Neural Tissue Degeneration in Rosenthal’s Canal and Its Impact on Electrical Stimulation of the Auditory Nerve by Cochlear Implants: An Image-Based Modeling Study |
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Authors: | Kiran Kumar Sriperumbudur Revathi Appali Anthony W. Gummer Ursula van Rienen |
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Affiliation: | 1.Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany; (R.A.); (U.v.R.);2.Ageing of Individuals and Society, Interdisciplinary Faculty, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany;3.Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tubingen, Germany; ;4.Life, Light and Matter, Interdisciplinary Faculty, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany |
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Abstract: | Sensorineural deafness is caused by the loss of peripheral neural input to the auditory nerve, which may result from peripheral neural degeneration and/or a loss of inner hair cells. Provided spiral ganglion cells and their central processes are patent, cochlear implants can be used to electrically stimulate the auditory nerve to facilitate hearing in the deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. Neural degeneration is a crucial impediment to the functional success of a cochlear implant. The present, first-of-its-kind two-dimensional finite-element model investigates how the depletion of neural tissues might alter the electrically induced transmembrane potential of spiral ganglion neurons. The study suggests that even as little as 10% of neural tissue degeneration could lead to a disproportionate change in the stimulation profile of the auditory nerve. This result implies that apart from encapsulation layer formation around the cochlear implant electrode, tissue degeneration could also be an essential reason for the apparent inconsistencies in the functionality of cochlear implants. |
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Keywords: | neurodegeneration tissue density auditory nerve cochlear implant modeling and simulation finite element models image-based modeling |
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