EXPERIMENTS ON EXTRACOCHLEAR STIMULATING ELECTRODE USING POLYVINYLALCOHOL GEL FOR SINGLE CHANNEL COCHLEAR IMPLANT

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We developed extracochlear stimulating electrode using the teflon coated platinum-iridium wire whose tip is covered with polyvinylalcohol gel for single channel cochlear implant. As polyvinylalcohol gel containes 85% saline in it, its current-conductibility is the same as the tissue. Since this electrode was less current-dependant than platinum-iridium electrode in impedance, it was easier for electrode with polyvinylalcohol gel to control the stimulating current.<BR>From intracochlear recordings it was shown that there was no differences of cutoff frequency between the electrodes with and without polyvinylalcohol gel. We showed from recordings in scala tympani of basal and apical turn that the current applied through the round window membrane spreaded from the basal turn to the apical turn without any decrease of the current.<BR>We were able to record compound Aps in the cochlear nerve bundle, which were evoked by electrical stimuli using the electrode with polyvinylalcohol gel applied to the cochlea. Since polyvinylalcohol gel is elastic and safe in man, it was concluded that the electrode using polyvinylalcohol gel is suitable for extracochlear stimulating electrode on the round window membrane.
社団法人日本耳鼻咽喉科学会の論文