APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ACOUSTICALLY OR MECHANICALLY STIMULATING A COCHLEA AND INTRACOCHLEAR RECORDING OF MECHANICALLY OR ACOUSTICALLY EVOKED AUDITORY POTENTIALS IN THE COCHLEA
First Claim
1. An apparatus for acoustic or mechanical stimulation and electrophysiologic response measurement of a cochlea or auditory nerve, comprising:
- a stimulator, configured to generate one of an acoustic and a mechanical signal;
an electrode array positionable within a cochlea of a human subject directly adjacent to hair cells in the cochlea and configured to directly measure an electrophysiologic response of the hair cells directly adjacent to the electrode array to the stimulating signal, wherein the electrophysiologic response includes a cochlear microphonic potential; and
a computer coupled to the electrode array for recording the electrophysiologic response.
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Abstract
An apparatus for acoustic or mechanical stimulation of a cochlea and measurement of acoustically or mechanically evoked electrophysiologic responses from the cochlea is provided. In one example, the apparatus includes an acoustic stimulator for generating an acoustic signal and an electrophysiologic response measuring device positioned proximal the cochlea or within the cochlea for measuring an acoustically evoked electrophysiologic response to the acoustic signal. Methods of utilizing the apparatus for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures related to hearing impairment are also provided.
6 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for acoustic or mechanical stimulation and electrophysiologic response measurement of a cochlea or auditory nerve, comprising:
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a stimulator, configured to generate one of an acoustic and a mechanical signal; an electrode array positionable within a cochlea of a human subject directly adjacent to hair cells in the cochlea and configured to directly measure an electrophysiologic response of the hair cells directly adjacent to the electrode array to the stimulating signal, wherein the electrophysiologic response includes a cochlear microphonic potential; and a computer coupled to the electrode array for recording the electrophysiologic response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of measuring a cochlear electrophysiologic response to an acoustic or mechanical signal, comprising:
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stimulating a cochlea of a human subject with one of an acoustic signal and a mechanical signal; positioning an electrode array within the cochlea directly adjacent to hair cells within the cochlea; measuring an electrophysiologic response of the hair cells directly adjacent to the electrode array to the acoustic signal using the electrode array; and recording, using a computer, the electrophysiologic response. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification