Edinburgh man in Bonebridge rib ear operation A SCOT has become one of the first people in the UK to undergo a "breakthrough" procedure to treat hearing loss. Brian Hogg one of first in UK to receive Bonebridge implant Mr Hogg also given reconstructed ear using bone from his rib Brian Hogg, 29, from Edinburgh, was fitted with a specialist Bonebridge implant and given a reconstructed ear using bone from one of his ribs in December last year. Medics at NHS Lothian fitted the Bonebridge device - a "bone conduction middle ear implant" which mimics the actions of the ear drum - at the city's Lauriston Building. The innovative device is fitted within the ear and is used when a patient is unable to have a conventional external hearing aid. Alex Bennett, an ear, nose and throat consultant at the health board, performed the procedure. He said: "This is a truly innovative procedure and I'm sure the device will make a significant difference to Brian and many other patients like him. The Bonebridge implant is intended to improve hearing by replicating the actions of the ear drum. A discreet audio processor, which is attached to the patient's head, picks up sound waves which are then amplified by the implant and passed to the inner ear through the skull bone. These sound waves are then interpreted by the brain as sound. Mr Hogg was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting the development of the head and neck. It means he cannot wear conventional hearing aids which are styled to fit in and around the top and middle of the ear. Mr Hogg said that since undergoing surgery he has noticed a big difference in the range of sounds he can hear. During the operation his right ear was reconstructed using bone taken from one of his ribs. "The sound quality is much better and I can hear noises at a distance now, which my previous device didn't pick up," he said. The Bonebridge implant is so light, it's practically weightless. It's tailored to most closely match my normal hearing range. When you think about how far mobile phone technology has come in the last 10 years, there have been similar advances in hearing aids. The new implant is a really big step forward in technology and I'm very grateful to the team of consultants for fitting the implant for me. NHS Lothian said Mr Hogg was the first person in the UK to receive the Bonebridge implant, though a woman from Brechin was also fitted with a Bonebridge implant in December last year. A similar procedure was also reportedly carried out in Manchester in the same month. Dr Ingeborg Hochmair, managing director of MED-EL, which designed the implant, said: "Our innovative development of the Bonebridge will considerably improve the lives of patients. We consider this new development a great success. The Bonebridge is the culmination of decades of experience gathered in the development of hearing implant solutions.