Bionic cochlea

摘要

A bionic cochlea includes a fluid filled vessel having a flexible window disposed in one of its walls. The flexible window flexes when exposed to an acoustic pulse to produce an acoustic pressure pulse in the fluid inside the vessel. A plurality of piezoelectric nanowires is disposed within the fluid filled vessel. The piezoelectric nanowires vibrate in response to acoustic pressure pulses transmitting through the fluid and produce electrical signals. Electrical wires in communication with the piezoelectric nanowires receive the produced electrical signals and pass these signals to the mammalian auditory nerve.

主权项

1. A bionic cochlea comprising:
an enclosed fluid filled vessel comprising walls, each of the walls having an interior surface; a flexible first window disposed in one of the walls, the material and thickness of the first window selected to flex locally relative to the walls of the fluid filled vessel when exposed to an acoustic pulse to produce an acoustic pressure pulse in the fluid inside the vessel; a plurality of piezoelectric nanowires disposed within the fluid filled vessel and extending from the walls of the fluid filled vessel, each of the nanowires having one end fixed to one of the interior surfaces and an unattached second end extending into the interior of the vessel, the length of each of the nanowires configured selected to vibrate in response to at least one predetermined wavelength in the acoustic pressure pulse, thereby producing an electrical signal; and at least one electrical wire in communication with the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires to receive the produced electrical signals.