High resolution mapping of the cochlear nerve using optical stimulation

描述(申请人提供)：神经假体装置是对身体的人工延伸，用于恢复或补充在疾病或损伤期间丢失的神经系统功能。在人工耳蜗术的开发方面取得了特别的成功。然而，在当代的人工耳蜗术中，注入的电流沿着鼓阶和轮流广泛传播，限制了有效听力通道的数量。在第一阶段，我们开发了一种研究耳蜗红外神经刺激器，并确定了当刺激耳蜗内的神经时需要小脉冲宽度的激光脉冲。在本阶段中，我们建议开发一种紧凑型二极管驱动器和可植入的单通道耳蜗刺激器。还将在动物模型中进行最佳纤维位置的确定和植入人工耳蜗刺激器的长期研究。这笔赠款的结果将是为第二阶段之后的未来临床试验确定最佳刺激参数和植入性设计。该项目旨在通过开发一种研究人工耳蜗的工具以及开发一种改进的人工耳蜗术，使那些因疾病或伤害而丧失听力的人受益。这项研究将专注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。

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 the Phase 1, we developed a research cochlear infrared nerve stimulator and identified the need for a small pulse width laser pulses when stimulating nerves within the cochlea. In this Phase 2, we propose to develop a compact diode driver and implantable single channel cochlear stimulator. Identification of the optimal fiber placement and chronic studies of implanting the cochlear stimulator in an animal model will also be conducted. The outcome of this grant will be to identify the optimal stimulation parameters and implantable design for future clinical trials after the Phase 2. 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.