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Soto E, Pliego A, Vega R. Vestibular prosthesis: from basic research to clinics. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1161860. [PMID: 37265514 PMCID: PMC10230114 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1161860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Balance disorders are highly prevalent worldwide, causing substantial disability with high personal and socioeconomic impact. The prognosis in many of these patients is poor, and rehabilitation programs provide little help in many cases. This medical problem can be addressed using microelectronics by combining the highly successful cochlear implant experience to produce a vestibular prosthesis, using the technical advances in micro gyroscopes and micro accelerometers, which are the electronic equivalents of the semicircular canals (SCC) and the otolithic organs. Reaching this technological milestone fostered the possibility of using these electronic devices to substitute the vestibular function, mainly for visual stability and posture, in case of damage to the vestibular endorgans. The development of implantable and non-implantable devices showed diverse outcomes when considering the integrity of the vestibular pathways, the device parameters (current intensity, impedance, and waveform), and the targeted physiological function (balance and gaze). In this review, we will examine the development and testing of various prototypes of the vestibular implant (VI). The insight raised by examining the state-of-the-art vestibular prosthesis will facilitate the development of new device-development strategies and discuss the feasibility of complex combinations of implantable devices for disorders that directly affect balance and motor performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Soto
- Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Instituto de Fisiología, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Adriana Pliego
- Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Instituto de Fisiología, Puebla, Mexico
- Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx), Facultad de Medicina, Toluca, Mexico
| | - Rosario Vega
- Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Instituto de Fisiología, Puebla, Mexico
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2
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Hazen M, Cushing SL. Vestibular Evaluation and Management of Children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2021; 54:1241-1251. [PMID: 34774232 DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Vestibular dysfunction is the most common comorbidity associated with childhood sensorineural hearing loss. Early identification of vestibular dysfunction enables early intervention to mitigate its impact of motor, behavioral, and neurocognitive deficits of developing children. Screening for vestibular impairment can be achieved in the busy clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Hazen
- Department of Communication Disorders, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University of Toronto, 6103C Burton Wing, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8, Canada; Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto; Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto
| | - Sharon L Cushing
- Department of Communication Disorders, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University of Toronto, 6103C Burton Wing, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8, Canada; Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto; Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto; Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto.
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3
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Hazen M, Cushing SL. Implications of Concurrent Vestibular Dysfunction in Pediatric Hearing Loss. CURRENT OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40136-020-00298-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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4
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Wolter NE, Gordon KA, Campos JL, Vilchez Madrigal LD, Pothier DD, Hughes CO, Papsin BC, Cushing SL. BalanCI: Head-Referenced Cochlear Implant Stimulation Improves Balance in Children with Bilateral Cochleovestibular Loss. Audiol Neurootol 2019; 25:60-71. [PMID: 31678979 DOI: 10.1159/000503135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To determine the impact of a head-referenced cochlear implant (CI) stimulation system, BalanCI, on balance and postural control in children with bilateral cochleovestibular loss (BCVL) who use bilateral CI. METHODS Prospective, blinded case-control study. Balance and postural control testing occurred in two settings: (1) quiet clinical setting and (2) immersive realistic virtual environment (Challenging Environment Assessment Laboratory [CEAL], Toronto Rehabilitation Institute). Postural control was assessed in 16 and balance in 10 children with BCVL who use bilateral CI, along with 10 typically developing children. Children with neuromotor, cognitive, or visual deficits that would prevent them from performing the tests were excluded. Children wore the BalanCI, which is a head-mounted device that couples with their CIs through the audio port and provides head-referenced spatial information delivered via the intracochlear electrode array. Postural control was measured by center of pressure (COP) and time to fall using the WiiTM (Nintendo, WA, USA) Balance Board for feet and the BalanCI for head, during the administration of the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction in Balance (CTSIB-M). The COP of the head and feet were assessed for change by deviation, measured as root mean square around the COP (COP-RMS), rate of deviation (COP-RMS/duration), and rate of path length change from center (COP-velocity). Balance was