title: A microelectromechanical system artificial basilar membrane based on a piezoelectric cantilever array and its characterization using an animal model.
abstract: We proposed a piezoelectric artificial basilar membrane (ABM) composed of a microelectromechanical system cantilever array. The ABM mimics the tonotopy of the cochlea: frequency selectivity and mechanoelectric transduction. The fabricated ABM exhibits a clear tonotopy in an audible frequency range (2.92-12.6 kHz). Also, an animal model was used to verify the characteristics of the ABM as a front end for potential cochlear implant applications. For this, a signal processor was used to convert the piezoelectric output from the ABM to an electrical stimulus for auditory neurons. The electrical stimulus for auditory neurons was delivered through an implanted intra-cochlear electrode array. The amplitude of the electrical stimulus was modulated in the range of 0.15 to 3.5 V with incoming sound pressure levels (SPL) of 70.1 to 94.8 dB SPL. The electrical stimulus was used to elicit an electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (EABR) from deafened guinea pigs. EABRs were successfully measured and their magnitude increased upon application of acoustic stimuli from 75 to 95 dB SPL. The frequency selectivity of the ABM was estimated by measuring the magnitude of EABRs while applying sound pressure at the resonance and off-resonance frequencies of the corresponding cantilever of the selected channel. In this study, we demonstrated a novel piezoelectric ABM and verified its characteristics by measuring EABRs.
authors.affiliation: 1] Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Department of Robotics Engineering, Daegu, 711-873, South Korea [2] DGIST, DGIST-ETH Microrobot Research Center, Daegu, 711-873, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jongmoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Kyungpook National University, Graduate School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Daegu, 702-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: JangWoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1] Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Department of Robotics Engineering, Daegu, 711-873, South Korea [2] DGIST, DGIST-ETH Microrobot Research Center, Daegu, 711-873, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seongyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: The University of Melbourne, Department of Otolaryngology, Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sly
authors.affiliation: The University of Melbourne, Department of Otolaryngology, Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia.
authors.forename: Luke J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Kyungpook National University, Graduate School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Daegu, 702-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: The University of Melbourne, Department of Otolaryngology, Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: Boramae Medical Center, Seoul Metropolitan Government - Seoul National University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul, 156-707, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Hyun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: DGIST, Department of Information &Communication Engineering, Daegu, 711-873, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sungmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: DGIST, Department of Information &Communication Engineering, Daegu, 711-873, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Wong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: 1] Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Daegu, 700-721, South Korea [2] Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 700-721, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: 1] Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Department of Robotics Engineering, Daegu, 711-873, South Korea [2] DGIST, DGIST-ETH Microrobot Research Center, Daegu, 711-873, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hongsoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001489:Basilar Membrane; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial