Evaluation of focused multipolar stimulation for cochlear implants: A preclinical safety study

RK Shepherd; AK Wise; YL Enke; PM Carter; JB Fallon

Journal article

Evaluation of focused multipolar stimulation for cochlear implants: A preclinical safety study

RK Shepherd, AK Wise, YL Enke, PM Carter, JB Fallon

Journal of Neural Engineering | IOP PUBLISHING LTD | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aa7586

Abstract

Objective. Cochlear implants (CIs) have a limited number of independent stimulation channels due to the highly conductive nature of the fluid-filled cochlea. Attempts to develop highly focused stimulation to improve speech perception in CI users includes the use of simultaneous stimulation via multiple current sources. Focused multipolar (FMP) stimulation is an example of this approach and has been shown to reduce interaction between stimulating channels. However, compared with conventional biphasic current pulses generated from a single current source, FMP is a complex stimulus that includes extended periods of stimulation before charge recovery is achieved, raising questions on whether chr..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Robert Shepherd Author

Andrew Wise Author

James Fallon Author

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Awarded by National Institutes of Health

Funding Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Zach Smith, Dr Chris Long, Dr Chris van den Honert, Shaun Kumar, Rob Bennett, Harish Krishnamoorthi and Dr Joerg Pesch from Cochlear Ltd, Ceara McGowan, Brianna Flynn, Ella Trang, Amy Morley, Nicole Critch, Helen Feng, Vanessa Maxim from the Bionics Institute, Dr Fenella Long and Dr Sue Peirce from St Vincent's and the Victorian Eye and Ear Hospitals, Dr Richard Williams, Department of Pathology, St Vincent's Hospital and Roger Curtain from Bio21, University of Melbourne. We gratefully acknowledge the supply of stimulators and electrode arrays from Cochlear Ltd and funding through an Australian Research Council (LP130100220), National Health and Medical Research Council (APP 1081478 and GNT 1064375) and the National Institutes of Health (R01DC015031). We also note that the Institute receives contract research funding from Cochlear Ltd for research outside this study. Finally, the Bionics Institute acknowledges the support it receives from the Victorian Government through its Operational Infrastructure Support Program.