Public summary of results

List of publications

Presentations

Combining all developments of the NANOCI project, the proof of concept for the gap-less interface between auditory neurons and the cochlear implant electrodes has been obtained in vivo (see figure). The in vitro setup confirmed the hypothesis that a significant reduction in energy used to stimulate the auditory neurons can be achieved, notably a five-fold reduction for the gapless position and a four-fold reduction, if stimulus parameters are optimized for the new interface. Together, these key findings lay the foundation to develop cochlear implant systems in the future with more specific and more energy-efficient stimulation of auditory neurons.

Guided growth of auditory neuronal fibers (green) from the organ of Corti (OC) region towards the drug-releasing nanomatrix (blue-shaded area) and cochlear implant electrode array (CI, pink) to form a gapless neuron:electrode interface in concept (A), in vivo (B) and merged (A+B = C). The electrode materials (silicone and platinum) are difficult to section and visualize, however the space occupied by the CI electrode is well delineated (B). The CI electrode implanted was larger compared to the original concept (difference of CI electrode area in C).

1. Auditory Nerve Preservation and Regeneration in Man - Relevance for Cochlear Implantation. Helge Rask-Andersen and Wei Li. Neural Regeneration Research, 10(5), 710-712–65, 2015. doi:10.4103/1673-5374.156963
2. X-ray microtomographic confirmation of the reliability of CBCT in identifying the scalar location of cochlear implant electrode after round window insertion. Zou J, Hannula M, Lehto K, Feng H, Lähelmä J, Aula AS, Hyttinen J, Pyykkö I. Hearing Research, 326, 59–65, 2015. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2015.04.005
3. Solid on liquid deposition, a review of technological solutions. Alexandra Homsy, Edith Laux, Laure Jeandupeux, Jerome Charmet, Roland Bitterli, Chiara Botta, Yves Rebetez, Oksana Banakh, H. Keppner. Microelectronic Engineering, 141, 267–79, 2015. doi:10.1016/j.mee.2015.03.068
4. Imaging cochlear implantation with round window insertion in human temporal bones and cochlear morphological variation using high-resolution cone beam CT. Zou J, Lähelmä J, Koivisto J, Dhanasingh A, Jolly C, Aarnisalo A, Wolff J, Pyykkö I. Acta Otolaryngol. 135(5), 466-472, 2015. doi:10.3109/00016489.2014.993090
5. Macromolecular organization and fine structure of the human basilar membrane - RELEVANCE for cochlear implantation. Wei Liu, Francesca Atturo, Robair Aldaya, Peter Santi, Sebahattin Cureoglu, Sabrina Obwegeser, Rudolf Glueckert, Kristian Pfaller, Annelies Schrott-Fischer and Helge Rask-Andersen. Cell Tissue Res. 360(2), 245–262, 2015. doi:10.1007/s00441-014-2098-z
6. Imaging Optimization of Temporal Bones With Cochlear Implant Using a High-resolution Cone Beam CT and the Corresponding Effective Dose. Jing Zou, Juha Koivisto, Jaakko Lähelmä, Antti Aarnisalo, Jan Wolff, and Ilmari Pyykkö. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 124(6) 466-473, 2015. doi:10.1177/0003489414565004
7. MeV ion beam lithography of biocompatible halogenated Parylenes using aperture masks. Harry J. Whitlow, Rattanaporn Norarat, Marta Roccio, Patrick Jeanneret, Edouard Guibert, Maxime Bergamin, Gianni Fiorucci, Alexandra Homsy, Edith Laux, Herbert Keppner, Pascal Senn. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 354, 34–36, 2015. doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2014.10.024
8. The pre- and post-somatic segments of the human type I spiral ganglion neurons – Structural and functional considerations related to cochlear implantation. W. Liu , F. Edin , F. Atturo , G. Rieger , H. Löwenheim , P. Senn , M. Blumer , A. Schrott-Fischer , H. Rask-Andersen , R. Glueckert. Neuroscience, 284, 470-482, 2015. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.09.059