Modelling the effects of cochlear implant current focusing

Abstract

Although such focusing strategies cannot be achieved in practice at the moment, since the responses from the electrodes to the neural sites cannot be determined with currently available recording methods, these results do support the feasibility of a more effective focusing strategy, which may provide improved spectral resolution leading to improved perception of sound.

Constructing a three‐dimensional electrical model of a living cochlear implant user's cochlea

“…In applied research, the effect of new technological innovations is being investigated, such as the use of current focusing and beam steering to improve frequency resolution in CIs. In this case, the potential distribution in a specific cochlea, due to multiple current sources, has to be determined and its effectivity to increase spatial, and thus frequency resolution needs to be evaluated. User‐specific implementation of cochlear morphology in a model could, for example, inform the design criteria for beam‐steering electrode arrays that need to function over a morphologically diverse implant population.…”

Design and optimization of auditory prostheses using the finite element method: a narrative review

“…Mechanical responses, such as the BM response, OW and round window (RW) volume velocity, and cochlear fluid pressure, can evaluate the inner ear performance. In addition to studying the mechanical response of the cochlea, some researchers have established volume conduction models to explore the electrical response of the cochlea (31,(47)(48)(49)(50). The volume conduction model differs from the mechanical model as it uses electrical characteristics, such as resistivity, to simulate each part of the ear (51).…”

Computational Simulation Expands Understanding of Electrotransfer-Based Gene Augmentation for Enhancement of Neural Interfaces

“…Finite element computational modeling of electrical stimulation in the cochlea has been the subject of many investigations for over 30 years (Finley et al, 1987; Finley, 1989; Finley et al, 1990). More recent models based on image reconstructions (Ceresa et al, 2014; Kalkman et al, 2015; Kang et al, 2015; Malherbe et al, 2016; Tachos et al, 2016; Teal and Ni, 2016; Wong et al, 2016; Cakir et al, 2017; Schafer et al, 2018) or simplified geometries (Briaire and Frijns, 2000, 2006; Hanekom, 2001; Rattay et al, 2001; Goldwyn et al, 2010; Saba et al, 2014; Nogueira et al, 2016) of the cochlea have been applied to predict electric potential and field distributions following electric stimulation by electrode arrays of cochlear implants.…”