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Opto-Electrical Cochlear Implants

Award Number: R01DC018666
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/15/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2027

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Opto-Electrical Cochlear Implants - Project Summary / Abstract Our goal is to develop an optical cochlear implant (oCI) that uses photons to stimulate surviving auditory neurons in severely-to-profoundly deaf. The benefit of optical stimulation is its spatial selectivity with the potential to create significantly more independent channels to encode acoustic information and to enhance the CI users’ performance in challenging listening environments and to improve music appreciation. In previous experiments we have defined the parameter space for infrared neural stimulation (INS) in diverse animal models, including the cat. To translate the method into a clinical tool, an opto-electrical cochlear implant, we have to convert the parameter space defined for the cats to the larger cochlea of the humans. In preparation of the study we have communicated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and have submitted a Q- submission for a study risk assessment for the first set of the proposed tests. The purpose of this study is to show that optical and combined opto-electrical stimulation is possible in humans using optical fibers, optical fiber bundles, and a hybrid opto-electrical cochlear implant. Furthermore, the tests will also validate that INS is possible at radiation wavelengths, which are used commercially in communication and for which the technology of optical sources and waveguides is well miniaturized and matured. Most importantly, we will use a forward masking method to validate the view that optical stimulation is spatially more selective than electrical stimulation by comparing the ability of a masking stimulus to reduce the response amplitude of a probe stimulus. Test subjects will be patients with large tumors of the skull base, who require a translabyrinthine craniotomy for tumor removal. For this surgical approach the cochlea and vestibular system will be damaged and the patients will be deaf after surgery. This surgery provides an unique opportunity to test optical stimulation in the human cochlea before it is removed during the tumor resection. Important data can be gathered, which will drive the development of an implantable opto-electrical cochlear implant system by our industrial collaborators. The measurements will take no longer than 30 minutes per patient, after which all the equipment will be removed from the surgical filed and the tumor resection surgery continues.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2025	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	12/30/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $407,524 )
2025	2025	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	5	7/10/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$40,753
2025	2025	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	1/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$366,771
														Subtotal = $407,524

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $407,524 )
2024	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	4	5/7/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$40,753
2024	2024	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	1/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$366,771
														Subtotal = $407,524

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $407,524 )
2023	2023	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	3/20/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$407,524
														Subtotal = $407,524

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $409,958 )
2022	2022	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	5/6/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$409,958
														Subtotal = $409,958

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $455,327 )
2021	2021	NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY	633 CLARK ST	EVANSTON	IL	60208	COOK	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	2/15/2021	NEW	$455,327
														Subtotal = $455,327

Grand Total All Awards = $2,087,857

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Opto-Electrical Cochlear Implants

Award Number: R01DC018666

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/15/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2027

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