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，这将最终提高人工耳蜗的保真度和研究工具。第一个目标是Aculight将在西北大学已经完成的先前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使用Aculight以前的经验与光学神经刺激器，以更新电子和光学设计用于人工耳蜗研究。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的有效性和优化的参数的接触网。这项资助的成果将是一个原型OCS和最佳的人工耳蜗设计参数，可以植入第二阶段项目的动物模型。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，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.