An Acoustic Pressure Sensor for In-Vivo Intracochlear Measurements (Biological Science)

用于体内耳蜗内测量的声压传感器（生物科学）

• 批准号: 9350113
• 负责人: Elizabeth Olson
• 金额: $ 18.63万
• 依托单位: Rutgers University New Brunswick
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1993
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1993-09-01 至 1996-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9350113&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Acoustic; Pressure; Sensor; Vivo; Intracochlear

Dr. Olson will work with collaborators at Rutgers University / Newark and the New Jersey Institute of Technology to design, construct and test a miniature hydrophone for intracochlear pressure measurements. By reducing sensor size and increasing sensitivity compared to previous intracochlear pressure probes, spatial resolution will be improved, and a better opportunity will exist to explore cochlear pressures at low signal levels. At these levels, the motion of cochlear sensory tissue becomes nonlinear, apparently to enhance sensitivity. If measurements of nonlinearity in intracochlear pressure are possible, their results will be useful in resolving the controversy over the process driving cochlear nonlinearity. Beyond its use in cochlear research, a miniature pressure sensor will have diverse applications, for example, as a component of hearing aids and ultrasonic image processors. Interactive activities at the host institution include conducting a "Saturday Science Program" outreach effort targeted at junior high school students in the community, in which a group of students, parents and chaperones will go on bi-weekly field trips to area science labs. Lab tours will be conducted by host scientists, half of whom will be women. The goals of the program are improvement of scientific literacy, infusion of scientific curiosity, and demonstration of the capability of women to be successful in scientific endeavors. This project furthers VPW program objectives which are (1) to provide opportunities for women to advance their careers in engineering and in the disciplines of science supported by NSF and (2) to encourage women to pursue careers in science and engineering by providing greater visibility for women scientists and engineers employed in industry, government, and academic institutions. By encouraging the participation of women in science, it is a valuable investment in the Nation's future scientific vitality.

奥尔森博士将与罗格斯大学纽瓦克分校和新泽西理工学院的合作者合作，设计、建造和测试一种用于测量耳廓内压力的微型水听器。与以前的耳蜗压探头相比，通过减小传感器尺寸和提高灵敏度，空间分辨率将得到提高，在低信号水平下将有更好的机会探索耳蜗压。在这些水平上，耳蜗感觉组织的运动变得非线性，显然是为了增强敏感度。如果可以测量耳蜗压的非线性度，他们的结果将有助于解决关于驱动耳蜗非线性度的过程的争议。除了在耳蜗研究中使用外，微型压力传感器还将有多种应用，例如，作为助听器和超声波图像处理器的组件。主办机构的互动活动包括针对社区中的初中生开展一项名为“周六科学计划”的外展活动，其中一群学生、家长和监护人将每两周到地区科学实验室进行一次实地考察。实验室参观将由东道主科学家进行，其中一半将是女性。该计划的目标是提高科学素养，灌输对科学的好奇心，并展示妇女在科学努力中取得成功的能力。该项目进一步推动了VPW计划的目标，即：(1)为妇女提供机会，在NSF资助的工程和科学学科中发展她们的职业生涯；(2)通过提高受雇于工业、政府和学术机构的女科学家和工程师的知名度，鼓励妇女追求科学和工程事业。通过鼓励妇女参与科学，这是对国家未来科学活力的宝贵投资。