A hydromechanical biomimetic cochlea: experiments and models.
The construction, measurement, and modeling of an artificial cochlea (ACochlea) are presented in this paper. An artificial basilar membrane (ABM) was made by depositing discrete Cu beams on a piezomembrane substrate. Rather than two fluid channels, as in the mammalian cochlea, a single fluid channel was implemented on one side of the ABM, facilitating the use of a laser to detect the ABM vibration on the other side. Measurements were performed on both the ABM and the ACochlea. The measurement results on the ABM show that the longitudinal coupling on the ABM is very strong. Reduced longitudinal coupling was achieved by cutting the membrane between adjacent beams using a laser. The measured results from the ACochlea with a laser-cut ABM demonstrate cochlear-like features, including traveling waves, sharp high-frequency rolloffs, and place-specific frequency selectivity. Companion computational models of the mechanical devices were formulated and implemented using a circuit simulator. Experimental data were compared with simulation results. The simulation results from the computational models of the ABM and the ACochlea are similar to their experimental counterparts.
Chen
Fangyi
F
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Hearing Research Center Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. chenfa@ohsu.edu
Cohen
Howard I
HI
Bifano
Thomas G
TG
Castle
Jason
J
Fortin
Jeffrey
J
Kapusta
Christopher
C
Mountain
David C
DC
Zosuls
Aleks
A
Hubbard
Allyn E
AE
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D001489:Basilar Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008954:Models, Biological; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011145:Polyvinyls; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014732:Vibration; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers