Bionic Ears: Their Development and Future Advances Using Neurotrophins and Inherently Conducting Polymers

The development of the multiple-channel bionic ear for hearing and speech understanding in profoundly deaf people is the result of integrating biological and physical sciences with engineering. It is the first clinically successful restoration of sensory and brain function, and brings electronic tec...

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Main Authors: Graeme M. Clark, Gordon Wallace
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2004-01-01
Series:Applied Bionics and Biomechanics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/ABB-2004-9693538
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author Graeme M. Clark
Gordon Wallace
author_facet Graeme M. Clark
Gordon Wallace
author_sort Graeme M. Clark
collection DOAJ
description The development of the multiple-channel bionic ear for hearing and speech understanding in profoundly deaf people is the result of integrating biological and physical sciences with engineering. It is the first clinically successful restoration of sensory and brain function, and brings electronic technology into a direct functional relationship with human consciousness. It presently transmits essential place and coarse temporal information for the coding of frequency, but the fine temporal and place excitation of groups of nerve fibres is inadequate for high-fidelity sound. This is required for adequate musical appreciation and hearing in noise. Research has demonstrated that nerve growth factors preserve the peripheral processes of the auditory nerves so that an electrode array placed close to these fibres could produce this fine temporal and spatial coding. The nerve growth factors can be incorporated into inherently conducting polymers that are part of the array so the peripheral processes can be preserved at the same time as they are electrically stimulated.
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spelling doaj-art-d8894d9cb9a843408b6cbd35bb38c4be2025-08-20T03:23:50ZengWileyApplied Bionics and Biomechanics1176-23221754-21032004-01-0112678910.3233/ABB-2004-9693538Bionic Ears: Their Development and Future Advances Using Neurotrophins and Inherently Conducting PolymersGraeme M. Clark0Gordon Wallace1The Bionic Ear Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaAustralian Research Council Centre for Nanostructured Electromaterials, Wollongong, NSW, AustraliaThe development of the multiple-channel bionic ear for hearing and speech understanding in profoundly deaf people is the result of integrating biological and physical sciences with engineering. It is the first clinically successful restoration of sensory and brain function, and brings electronic technology into a direct functional relationship with human consciousness. It presently transmits essential place and coarse temporal information for the coding of frequency, but the fine temporal and place excitation of groups of nerve fibres is inadequate for high-fidelity sound. This is required for adequate musical appreciation and hearing in noise. Research has demonstrated that nerve growth factors preserve the peripheral processes of the auditory nerves so that an electrode array placed close to these fibres could produce this fine temporal and spatial coding. The nerve growth factors can be incorporated into inherently conducting polymers that are part of the array so the peripheral processes can be preserved at the same time as they are electrically stimulated.http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/ABB-2004-9693538
spellingShingle Graeme M. Clark
Gordon Wallace
Bionic Ears: Their Development and Future Advances Using Neurotrophins and Inherently Conducting Polymers
Applied Bionics and Biomechanics
title Bionic Ears: Their Development and Future Advances Using Neurotrophins and Inherently Conducting Polymers
title_full Bionic Ears: Their Development and Future Advances Using Neurotrophins and Inherently Conducting Polymers
title_fullStr Bionic Ears: Their Development and Future Advances Using Neurotrophins and Inherently Conducting Polymers
title_full_unstemmed Bionic Ears: Their Development and Future Advances Using Neurotrophins and Inherently Conducting Polymers
title_short Bionic Ears: Their Development and Future Advances Using Neurotrophins and Inherently Conducting Polymers
title_sort bionic ears their development and future advances using neurotrophins and inherently conducting polymers
url http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/ABB-2004-9693538
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AT gordonwallace bionicearstheirdevelopmentandfutureadvancesusingneurotrophinsandinherentlyconductingpolymers