Conductive hydrogel (CH) coatings for biomedical electrodes have shown considerable promise in improving electrode mechanical and charge transfer properties. While they have desirable properties as a bulk material, there is limited understanding of how these properties translate to a microelectrode array. This study evaluated the performance of CH coatings applied to Nucleus Contour Advance cochlear electrode arrays. Cyclic voltammetry and biphasic stimulation were carried out to determine electrical properties of the coated arrays. Electrical testing demonstrated that CH coatings supported up to 24 times increase in charge injection limit. Reduced impedance was also maintained for over 1 billion stimulations without evidence of delamination or degradation. Mechanical studies performed showed negligible effect of the coating on the pre-curl structure of the Contour Advance arrays. Testing the coating in a model human scala tympani confirmed that adequate contact was maintained across the lateral wall. CH coatings are a viable, stable coating for improving electrical properties of the platinum arrays while imparting a softer material interface to reduce mechanical mismatch. Ultimately, these coatings may act to minimize scar tissue formation and fluid accumulation around electrodes and thus improve the electrical performance of neural implants.
One hundred and forty-seven adult recipients of the Nucleus 24 cochlear implant system, from 13 different European countries, were tested using neural response telemetry to measure the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP), according to a standardised postoperative measurement procedure. Recordings were obtained in 96% of these subjects with this standardised procedure. The group results are presented in terms of peak amplitude and latency, slope of the amplitude growth function and ECAP threshold. The effects of aetiological factors and the duration of deafness on the ECAP were also studied. While large intersubject variability and intrasubject variability (across electrodes) were found, results fell within a consistent pattern and a normative range of peak amplitudes and latencies was established. The aetiological factors had little effect on the ECAP characteristics. However, age affected ECAP amplitude and slope of the amplitude growth function significantly; i.e., the amplitude is higher in the lowest age category (15-30 years). Principal component analysis of the ECAP thresholds shows that the thresholds across 5 electrodes can be described by two factors accounting for 92% of the total variance. The two factors represent the overall level of the threshold profiles ('shift') and their slopes across the electrode array ('tilt'). Correlation between these two factors and the same factors describing the T-and C-levels appeared to be moderate, in the range of 0.5-0.6. AbstractOne hundred and forty-seven adult recipients of the Nucleus ® 24 cochlear implant system, from 13 different European countries, were tested using neural response telemetry to measure the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP), according to a standardised postoperative measurement procedure. Recordings were obtained in 96% of these subjects with this standardised procedure. The group results are presented in terms of peak amplitude and latency, slope of the amplitude growth function and ECAP threshold. The effects of aetiological factors and the duration of deafness on the ECAP were also studied. While large intersubject variability and intrasubject variability (across electrodes) were found, results fell within a consistent pattern and a normative range of peak amplitudes and latencies was established. The aetiological factors had little effect on the ECAP characteristics. However, age affected ECAP amplitude and slope of the amplitude growth function significantly; i.e., the amplitude is higher in the lowest age category (15-30 years). Principal component analysis of the ECAP thresholds shows that the thresholds across 5 electrodes can be described by two factors accounting for 92% of the total variance. The two factors represent the overall level of the threshold profiles ('shift') and their slopes across the electrode array ('tilt'). Correlation between these two factors and the same factors describing the T-and C-levels appeared to be moderate, in the range of 0.5-0.6.
Although the differences between control and steroid-treated groups decrease with time, single intraoperative intracochlear steroid deposition was proven to lower postoperative impedances during first 3 to 4 years after implantation probably because of reduction of fibrous tissue growth.
Provided that the reduction of electrode impedances with application of steroids is persisting, intracochlear application of steroids can be considered on a regular basis. Iridium coating of the electrode contacts seems not to be justified to be included as standard procedure.
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