An Aerosol Jet Printed Microcoil for Cochlear Micromagnetic Stimulation
Summary
Researchers developed aerosol jet printed microcoils for magnetic cochlear implants to improve sound perception. This novel micromagnetic stimulation approach enhances spatial selectivity and aims for better speech understanding in users.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cochlear implants restore hearing via electrical stimulation but face performance variability due to current spread.
- Magnetic stimulation offers enhanced spatial selectivity by inducing localized electrical fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and test aerosol jet printed (AJP) silver microcoils for micromagnetic stimulation in cochlear implants.
- To develop a post-processing AJP approach for direct integration onto conventional cochlear array substrates.
- To optimize microcoils for atraumatic insertion and flexibility.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 4-turn, 600 µm diameter silver microcoils using aerosol jet printing.
- Coating microcoils with Parylene-C for biocompatibility and insulation.
- Testing coil performance on planar and non-planar surfaces, including inductance and impedance measurements.
Main Results:
- Successfully printed microcoils with an upper current limit of 90 mA.
- Measured average inductance of 3.54 nH (planar) and 4.57 nH (non-planar).
- Measured average impedance of 35.47 + 3.19i Ω (planar) and 39.78 + 1.47i Ω (non-planar).
Conclusions:
- Aerosol jet printing is a viable method for fabricating microcoils for micromagnetic stimulation.
- The developed microcoils demonstrate suitable electrical properties for cochlear implant applications.
- This approach holds potential for improving spectral representation and speech perception in cochlear implant users.
