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Neurotechnology & Hearing Rehabilitation

From cochlear implants to direct neural auditory interfaces

Description

The Neurotechnology & Hearing Rehabilitation Research Program at INI Hannover integrates otorhinolaryngology, neurosurgery, neuroscience and neurotechnology with the objective of restoring hearing in severe forms of hearing loss and developing novel interfaces with the auditory nervous system.

The program spans the Cochlear Implant (CI), Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI), Auditory Midbrain Implant (AMI) and the newly developed Auditory Nerve Implant (ANI).

Its central areas include the advancement of implantable neuroprostheses, precise microsurgical implantation techniques, optimization of electrical stimulation of neural structures and individualized postoperative hearing rehabilitation.

By closely integrating ENT surgery and neurosurgery with neurophysiology, imaging, signal processing and neuroengineering, the program aims both to improve established hearing implants and to develop and clinically translate new generations of neural auditory interfaces.

Key Research Areas

Advancement of cochlear implant treatment for severe hearing loss and deafness. Key areas include implantation techniques, electrode design, individualized electrical stimulation and functional hearing rehabilitation.
Direct electrical stimulation of auditory structures in the brainstem in patients for whom stimulation through the cochlea and auditory nerve is not possible. Research focuses include microsurgical implantation, electrode positioning, neurophysiology and functional hearing outcomes.
Research into central auditory neuroprostheses targeting the auditory midbrain. The AMI extends the concept of neural hearing implants to higher levels of the central auditory pathway.
Development of a novel neural auditory prosthesis for direct intraneural stimulation of the auditory nerve. Highly miniaturized penetrating microelectrodes are designed to enable spatially differentiated activation of neural fiber populations.
Investigation of neural responses to electrical stimulation along the auditory pathway. Objective neurophysiological measurements are intended to improve electrode positioning, stimulation parameters and individualized fitting.
Investigation of adaptive and reorganizational processes within the brain following restoration of auditory information and development of individualized rehabilitation strategies.
Development and translation of novel electrodes, implantable stimulation systems, neural interfaces and signal-processing technologies.