Current distributions in cochlear stimulation

Abstract

The success of a multiple-channel cochlear implant depends, in part, on localizing the electrical current to discrete groups of auditory nerve fibers. A number of studies are described that were performed to investigate this issue. First, a three-dimensional resistance model of the normal cat cochlea was developed to examine general properties of electrically stimulating the cochlea. The distribution of the excited nerve fibers for monopolar and bipolar stimulation of the cat scala tympani were then determined. In addition certain measurements of the current distribution within the human cochlea for a pseudobipolar electrode array were performed. Finally, measurements were made in saline-solution-filled tube models of current distributions for bipolar and pseudobipolar stimulation, with both single-electrode and coincident multi-electrode stimulation. (From Introduction)