assessed by the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2, balance subtest (BOT-2), specifically, BOT-2 score as well as time to fall/fault. RESULTS In the virtual environment, children demonstrated more stable balance when using BalanCI as measured by an improvement in BOT-2 scores. In a quiet clinical setting, the use of BalanCI led to improved postural control as demonstrated by significant reductions in COP-RMS and COP-velocity. With the use of BalanCI, the number of falls/faults was significantly reduced and time to fall increased. CONCLUSIONS BalanCI is a simple and effective means of improving postural control and balance in children with BCVL who use bilateral CI. BalanCI could potentially improve the safety of these children, reduce the effort they expend maintaining balance and allow them to take part in more complex balance tasks where sensory information may be limited and/or noisy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus E Wolter
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen A Gordon
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Communication Disorders, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer L Campos
- KITE, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - David D Pothier
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Advanced Hearing and Balance Testing, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cían O Hughes
- UCL Ear Institute, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Blake C Papsin
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sharon L Cushing
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, .,Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, .,Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, .,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
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5
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Sluydts M, Curthoys I, Vanspauwen R, Papsin BC, Cushing SL, Ramos A, Ramos de Miguel A, Borkoski Barreiro S, Barbara M, Manrique M, Zarowski A. Electrical Vestibular Stimulation in Humans: A Narrative Review. Audiol Neurootol 2019; 25:6-24. [PMID: 31533097 DOI: 10.1159/000502407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In patients with bilateral vestibulopathy, the regular treatment options, such as medication, surgery, and/or vestibular rehabilitation, do not always suffice. Therefore, the focus in this field of vestibular research shifted to electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS) and the development of a system capable of artificially restoring the vestibular function. Key Message: Currently, three approaches are being investigated: vestibular co-stimulation with a cochlear implant (CI), EVS with a vestibular implant (VI), and galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS). All three applications show promising results but due to conceptual differences and the experimental state, a consensus on which application is the most ideal for which type of patient is still missing. SUMMARY Vestibular co-stimulation with a CI is based on "spread of excitation," which is a phenomenon that occurs when the currents from the CI spread to the surrounding structures and stimulate them. It has been shown that CI activation can indeed result in stimulation of the vestibular structures. Therefore, the question was raised whether vestibular co-stimulation can be functionally used in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy. A more direct vestibular stimulation method can be accomplished by implantation and activation of a VI. The concept of the VI is based on the technology and principles of the CI. Different VI prototypes are currently being evaluated regarding feasibility and functionality. So far, all of them were capable of activating different types of vestibular reflexes. A third stimulation method is GVS, which requires the use of surface electrodes instead of an implanted electrode array. However, as the currents are sent through the skull from one mastoid to the other, GVS is rather unspecific. It should be mentioned though, that the reported spread of excitation in both CI and VI use also seems to induce a more unspecific stimulation. Although all three applications of EVS were shown to be effective, it has yet to be defined which option is more desirable based on applicability and efficiency. It is possible and even likely that there is a place for all three approaches, given the diversity of the patient population who serves to gain from such technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgana Sluydts
- European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, GZA Hospitals Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium,
| | - Ian Curthoys
- Vestibular Research Laboratory, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robby Vanspauwen
- European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, GZA Hospitals Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Blake Croll Papsin
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sharon Lynn Cushing
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angel Ramos
- Hearing Loss Unit, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Department, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Angel Ramos de Miguel
- Hearing Loss Unit, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Department, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Silvia Borkoski Barreiro
- Hearing Loss Unit, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Department, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil, Las Palmas of Gran Canaria, Spain
| | | | - Manuel Manrique
- Otorhinolaryngology Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Andrzej Zarowski
