Graeme Clark Collection

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    Chronic monopolar high rate simulation of the auditory nerve: physiological and histopathological effects
    TYKOCINSKI, MICHAEL ; Linahan, Neil ; Shepherd, R. K. ; Clark, Graeme M. (Kugler Publications, 2001)
    There is clinical interest in the development of high rate speech processing strategies, since there are indications that these might enhance speech perception due to an improved representation of the rapid variations in amplitude of speech. Significant improvement in speech perception using high rate stimulation has been demonstrated in cochlear implant recipients. However, it is important that the long-term safety of high rate stimulation is clearly established prior to its general clinical application. This is especially important, since acute animal studies have shown that high rate stimulation can induce a reduction in the excitability of the auditory nerve. This was also associated with an increase in both threshold and latency of the electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (EABR). However, while a chronic stimulation study indicated that monopolar electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve at rates of 1000 pulses per second (pps)/channel (three channels) had no adverse effects on the spiral ganglion cell density (SGCO),5 there is limited data concerning higher rates. In the present study, we evaluated the electrophysiological and histopathological effects of chronic monopolar electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve using considerably higher stimulus rates than have been used in previous studies.
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    Potential applications of a small and high surface area platinum electrode as an implanted impedance bio-sensor or recording electrode.
    Duan, Yvonne Y. ; Millard, Rodney E. ; Tykocinski, Michael. ; Lui, Xugang ; Clark, Graeme M. ; COWAN, ROBERT ( 2001)
    A small Platinum (Pt) electrode (geometric area: -0.43 mm2) was treated in an electrochemical etching process, to produce a highly porous columnar thin layer (-600 nm) on the surface of the electrode. The modified Pt electrode (Pt-p) showed similar electrical properties to a platinum-black electrode but with high mechanical integrity. Previous studies of chronic stimulation had also shown good biocompatibility and surface stability over several months implantation. This paper discusses the potential applications of the modified electrode as an implanted bio-sensor: (1) as a recording electrode compared to an untreated Pt electrode. (2) as a probe in detecting electrical characteristics of living biological material adjacent to the electrode in vivo, which may correlate to inflammation or trauma repair. Results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) revealed much lower electrode interface polarisation impedance, reduced overall electrode impedance, and a largely constant impedance above 100 Hz for the Pt-p electrode compared with untreated Pt electrodes. This provides a platform for recording biological events with low noise interference. Results of A.C. impedance spectroscopy of the high surface area electrode only reflect changes in the surrounding biological environment in the frequency range (1 kHz to 100kHz), interference from electrode polarisation impedance can be neglected. The results imply that the surface-modified electrode is a good candidate for application to implantable biosensors for detecting bio-electric events. The modification procedure and its high surface area concept could have application to a smart MEMS device or microelectrode.