This project focuses on the design aspects of multicontract cochlear implants concentrating on the factors that affect their ability to be removed and replaced, possibly with dimensionally different implants. The new designs must cause minimal mechanical trauma and foreign body reaction in middle and inner ear structures. It is anticipated that this will include improvements in surface materials, electrode geometries and implant fixation techniques as compared with presently existing electrode arrays. Evaluation will be in non-deaf animal models of the developing child. The decision to use a non-deaf model is based on the fact that hair cells are sensitive indicators of disturbances of cochlear structure and function. Also, in deaf models with implanted electrode arrays, cochlear damage produced by inducing deafness complicates the interpretation of damage caused by the implant itself.

Project Start
1990-09-30
Project End
1995-09-29
Budget Start
1993-03-30
Budget End
1994-09-29
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Otolaryngology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143
Rebscher, S J; Heilmann, M; Bruszewski, W et al. (1999) Strategies to improve electrode positioning and safety in cochlear implants. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 46:340-52
Rebscher, S J; Talbot, N; Bruszewski, W et al. (1996) A transparent model of the human scala tympani cavity. J Neurosci Methods 64:105-14