Hydrogel-Based Actuation for Modiolar Hugging Cochlear Implant Electrode Arrays

摘要

A flexible and hydrogel-swelling-based actuated electrode array for cochlear implants was developed to bridge the gap between commercially available flexible and easily implantable straight electrode arrays on one side as well as stiff and difficulty implantable pre-curved electrode arrays on the other side. Therefore, the presented array consists of a polyimide/gold thin-film electrode carrier embedded in a silicone rubber shaft with immersed hydrogel particles, which bends itself by contact to intracochlear liquid. To achieve a stable bonding between the silicone rubber and the thin-film electrode, a silica coating was applied on the electrode carrier and an improved bonding strength was achieved. Electrode arrays were tested in a cochlea model and a modiolar hugging was observed in relation to the amount of hydrogel particles.