Journal article
Effect of embedded optical fibres on the mechanical properties of cochlear electrode arrays
EM Carland, PR Stoddart, PJ Cadusch, JB Fallon, SA Wade
Medical Engineering and Physics | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2016
Abstract
Incorporating optical fibres in cochlear electrode arrays has been proposed to provide sensors to help minimise insertion trauma and also for the delivery of light in optical nerve stimulation applications. However, embedding an optical fibre into an electrode array may change its stiffness properties, which can affect the level of trauma during insertion. This report uses measurements of buckling and deflection force to compare the stiffness properties of a range of cochlear electrode arrays (Nucleus straight array, rat array, cat array and guinea pig array) with custom arrays containing an embedded optical fibre. The cladding diameters of the optical fibres tested were 125 μm, 80 μm and 50..
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Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Helen Feng at the Bionics Institute for manufacturing the embedded electrode arrays and use of equipment; Mark Kivinen, Yeannette Lizama and Kristian Fenech from Swinburne for their technical assistance and Cochlear Ltd for providing the Nucleus straight array. The Bionics Institute acknowledges the support it receives from the Victorian Government through its Operational Infrastructure Support Program. This work was supported in part by the Australian Research Council through Linkage Project LP120100264 and Industrial Transformation Training Centre IC140100023.