High resolution mapping of the cochlear nerve using optical stimulation

描述（由申请人提供）：神经假体器械是身体的人工延伸，用于恢复或补充疾病或损伤期间丧失的神经系统功能。在人工耳蜗的开发方面取得了特别的成功。然而，在当代的耳蜗植入物中，注入的电流沿着鼓阶广泛地传播并且跨越限制有效听觉通道的数量的匝。在第1阶段，我们开发了一种研究耳蜗红外神经刺激器，并确定了刺激耳蜗内神经时需要小脉冲宽度激光脉冲。在第二阶段，我们提出开发一个紧凑的二极管驱动器和植入式单通道耳蜗刺激器。还将进行最佳纤维放置的鉴定和在动物模型中植入耳蜗刺激器的长期研究。这项资助的结果将是确定最佳刺激参数和植入式设计，用于第2阶段后的未来临床试验。该项目旨在通过开发人工耳蜗研究工具以及开发改进的人工耳蜗，使那些因疾病或伤害而失去听力的人受益。这项研究的重点是提高人工耳蜗的性能，使人们能够在拥挤的房间里听到语音。

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.