1. Cochlear Implants
Abstract: When a person loses hearing, cochlear implants make it possible to restore their ability to hear. Through surgical procedure, a system of electronic components is able to replace a damaged biological system. The most important part of the system is the electrical to biological connection made by the electrodes.
Presented by: Connor Abens EE 4611
Kevin Chan May 2, 2014

2. Outline History of Cochlear Implant How the ear works Device structure
Bio-friendly materials
Pros/Cons
Potential Improvements
Future of Implant
Kevin

3. History 1800 Allesandro Volta stimulated inner ear with electricity
1956 Cochlear implant was designed
1978 First multi-channel cochlear implant
1980 FDA began regulation of cochlear implants
1984 First implant in an adult approved by FDA
1990 FDA approved implant for children above 2 years old
2000 FDA approved implant for infants above 12 months of age.
Connor

4. Development Cochlear Limited Advanced Bionics
Cochlear™ Nucleus®
This is the timeline of their implant components
Advanced Bionics
Harmony™ processor
HiRes 90K™ implant
Medical Electronics (MED-EL)
MAESTRO™ 3.0 system

5. How the ear works Outer Canal Drum Middle (bones)
Malleus, Incus, Stapes
Inner
Cochlea
Auditory Nerve
Kevin/Connor

6. Types of Hearing Loss Conductive Middle ear Sensorineural
Inner ear stereocilia
Cochlear Nerve
Connection to brain
Kevin

7. Components External Microphone Speech processor Transmitter Internal
Receiver/Stimulator
Electrode Array
Kevin

8. MED-EL Electrode Array

9. Insertion of Electrode Array

10. Demonstrations of sound
Robotic-like
Fuzzy radio
Context helps understanding
Connor

11. Bio-friendly materials
Silicone (1,5)
Used to case the electronic
Ceramics (older models)
Weak and sensitive to external forces
Titanium (2)
Replaced ceramic components
Platinum (3)
Used for electrode contacts
Kevin

12. Pros Cons Hearing is possible immediately after surgery
Sensitivity to a variety of sounds
Eliminates the reliance upon other people
Potentially enjoy music
Upgradable components
Speech understanding without lip-reading
Loss of natural hearing
Possible negative side effects
Must avoid water damage
Electromagnetic noise
Relative Volume isn’t automatic
Static electricity damage
Costs $45,000 to $105,000
Connor

13. Potential Improvements
Completely internal
Water resistivity
Resolution
Battery Life
Manufacturing cost
Biomaterials
Connor

14. Laser-based cochlear implant
Electric stimulation isn’t precise
Modified cells react to light stimulation
Precision lasers instead of electrodes
Testing in rats and toadfish
Infrared light affects calcium ion flow
This causes nerve cells to release neurotransmitters
Connor

15. Summary How the ear works Device structure Potential Improvements
Infrared light stimulation
Kevin

16. Sources General Information http://www.medel.com/us/
Laser based implant
Biomaterials

17. 5 Key Concepts
Sounds travels through the ear canal then causes mechanical vibration which creates waves in the cochlear fluid. Those waves move the small hairs that stimulate the nerve cells.
Cochlear implant directly stimulates nerve cells in the cochlea
Electronic Components consist of: microphone, processor, transmitter, stimulator.
Silicone, ceramics, titanium and platinum are the materials used and accepted by the body.
Electrode stimulation isn’t precise because electric current can disperse into tissue. Laser stimulation is being studied to improve the precision of implants.