An integrated vestibular-cochlear prosthesis for restoring balance and hearing

An integrated vestibular-cochlear implant can be rapidly prototyped and clinically tested by modifying an existing modern cochlear implant. The modifications include addition of gyroscope sensors and reallocation of several electrodes that are normally used for auditory nerve stimulation to the semicircular canals, while sharing the external DSP processor and the internal receiver/stimulator. This paper discusses the validation issues related to hardware and software design that arise in integrating electric hearing and balance onto a single device. The device´s initially targeted population will be deaf individuals who also have vestibular impairment since there is a strong ethical justification for vestibular implantation along with minimal additional surgical risk. Because of widespread usage of ototoxic drugs and unique genetic mutations, the patient population with both impaired hearing and balance function is especially prevalent in Asian countries such as China and India. Should such an integrated vestibular-cochlear implant be verified, it could be used to restore balance or treat a wide array of vestibular disorders.