A bone-guided cochlear implant CMOS microsystem preserving acoustic hearing

In this paper, a bone-guided cochlear implant (BGCI) SOC microsystem is proposed and designed. The BGCI microsystem uses four or more electrodes placed on the bone surface of the cochlea and one on the round window to preserve partially the acoustic hearing. The external SOC of the BGCI processes the acoustic signals and generates stimulation patterns and command that are transmitted to the implanted chip through the 13.56MHz wireless power and bidirectional data telemetry. The implanted chip with 4-channel high-voltage-tolerant stimulator generates biphasic stimulation currents up to 800μA and sends back the power indication and electrode impedance error signals to the external SOC. Electrical tests on the fabricated BGCI has been performed. The in-vivo animal tests on guinea pigs has shown the evoked Wave III of EABR waveforms. The proposed BGCI can be applied to patients with high-frequency hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness.