Analytical generation of parameters for in-vivo lumped-parameter models of implanted and normal cochleae

This paper presents a methodology and the key equations for generation of RC lumped-parameter (LP) models that represent electrical properties within an in-vivo electrically stimulated guinea-pig cochlea over any user-definable extent of its length (frequency range). The model eliminates discontinuities in the low-frequency piece-wise-linear (PWL) model introduced by Suesserman and Spelman (SS) (1993) and agrees well with their simulations based on in-vivo cochlear impedance data from a guinea-pig. The methodology can be qualitatively extended across species allowing for computationally efficient studies of architectural and stimulation issues in minimum-crosstalk multielectrode cochlear implants. Opportunities for system design include integration within low cost multi-level and multi-domain simulation programmes supporting the XSPICE extended description language (XDL) based on C-language models for the study of normal or damaged cochleae