- European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, GZA Hospitals Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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van de Berg R, Lucieer F, Guinand N, van Tongeren J, George E, Guyot JP, Kingma H, van Hoof M, Temel Y, van Overbeeke J, Perez-Fornos A, Stokroos R. The Vestibular Implant: Hearing Preservation during Intralabyrinthine Electrode Insertion-A Case Report. Front Neurol 2017; 8:137. [PMID: 28443060 PMCID: PMC5385458 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The vestibular implant seems feasible as a clinically useful device in the near future. However, hearing preservation during intralabyrinthine implantation remains a challenge. It should be preserved to be able to treat patients with bilateral vestibulopathy and (partially) intact hearing. This case study investigated the feasibility of hearing preservation during the acute phase after electrode insertion in the semicircular canals. Methods A 40-year-old woman with normal hearing underwent a translabyrinthine approach for a vestibular schwannoma Koos Grade IV. Hearing was monitored using auditory brainstem response audiometry (ABR). ABR signals were recorded synchronously to video recordings of the surgery. Following the principles of soft surgery, a conventional dummy electrode was inserted in the lateral semicircular canal for several minutes and subsequently removed. The same procedure was then applied for the posterior canal. Finally, the labyrinthectomy was completed, and the schwannoma was removed. Results Surgery was performed without complications. No leakage of endolymph and no significant reduction of ABR response were observed during insertion and after removal of the electrodes from the semicircular canals, indicting no damage to the peripheral auditory function. The ABR response significantly changed when the semicircular canals were completely opened during the labyrinthectomy. This was indicated by a change in the morphology and latency of peak V of the ABR signal. Conclusion Electrode insertion in the semicircular canals is possible without acutely damaging the peripheral auditory function measured with ABR, as shown in this proof-of-principle clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond van de Berg
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Florence Lucieer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Nils Guinand
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joost van Tongeren
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Erwin George
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Jean-Philippe Guyot
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Herman Kingma
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Marc van Hoof
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Yasin Temel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Jacobus van Overbeeke
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Angelica Perez-Fornos
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Robert Stokroos
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
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7
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Perez Fornos A, Cavuscens S, Ranieri M, van de Berg R, Stokroos R, Kingma H, Guyot JP, Guinand N. The vestibular implant: A probe in orbit around the human balance system. J Vestib Res 2017; 27:51-61. [DOI: 10.3233/ves-170604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Perez Fornos
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Service of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Cavuscens
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Service of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maurizio Ranieri
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Service of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Raymond van de Berg
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Balance Disorders, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University, Russian Federation
| | - Robert Stokroos
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Service of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Herman Kingma
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Balance Disorders, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University, Russian Federation
| | - Jean-Philippe Guyot
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Service of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nils Guinand
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Service of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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8
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Gay A, Guinand N, Miffon M, Guyot JP. Perception of Discomfort Caused by a Unilateral Hearing Loss in People Suffering from a Total Bilateral Vestibular Loss. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2015; 77:248-253. [DOI: 10.1159/000433552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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9
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Lewis RF. Vestibular Prostheses Investigated in Animal Models. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2015; 77:219-226. [PMID: 26366706 DOI: 10.1159/000433551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Loss of peripheral vestibular function results in debilitating postural, perceptual, and visual symptoms. A new approach to treating this clinical problem is to replace some aspects of peripheral vestibular function with a prosthesis that senses head motion and provides this information to the brain by stimulating the vestibular nerve. In this paper, I review studies done in animals over the past 15 years which lay the groundwork for transferring this approach to human patients with severe peripheral vestibular damage. The animal studies demonstrate that the visual and perceptual defects associated with peripheral vestibular damage can be improved with a vestibular implant, but the data on postural control remain less conclusive at this point in time.
