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Implantation of the Lateral Cochlear Wall for Auditory Nerve Stimulation
Author(s) -
Yueh Bevan,
Manis Paul,
Niparko John K.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199708000-00006
Subject(s) - cochlear implantation , stimulation , audiology , medicine , neuroscience , cochlear implant , psychology
Although cochlear implants now regularly achieve gratifying results, traditional intrascalar implants have certain limitations. Extraluminal implants may offset some of these problems by accessing neurons subserving a wider tonotopic range, avoiding intracochlear insertion trauma, and offering alternatives when cochlear obliteration is present. We have investigated the utility of a lateral cochlear wall implant in a normal‐hearing cat model with implants at the middle and basal turns, and found successful activation of the auditory nerve at thresholds of 28.1 and 40.6 μA, respectively. No adventitial stimulation of the facial nerve was noted within the dynamic range. Maximum responsiveness was observed with implants of the middle turn of the cochlea, an area that is not reliably approached with current intrascalar implants. These observations support and extend prior observations of the feasibility of extraluminal stimulation of the auditory nerve.