多通道光刺激听觉机理研究

Optical cochlear implant is a novel technology for the recovery of severe to total deaf patients based on the successful application of electric cochlear implant. Once the research on biophysical mechanism of the laser stimulation no auditory neurons have a breakthrough, it will achieve significant science developments and huge economic and social benefits. So far, there is no research report published in domestic in this hot area..This project will be carried out in the key laboratory of Shenzhen in which we already have sufficient equipments, such as the optical platform, the CAP/ABR analysis system, et al. Using these equipments, this project will implement animal experiments focusing on the areas as follows: 1) the optimal parameters of single-channel laser stimulation (including the wavelength, stimulus rate, pulse duration, et al.); 2) the safe and efficient condition of multi-channel stimulus mode with synergistic and interference effects. 3) the biophysical mechanism of the interaction between laser and tissue. By contrasting the results of different experiments, we will research the relationship among laser stimulation, vibration of the RW membrane and CAP/ABR signal. 4) the novel speech processing strategy in the condition of optical stimulation baed on the characteristics of Mandarin..During this project, 10～15 articles will be published in international meetings and journals, 1 national invention patent will be applied, and 4 academic activities will be organized. In the meanwhile, 1 postdoctoral fellow, 2 PHDs and 3 masters will be graduated.

光学人工耳蜗是在电刺激听神经的人工耳蜗成功产品化之后提出的新兴重度耳聋康复技术。其基础研究－光刺激听神经机理研究的突破将具有显著的科学意义及巨大的经济、社会效益。国内尚无该领域研究成果报道。项目依托深圳市重点实验室，已具备光学平台、脑电分析系统等设备，拟通过动物试验等，研究：1）单通道光刺激最佳刺激参数匹配（包括波长、刺激速率、刺激脉宽等）；2）多通道光刺激条件下，通道间的协同以及干扰作用机理，提出安全的多通道刺激模式；3）光与组织相互作用机理。通过不同试验方案（是否穿透圆窗）的结果对比，重点研究激光刺激、圆窗振动和听诱发信号产生之间的关系，进一步完善光与组织相互作用的机理；4）在光刺激条件下有效传递汉语声调信息的语音处理算法。结合本课题研究，预期在国内外刊物和学术会议上发表文章10～15篇。申请国家发明专利1项。培养博士后1名，博士生2名，硕士生3名，组织学术交流活动4次。

光学人工耳蜗是在电刺激听神经的人工耳蜗成功产品化之后提出的新兴耳聋康复技术。多通道光刺激听觉机理研究项目研究了单通道光刺激、多通道光刺激两种刺激模式的特点以及光学人工耳蜗中激光与组织的相互作用机理。. 单通道光刺激研究中，本项目率先尝试在不破坏耳蜗结构的情况下，使用980 nm近红外脉冲激光刺激豚鼠耳蜗，首次证实该波段脉冲激光也能有效刺激豚鼠听神经，诱发出光刺激复合动作电位信号，并分别探讨了光刺激的能量阈值、安全性、机制原理等问题；多通道光刺激采用465nm与980nm激光进行双通道刺激研究，探讨了激光波长、刺激速率、激光脉宽、激光功率等参数对诱发信号的影响，为光刺激人工耳蜗激光参数的最优化选取提供全新参考，同时发现了关断效应；在机理研究中，本项目对引发听神经动作电位信号的机理进行了研究，初步证明光声效应是诱发光学人工耳蜗听觉的主要机制。. 本项目多通道光刺激听觉机理研究为未来人工光学耳蜗的设计提供了重要参考。