title: Optoacoustic induced vibrations within the inner ear.
abstract: An acoustic transient can be generated inside an absorbing tissue as a result of laser-tissue interaction after pulsed laser irradiation. Herein we report a novel application of this physical process, the optoacoustic wave generation in the inner ear and subsequently the induction of basilar membrane vibrations. These laser induced vibrations show a direct correlation to the laser energy and an indirect correlation to the distance from the irradiation focus. Through these characteristics they may be used, in a new generation of cochlear implants, to improve the frequency specific cochlear activation and consequently improve speech perception in hearing impaired patients with residual hearing.
authors.affiliation: Laser Center Hannover, Hollerithallee 8, 30419 Hannover, Germany. z.kaiyin@gmail.com
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balster
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lubatschowski
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ertmer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reuter
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001489:Basilar Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D009038:Motion; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D014732:Vibration