High resolution mapping of the Cochlear nerve using optical stimulation

描述（由申请人提供）：神经假体装置是身体的人工延伸，用于恢复或补充在疾病或损伤期间失去的神经系统功能。人工耳蜗的研制取得了特别的成功。然而，在当代的人工耳蜗中，注入的电流沿着中鼓区和跨圈广泛传播，限制了有效听觉通道的数量。在这个第一阶段，我们提出了一种创新的光学耳蜗刺激器（OCS），可以增加通道的数量，最终将提高人工耳蜗的保真度和研究工具。Aculight的第一个目标是在西北大学已经完成的模型和实验的基础上开发一种光学耳蜗刺激器。第一个目标的方法将利用Aculight先前在视神经刺激器方面的经验，以更新用于人工耳蜗研究的电学和光学设计。第二个目标是，西北大学将测试并确定开发植入式光学耳蜗刺激器的最佳参数。第二个目标的方法将使用沙鼠来确定OCS的有效性并优化参数。这项拨款的结果将是一个OCS原型和最佳的人工耳蜗设计参数，可以在第二阶段的项目中植入动物模型。本项目旨在通过开发一种人工耳蜗研究工具以及开发一种改进的人工耳蜗，使那些因疾病或损伤而失去听力的人受益。这项研究将集中于提高人工耳蜗的性能，使人们能够在拥挤的房间里听到演讲，甚至听到音乐。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neural prosthetic devices are artificial extensions to the body that restore or supplement nervous system function that was lost during disease or injury. Particular success has been realized in the cochlear prostheses development. In contemporary cochlear implants, however, the injected electric current is spread widely along the scala tympani and across turns limiting the number of effective hearing channels. In this Phase 1, we propose an innovative optical cochlear stimulator (OCS) that can increase the number of channels which will ultimately improve the fidelity and research tools of cochlear implants. The first aim is Aculight will develop an optical cochlear stimulator based on previous models and experiments Northwestern University has completed. The methods for the first aim will use Aculight's previous experience with optical nerve stimulators in order to update the electrical and optical designs for use in cochlear implant research. The second aim, Northwestern will test and determine optimal parameters for development of an implantable optical cochlear stimulator. The methods for the second aim will use gerbils to determine the effectiveness and optimize the parameters of the OCS. The outcome of this grant will be a prototype OCS and optimal cochlear implant design parameters that can be implanted in an animal model in the Phase 2 project. This project is intended to benefit those that have lost hearing through disease or injury by developing a tool for research in cochlear implants as well as developing an improved cochlear implant. This research will focus on enhancing the performance of the cochlear implant to allow people to hear speech in a crowded room and even to hear music.