Home // International Journal On Advances in Life Sciences, volume 6, numbers 1 and 2, 2014 // View article
Authors:
Umberto Cerasani
William Tatinian
Keywords: cochlear implant, electrical analog, transient simulations, afferent nerve fibers repartition, spiral ganglions
Abstract:
Cochlear implants are used by deaf people to recover partial hearing. The electrode array inserted inside the cochlea is an extensive area of research. The aim of the electrodes array is to directly stimulate the nerve fibers inside the Organ of Corti. The electrical model of the physical system consisting of Organ of Corti and the electrodes is presented in this paper. This model allowed to run SPICE simulations in order to theoretically detect the minimal voltage sufficient for nerve fiber stimulation as well as the impact of the electrode voltage on the duration of nerve fibers stimulation. Besides, to ensure functional sound perception, the electrode potential should depend on their position inside the cochlea. A afferent nerve fiber repartition map over the cochlea position, considering the frequency sensitivity of the different parts of the ear was created. This projection allowed to propose a theoretical electrodes potential correction based on their cochlea position.
Pages: 52 to 61
Copyright: Copyright (c) to authors, 2014. Used with permission.
Publication date: June 30, 2014
Published in: journal
ISSN: 1942-2660