The UmboMic is a recently developed middle ear microphone that functions by detecting the sound-induced motion of the umbo [1]. To prepare for a live animal study of the in vivo performance of the UmboMic, we developed the surgical implantation and fixation system in cadaveric sheep ears.
No actionable change — this is a preliminary cadaveric animal study establishing a surgical technique; human clinical application is far off.
Implanted middle ear microphones like the UmboMic could improve active middle ear implants by capturing sound closer to the natural hearing pathway, but feasibility in live subjects is yet to be demonstrated.
- 01UmboMic is a middle ear microphone designed to detect vibration at the umbo (tip of the eardrum's central bone).
- 02Study used cadaveric (preserved) sheep ears to develop and refine surgical implantation and fixation techniques.
- 03This work is a precursor to a planned live animal trial — no in-vivo or human data yet.
- 04Findings inform surgical approach and device anchoring strategies for future implantable microphone research.
- 05Published in a peer-reviewed journal (DOI: 10.1007/s10162-026-01056-w).
The UmboMic detects sound-induced motion of the umbo and can be surgically implanted and fixed in a cadaveric sheep model.
studypartially supportedThe cadaveric sheep model is suitable preparation for a subsequent live animal trial of the UmboMic.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42247024
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10162-026-01056-w.
- Journal
- Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Cadaveric sheep ears (ex-vivo animal model)
- Intervention
- Surgical implantation and fixation of the UmboMic middle ear microphone at the umbo
Primary outcomes
Feasibility and reproducibility of surgical implantation technique; Stability of device fixation at the umbo in cadaveric tissue