Simulating auditory nerve fiber response following micro-electrode stimulation

The cochlear implant was the first effective and is still the most common neuroprosthetic device which is employed for people with severe to profound hearing loss. To restore auditory perception, an array of micro-electrodes that deliver electrical pulses to the auditory nerve is surgically implante...

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Main Authors: Wenger Cornelia, Fellner Andreas, Bucek Fred, Werginz Paul, Rattay Frank
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2023-12-01
Series:Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/cdbme-2023-1202
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author Wenger Cornelia
Fellner Andreas
Bucek Fred
Werginz Paul
Rattay Frank
author_facet Wenger Cornelia
Fellner Andreas
Bucek Fred
Werginz Paul
Rattay Frank
author_sort Wenger Cornelia
collection DOAJ
description The cochlear implant was the first effective and is still the most common neuroprosthetic device which is employed for people with severe to profound hearing loss. To restore auditory perception, an array of micro-electrodes that deliver electrical pulses to the auditory nerve is surgically implanted into the lower cochlea duct, the scala tympani (ST). However, implantation into the upper cavity, the scala vestibuli (SV) has been tested due to severe anatomical obstruction or ossification of the ST. Clinical results revealed similar performance and thresholds for SV and ST cochlear implant users. We present a simulation study of auditory nerve fibre response to monophasic stimulation of both polarities. Excitation profiles are compared for microelectrodes placed in the SV and equivalent positions in the ST. In total, 7 different electrode positions for 4 different fibres have been investigated in a homogenous 2D model. Results for the intact fibres predict generally higher anodic thresholds in comparison to cathodic stimulation at the same electrode position and mostly lower thresholds for the SV electrodes in comparison to their ST counterparts. In contrast, anodic thresholds are mostly lower than cathodic thresholds for the degenerated fibres. Furthermore, due to the increased electrode-fibre distance for degenerate fibres which have completely lost the dendrite, SV stimulation is less beneficial. However, for basal fibres and the clinically relevant mid scala placement of the electrode the typically high thresholds remain similar for ST and SV positions.
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spelling doaj.art-14c3acda4f6842ce83f716fcbd2334f32024-01-08T09:53:10ZengDe GruyterCurrent Directions in Biomedical Engineering2364-55042023-12-01925810.1515/cdbme-2023-1202Simulating auditory nerve fiber response following micro-electrode stimulationWenger Cornelia0Fellner Andreas1Bucek Fred2Werginz Paul3Rattay Frank4Vienna University of Technology, Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10, 1040,Vienna, AustriaVienna University of Technology, Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing,Vienna, AustriaVienna University of Technology, Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing,Vienna, AustriaVienna University of Technology , Institute of Biomedical Electronics,Vienna, AustriaVienna University of Technology, Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing,Vienna, AustriaThe cochlear implant was the first effective and is still the most common neuroprosthetic device which is employed for people with severe to profound hearing loss. To restore auditory perception, an array of micro-electrodes that deliver electrical pulses to the auditory nerve is surgically implanted into the lower cochlea duct, the scala tympani (ST). However, implantation into the upper cavity, the scala vestibuli (SV) has been tested due to severe anatomical obstruction or ossification of the ST. Clinical results revealed similar performance and thresholds for SV and ST cochlear implant users. We present a simulation study of auditory nerve fibre response to monophasic stimulation of both polarities. Excitation profiles are compared for microelectrodes placed in the SV and equivalent positions in the ST. In total, 7 different electrode positions for 4 different fibres have been investigated in a homogenous 2D model. Results for the intact fibres predict generally higher anodic thresholds in comparison to cathodic stimulation at the same electrode position and mostly lower thresholds for the SV electrodes in comparison to their ST counterparts. In contrast, anodic thresholds are mostly lower than cathodic thresholds for the degenerated fibres. Furthermore, due to the increased electrode-fibre distance for degenerate fibres which have completely lost the dendrite, SV stimulation is less beneficial. However, for basal fibres and the clinically relevant mid scala placement of the electrode the typically high thresholds remain similar for ST and SV positions.https://doi.org/10.1515/cdbme-2023-1202auditory nerve fibresextracellular stimulationexcitation patternscochlear implantsscala vestibuli
spellingShingle Wenger Cornelia
Fellner Andreas
Bucek Fred
Werginz Paul
Rattay Frank
Simulating auditory nerve fiber response following micro-electrode stimulation
Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering
auditory nerve fibres
extracellular stimulation
excitation patterns
cochlear implants
scala vestibuli
title Simulating auditory nerve fiber response following micro-electrode stimulation
title_full Simulating auditory nerve fiber response following micro-electrode stimulation
title_fullStr Simulating auditory nerve fiber response following micro-electrode stimulation
title_full_unstemmed Simulating auditory nerve fiber response following micro-electrode stimulation
title_short Simulating auditory nerve fiber response following micro-electrode stimulation
title_sort simulating auditory nerve fiber response following micro electrode stimulation
topic auditory nerve fibres
extracellular stimulation
excitation patterns
cochlear implants
scala vestibuli
url https://doi.org/10.1515/cdbme-2023-1202
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AT werginzpaul simulatingauditorynervefiberresponsefollowingmicroelectrodestimulation
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