Image: 

Optimisation of electro-neural interface

Program: 
R3
Project area: 
R3.2: Improved cochlear implant electrodes
Project-ID: 
R3.2.1
Project Status: 
Ongoing

Background

In a normal hearing individual, there are some 15,000 hair cells lining the cochlea, stimulated by movement created by sound waves; and up to 50,000 spiral ganglion cells (neural cells) that translate this information to the brain.

A cochlear implant recipient has a specialised electrode array located within their cochlea. While it is expected that some spiral ganglion cells are lost in recipients with sensorineural hearing loss, the cochlear implant uses 22 electrodes (along the array) to stimulate the remaining spiral ganglion cells in the cochlea - an incredible feat.

This 'electro-neural interface' is one of the bottlenecks surrounding the provision of hearing for those with a cochlear implant. It is not surprising then, to consider there are still many avenues left to be explored to further improve this area.

Detail

This project works toward improving the safety, efficiency and efficacy of electrical stimulation of the electrode-neural interface (ENI), in particular that of the auditory nerve.  For more information on this project, including potential collaborations and studentships, please contact Dr Carrie Newbold.

There are 3 main study areas in this project:
1. electrode
2. neural/tissue
3. stimulation enhancements.

The work on electrode enhancements centres on the development of a film electrode, the provision of which could markedly improve the manufacturability as well as the design-ability of future electrodes.  Please contact Dr Silvana Corkovic for more information.

The work on neural enhancement currently includes a study on passive drug delivery in the cochlea. This work is based at the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute.  Please contact Dr Zhilian Yue for more information.

Within the area of stimulation enhancement, in vitro and computer models of safe and specific stimulation are being developed.  Please contact Dr Carrie Newbold for more information on this study.

Project leadership

[title]
Dr Carrie Newbold
[title]
Dr Silvana Mergen (nee Corkovic)
[title]
Dr Zhilian Yue
 

Project Team

Binbin Zhang, Gordon Wallace, Simon Moulton, Martin Svehla

 

Organisations involved

Cochlear Limited
The University of Melbourne
The University of Wollongong

Publications from this Project

Title Authors Year of Publicationsort icon
Bio-functionalisation of polydimethylsiloxane with hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid - Collagen conjugate for neural interfacing Yue, Z, Liu X, Molino P, Wallace GG 2011
Electrical stimulation causes rapid changes in electrode impedance of cell-covered electrodes Newbold, C, Richardson R, Millard R, Seligman PM, Cowan RSC, Shepherd R 2011
Electroporation of adherent cells with cochlear implant stimulation Farrington, A, Newbold C 2011
Be quick to see the benefits of perimodiolar array placement Newbold, C, Lee E, Sahhar J, Briggs RJS, Xu J, Cowan RSC 2011
Biofunctionalized PDMS for neural interfacing Yue, Z, Liu X, Molino P, Wallace GG 2011
Towards bioactive electro-neural interfaces: characterising drug-eluting silastic matrices Yue, Z, Svehla M, Wallace GG 2011
Printing of Dexamethasone Drug Delivery Hydrogel Systems Zhang, B, Moulton S, Wallace GG 2011
Towards bioactive electro-neural interface Yue, Z, Liu X, Wallace GG 2010
Printing of Dexamethasone Drug Delivery System Zhang, B 2010
The Nanobionic Ear: Application of new technologies and innovation to the next generation of cochlear implants Cowan, RSC 2010