effective. The investigators hypothesize that the hypothermia application will not negatively impact CI function in patients (safety) and will improve early audiologic outcomes (efficacy) compared to the current standard of care in CI surgeries. The investigators will utilize clinically relevant pre-surgical, intra-operative and post-surgical measures in groups of patients receiving the standard of care and hypothermia therapy. Preliminary and published preclinical data, and an existing system and device have been constructed for this clinical trial. The proposed therapy and device design for CI surgeries represent a non-pharmaceutical therapeutic strategy to preserve residual hearing.