Electrochemical Study of Potential Materials for Cochlear Implant Electrode Array

N. Lawand[1], V. Lopez[1,2], P. French[1]
[1]Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
[2]Università degli studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
Published in 2013

Cochlear Implants (CIs) are implantable prostheses that bypass the non-functional inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve with electric currents, enabling deaf people to experience sound again. The CI electrode array sits inside the cochlea close to the auditory neurons. An ideal stimulation material must have low impedance with maximum charge transfer capacity in the electrochemical environment of the cochlea. It must not only withstand this harsh environment but also transfer maximum charge without damaging tissue. This paper investigates potential materials like Ti, TiN for electrochemical stability. The Electrochemistry Module and AC/DC Module of COMSOL Multiphysics® show the possibility of simulating and performing a study to understand the potential electrochemical limits of the stimulation materials prior to the electrochemical experiments.