A full-custom fully implantable cochlear implant system validated in vivo with an animal model

Abstract

Realizations of fully implantable cochlear implants (FICIs) for providing adequate solution to esthetic concerns and frequent battery replacement have lacked of addressing system level criteria as a complete device. Here, we present a full-custom FICI that considers design of both an implantable sensor for wide range sound sensing and a signal conditioning circuit for electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. The microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based acoustic sensor utilizes multiple cantilever beam structures to sense and filter the mechanical vibrations on the ossicular chain. The area optimized bilayer design of the piezoelectric sensor met with the volume limitation in the middle ear while achieving high signal-to-noise-ratio. The sensor outputs are processed by a current mode low-power signal conditioning circuit that stimulates the auditory neurons through intracochlear electrodes. The FICI is validated with an in vivo model where the electrical auditory brainstem response (eABR) of the animal was observed while applying sound excitation. The eABR results demonstrate that the system is able to evoke responses in the auditory nerves of a guinea pig for sound range of 45–100 dB SPL within the selected frequency bands. Dr Ulusan and colleagues design a fully implantable cochlear implant and demonstrate functionality using an in vivo model where sound vibrations within a range of 45–100 dB SPL can be detected and filtered. The design uses a MEMS-based acoustic sensor coupled with a low-power signal-conditioning circuit that will also ensure long operating times.