We have pioneered what we believe is a novel method of stimulating cochlear neurons, using pulsed infrared radiation, based on the hypothesis that optical radiation can provide more spatially selective stimulation of the cochlea than electric current. Very little of the available optical parameter space has been used for optical stimulation of neurons. Here, we use a pulsed diode laser (1.94 microm) to stimulate auditory neurons of the gerbil. Radiant exposures measured at CAP threshold are similar for pulse durations of 5, 10, 30, and 100 micros, but greater for 300-micros-long pulses. There is evidence that water absorption of optical radiation is a significant factor in optical stimulation. Heat-transfer-based analysis of the data indicates that potential structures involved in optical stimulation of cochlear neurons have a dimension on the order of approximately 10 microm. The implications of these data could direct further research and design of an optical cochlear implant.

Pulsed lasers can evoke neural activity from motor as well as sensory neurons in vivo. Lasers allow more selective spatial resolution of stimulation than the conventional electrical stimulation. To date, few studies have examined pulsed, mid-infrared laser stimulation of nerves and very little of the available optical parameter space has been studied. In this study, a pulsed diode laser, with wavelength between 1.844-1.873 μm, was used to elicit compound action potentials (CAPs) from the auditory system of the gerbil. We found that pulse durations as short as 35 μs elicit a CAP from the cochlea. In addition, repetition rates up to 13 Hz can continually stimulate cochlear spiral ganglion cells for extended periods of time. Varying the wavelength and, therefore, the optical penetration depth, allowed different populations of neurons to be stimulated. The technology of optical stimulation could significantly improve cochlear implants, which are hampered by a lack of spatial selectivity.

Light can artificially stimulate nerve activity in vivo. A significant advantage of optical neural stimulation is the potential for higher spatial selectivity when compared with electrical stimulation. An increased spatial selectivity of stimulation could improve significantly the function of neuroprosthetics, such as cochlear implants. Cochlear implants restore a sense of hearing and communication to deaf individuals by directly electrically stimulating the remaining neural cells in the cochlea. However, performance is limited by overlapping electric fields from neighboring electrodes.Here, we report on experiments with a new laser, offering a previously unavailable wavelength, 1.94µm, and pulse durations down to 5µs, to stimulate cochlear neurons. Compound action potentials (CAP) were evoked from the gerbil cochlea with pulse durations as short as 1µs. Data show that water absorption of light is a significant factor in optical stimulation, as evidenced by the required distance between the optical fiber and the neurons during stimulation. CAP threshold measurements indicate that there is an optimal range of pulse durations over which to deposit the laser energy, less than ~100µs. The implications of these data could direct further research and design of an optical cochlear implant.

Pulsed, mid-infrared lasers can evoke neural activity from motor as well as sensory neurons in vivo. Lasers allow more selective spatial resolution of stimulation than the conventional electrical stimulation. To date, few studies have examined pulsed, mid-infrared neural stimulation and very little of the available optical parameter space has been studied. We found that pulse durations as short as 20 µs elicit a compound action potential from the gerbil cochlea. Moreover, stimulation thresholds are not a function of absolute energy or absolute power deposited. Compound action potential peak-to-peak amplitude remained constant over extended periods of stimulation. Stimulation occurred up six hours continuously and up to 50 Hz in repetition rate. Single fiber experiments were made using repetition rates of up to 1 kHz. Action potentials occurred 2.5-4 ms after the laser pulse. Maximum rates of discharge were up to 250 action potentials per second. With increasing stimulation rate ( 300 Hz), the action potentials did not respond strictly after the light pulse. The results from these experiments are important for designing the next generation of neuroprostheses, specifically cochlear implants.

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