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Study of the Carrier-Aided Thin Film Electrode Array Design for Cochlear Insertion
Yuchen Xu1,2,3,4, Chuan Luo5,6,7, Fan-Gang Zeng8
1State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100083, China. xyc13@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn.
Micromachines
|November 15, 2018
Summary
Researchers explored enhancing thin film electrode arrays (TFAs) for cochlear implants (CIs) using Kapton tape. This simple carrier significantly increased TFA stiffness, improving feasibility for cochlear insertion.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Micro-fabricated thin film electrode arrays (TFAs) are promising for cochlear implants (CIs) due to cost-effectiveness and precision.
- Current polymer-based TFAs lack structural stiffness, hindering cochlear insertion.
- Previous stiffening methods include dissolvable materials, structural modifications, and commercial CI carriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of enhancing a Parylene TFA with Kapton tape as a simpler carrier for improved cochlear insertion.
- To characterize the bending stiffness of the Kapton-aided TFA.
Main Methods:
- Analytical modeling
- Finite element modeling
- Cantilever bending experiments
Main Results:
- Kapton tape increased the bending stiffness of the Parylene TFA by approximately 1000 times.
- The 6-μm-thick TFA significantly increased the bending stiffness of the 170-μm-thick Kapton carrier by 60%.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing a Parylene TFA with Kapton tape is a feasible approach for improving cochlear insertion.
- The TFEA's own stiffness significantly impacts the carrier's performance, necessitating consideration in design and selection.
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