Implantable Transducer Systems for Auditory Prostheses

项目总结： 在这项应用中，我们寻求设计、制造和测试可植入的、封装的加速计 通过传递中耳(ME)骨(听小骨)的运动而传入的声音。我们将测试 使用台式校准和量化测试以及使用声学的这些设备的性能 在身体颞骨标本中植入加速度计的刺激。我们寻求创造一种设备 满足假肢严格的几何、声学、重量和功率要求，通过使用多 谐振式(多频段)压电微机电系统(PECMS)传感器，与 一种具有可寻址滤波和放大电路的专用集成电路(ASIC)。一种新的翻转- 提出了一种芯片封装策略，该策略可以通过以下方式提供5毫克的压电式MEMS-ASIC封装器件 消除了印刷电路板安装的需要。最先进的薄膜压电薄膜材料和 将探索沉积以进一步减小器件尺寸和提高性能。分开，组件- 电平压电式MEMS芯片和ASIC测试与台式环境中的系统级测试相结合，将 启用整个系统的角色化。测试过的传感器系统将植入男性和女性体内 身体颞骨标本，并对其声学敏感性和噪声底限进行表征。我们会考虑 沿听骨链的位置，以减少装置对ME力学的影响，便于手术植入 (最大限度地减少侵入性)，并最大限度地提高灵敏度(因为加速度计对平移和 旋转)。本申请目的是开发可植入的传感器，因为实现 这一目标是实现我们的长期目标--完全可植入的听觉假体--的必要步骤。 (例如，助听器和耳蜗植入物，所有部件都是看不见的)。这一系列研究旨在 提供治疗听力损失的新的植入性选择，从而增加听觉假体的数量 通过增强设备的可用性、安全性、美容吸引力和性能并改进 患者的生活质量。

PROJECT SUMMARY: In this application, we seek to design, fabricate, and test implantable, packaged accelerometers that sense incoming sound by transducing the motion of the middle ear (ME) bones (ossicles). We will test the performance of these devices using benchtop calibration and quantification tests as well as using acoustic stimulation of accelerometers implanted in cadaveric temporal bone preparations. We seek to create a device that meets the stringent geometric, acoustic, weight, and power requirements for prostheses by using a multi- resonant (multi-band) piezoelectric-micro-electro-mechanical systems (piezo-MEMS) sensor co-designed with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) with addressable filtering and amplifying circuitry. A novel flip- chip packaging strategy is proposed which can deliver a 5-milligram piezo-MEMS-ASIC packaged device by eliminating the need for printed circuit board mounting. State-of-the-art thin piezoelectric film materials and deposition will be explored to further reduce the device size and improve performance. Separate, component- level piezo-MEMS die and ASIC testing in combination with system-level testing in a benchtop setting will enable characterization of the complete system. Tested sensor systems will be implanted in male and female cadaveric temporal bone samples, and the acoustic sensitivity and noise floor characterized. We will consider locations along the ossicular chain to reduce device impact on the ME mechanics, ease surgical implantation (minimize invasiveness), and maximize sensitivity (as the accelerometer is sensitive to both translation and rotation). The objective of this present application is to develop implantable sensors, because accomplishing this objective is a necessary step in achieving our long-term goal of a totally implantable auditory prosthesis (e.g., hearing aids and cochlear implants with all components housed invisibly). This line of research aims to provide new implantable options to treat hearing loss, thereby increasing the number of auditory prosthesis users by enhancing the usability, safety, cosmetic appeal, and performance of the device and improving patient quality of life.