Until now, the vestibular implant research has shown many promising results. The Geneva-Maastricht group has demonstrated that a vestibular implant can partially restore essential body reflexes which control eye and body movement. Also, major functional benefits have been demonstrated; for example, the vestibular implant has the potential to improve the vision of patients when walking.
In May 2021 a new investigation has started within the Maastricht University Hospital: The VertiGO! project. This project will be performed in collaboration with the University of Geneva, other European universities, the manufacturer MED-EL, and several patient organizations. The project is co-funded by the Dutch government (Health Holland) and the Heinsius Houbolt Foundation. During this project, 8 new patients with severe bilateral vestibular loss will be implanted. They will make daily use of their vestibular implant for 3 weeks while staying in hospital. This will show whether patients will actually benefit from the vestibular implant during regular day-to-day activities. In addition, the safety of using the implant and the personal experiences of the patients will be evaluated. More infromation regarding this project can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Alongside the VertiGO! project, the Geneva-Maastricht group is performing research regarding all other aspects related to the vestibular implant. These topics include:
- Improving surgical techniques to make sure that patients who are not deaf will also be able use the vestibular implant in the future. More information regarding current research which is being performed on this topic can be found on www.trialregister.nl.
- Improving the stimulation strategies of the vestibular implant so the information can be delivered to the nerves and the brain as efficiently as possible to make the vestibular implant work even better.
- Characterizing the patients with failures of both balance organs: which patients will receive the most benefit from the vestibular implant and what do they expect from it?
- Improving balance organ testing to be able to better evaluate the performance of the vestibular implant.
The most recent scientific publications from the Geneva-Maastricht group can be found on the News page of this website.
Current and future studies related to the vestibular implant and/or vestibular loss
Title: The VertiGO! trial
Status: In preparation
Starting date: Early 2021
Number of participants: 8
Goal: Assessing the efficacy and safety of the vestibular implant during daily use under supervision within the hospital
Title: The Vestibular Implant Study (VIS)
Status: In preparation
Starting date: Early 2022
Number of participants: 10
Goal: To adjust the settings of the vestibular implant to each patient individually, and to also implant patients with failure of only one balance organ.
Title: Surgical technique and electrode design for the vestibular implant
Status: Ongoing
Starting date: September 2017
Number of participants: 10
Goal: To develop surgical techniques that prevent hearing loss during surgery of the vestibular implant
Title: Characterization of Bilateral Vestibulopathy II
Status: Ongoing
Starting date: September 2019
Number of participants: 60
Goal: To better characterize the patients with failure of both balance organs
Title: Live visualization of the semicircular canals
Status: Ongoing
Starting date: 2018
Number of participants: N/A
Goal: To find methods to visualize the semicircular canals during vestibular implantation surgery in order to be able to correctly place the vestibular implant electrodes in the semicircular canals
Title: Evaluation of insertion trauma to the inner ear
Status: Ongoing
Starting date: 2020
Number of participants: N/A
Goal: To determine the impact of the insertion of the vestibular implant electrodes on the vestibular tissue
If you have been diagnosed with failure of both balance organs (bilateral vestibular loss, bilateral vestibular hypofunctie, bilateral vestibular areflexia, or bilateral vestibulopathy) and you would like to participate in the research that is being performed within the MUMC+ for the development of the vestibular implant or the characterization of the patient population with failure of both balance organs, please contact us via research@vestibularimplant.com.