Sensory cochlea electrode: Sensory safety through detection of critical processes at the electrode-nerve interface (A05)

• Subject Area: Biomaterials ; Otolaryngology, Phoniatrics and Audiology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 426335750

The aim of subproject A05 is to improve the functionality of cochlear implants by employing the cochlear electrode as an electrically active implant with additional coatings to detect changes in the electrochemical impedance at the perilymph interface. The clinical boundary conditions for validating the novel functionalization for the detection of platinum in the perilymph are to be determined and the additional detection of inflammation-induced proteins will be enabled. Moreover, the sensory cochlear electrode will be adapted for the detection of local dexamethasone concentrations, thereby providing the first approach for real-time, in-ear measurement of therapeutic agents.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 298: Safety Integrated and Infection Reactive Implants
• Applicant Institution: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Thomas Lenarz; Professor Dr.-Ing. Hans Jürgen Maier; Privatdozent Dr. Nils Kristian Prenzler