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

奥尔森博士将与罗格斯大学/纽瓦克和新泽西理工学院的合作者一起设计、建造和测试一个用于耳蜗内压力测量的微型水听器。与以前的耳蜗内压力探头相比，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，并且将有更好的机会在低信号水平下探测耳蜗压力。在这些水平上，耳蜗感觉组织的运动变得非线性，显然是为了提高灵敏度。如果测量耳蜗内压力的非线性是可能的，他们的结果将有助于解决关于驱动耳蜗非线性的过程的争议。除了用于耳蜗研究之外，微型压力传感器将有多种应用，例如，作为助听器和超声波图像处理器的组成部分。主办机构的互动活动包括开展针对社区初中学生的“周六科学计划”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实地考察。实验室参观将由东道主科学家带领，其中一半将是女性。该项目的目标是提高科学素养，培养科学好奇心，展示妇女在科学事业中取得成功的能力。该项目进一步推进了VPW计划的目标，即(1)为女性提供在工程和NSF支持的科学学科中发展职业的机会；(2)通过为在工业、政府和学术机构工作的女性科学家和工程师提供更大的知名度，鼓励女性在科学和工程领域追求职业。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。

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.