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R3: Integrated Bioengineering

Program overview

Although hearing devices such as implants, hearing aids and hearing protection function well, HEARing CRC investigations into novel surgical techniques, bioengineering and biomaterials offer significant opportunities to develop new technologies that will further enhance function.

Researchers from the HEARing CRC are also investigating new approaches to speech coding for implants, hearing aids and hearing protection, for example through bone anchored hearing aids or middle ear implants.

More information about individual projects can be found below.

Projects in this Program

R3.1: Biosafety studies for electrical parameters, materials and designs
Project-ID Project Title Project Leader
R3.1.1 Biosafety studies for electrical parameters, materials and designs Dr Carrie Newbold
R3.2: Improved cochlear implant electrodes
Project-ID Project Title Project Leader
R3.2.1 Optimisation of electro-neural interface Dr Carrie Newbold
R3.2.2 Enhanced electrode design A/Prof Rob Briggs
R3.3: Fully implantable hearing enhancements
Project-ID Project Title Project Leader
R3.3.1a Development of improved totally implantable TIKI microphone system (COMPLETED) Mr Eric Burwood
R3.3.1b Sealable microphone for cochlear implant system Dr John Heasman
R3.3.2 Implantable Sensor Design Dr Silvana Mergen (nee Corkovic)
R3.4: Electro-acoustic implant design
Project-ID Project Title Project Leader
R3.4.1 Electro-acoustic implant design: CURRENTLY SUSPENDED
R3.5: BAHA & Middle Ear implant enhancement & optimisation
Project-ID Project Title Project Leader
R3.5.1 BAHA & ME implant enhancement & optimisation: CURRENTLY SUSPENDED
R3.6: Comfort, safety and intelligibility
Project-ID Project Title Project Leader
R3.6.1 Noise reduction in listening devices - speech referenced limiting in telecommunications and computing: See Commercialisation project C1.4.3 Mr Michael Fisher
R3.6.2 Active noise control core technology ~ literature review (COMPLETED) Mr Michael Fisher
R3.6.3 Active noise control hearing protection: See Commercialisation project C1.4.1 Mr Mark Harrison
R3.6.4 Improved hearing assessment in noisy environments: COMPLETED Mr Michael Fisher