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10
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Guinand N, van de Berg R, Cavuscens S, Stokroos RJ, Ranieri M, Pelizzone M, Kingma H, Guyot JP, Perez-Fornos A. Vestibular Implants: 8 Years of Experience with Electrical Stimulation of the Vestibular Nerve in 11 Patients with Bilateral Vestibular Loss. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2015; 77:227-240. [PMID: 26367113 DOI: 10.1159/000433554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concept of the vestibular implant is primarily to artificially restore the vestibular function in patients with a bilateral vestibular loss (BVL) by providing the central nervous system with motion information using electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerve. Our group initiated human trials about 10 years ago. METHODS Between 2007 and 2013, 11 patients with a BVL received a vestibular implant prototype providing electrodes to stimulate the ampullary branches of the vestibular nerve. Eye movements were recorded and analyzed to assess the effects of the electrical stimulation. Perception induced by electrical stimulation was documented. RESULTS Smooth, controlled eye movements were obtained in all patients showing that electrical stimulation successfully activated the vestibulo-ocular pathway. However, both the electrical dynamic range and the amplitude of the eye movements were variable from patient to patient. The axis of the response was consistent with the stimulated nerve branch in 17 out of the 24 tested electrodes. Furthermore, in at least 1 case, the elicited eye movements showed characteristics similar to those of compensatory eye movements observed during natural activities such as walking. Finally, diverse percepts were reported upon electrical stimulation (i.e., rotatory sensations, sound, tickling or pressure) with intensity increasing as the stimulation current increased. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that electrical stimulation is a safe and effective means to activate the vestibular system, even in a heterogeneous patient population with very different etiologies and disease durations. Successful tuning of this information could turn this vestibular implant prototype into a successful artificial balance organ.
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11
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Phillips C, Ling L, Oxford T, Nowack A, Nie K, Rubinstein JT, Phillips JO. Longitudinal performance of an implantable vestibular prosthesis. Hear Res 2015; 322:200-11. [PMID: 25245586 PMCID: PMC4369472 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2014.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Loss of vestibular function may be treatable with an implantable vestibular prosthesis that stimulates semicircular canal afferents with biphasic pulse trains. Several studies have demonstrated short-term activation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) with electrical stimulation. Fewer long-term studies have been restricted to small numbers of animals and stimulation designed to produce adaptive changes in the electrically elicited response. This study is the first large consecutive series of implanted rhesus macaque to be studied longitudinally using brief stimuli designed to limit adaptive changes in response, so that the efficacy of electrical activation can be studied over time, across surgeries, canals and animals. The implantation of a vestibular prosthesis in animals with intact vestibular end organs produces variable responses to electrical stimulation across canals and animals, which change in threshold for electrical activation of eye movements and in elicited slow phase velocities over time. These thresholds are consistently lower, and the slow phase velocities higher, than those obtained in human subjects. The changes do not appear to be correlated with changes in electrode impedance. The variability in response suggests that empirically derived transfer functions may be required to optimize the response of individual canals to a vestibular prosthesis, and that this function may need to be remapped over time. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled .
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leo Ling
- Otolaryngology - HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Trey Oxford
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Amy Nowack
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kaibao Nie
- Otolaryngology - HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jay T Rubinstein
- Otolaryngology - HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - James O Phillips
- Otolaryngology - HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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12
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Phillips JO, Ling L, Nie K, Jameyson E, Phillips CM, Nowack AL, Golub JS, Rubinstein JT. Vestibular implantation and longitudinal electrical stimulation of the semicircular canal afferents in human subjects. J Neurophysiol 2015; 113:3866-92. [PMID: 25652917 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00171.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal experiments and limited data in humans suggest that electrical stimulation of the vestibular end organs could be used to treat loss of vestibular function. In this paper we demonstrate that canal-specific two-dimensionally (2D) measured eye velocities are elicited from intermittent brief 2 s biphasic pulse electrical stimulation in four human subjects implanted with a vestibular prosthesis. The 2D measured direction of the slow phase eye movements changed with the canal stimulated. Increasing pulse current over a 0-400 μA range typically produced a monotonic increase in slow phase eye velocity. The responses decremented or in some cases fluctuated over time in most implanted canals but could be partially restored by changing the return path of the stimulation current. Implantation of the device in Meniere's patients produced hearing and vestibular loss in the implanted ear. Electrical stimulation was well tolerated, producing no sensation of pain, nausea, or auditory percept with stimulation that elicited robust eye movements. There were changes in slow phase eye velocity with current and over time, and changes in electrically evoked compound action potentials produced by stimulation and recorded with the implanted device. Perceived rotation in subjects was consistent with the slow phase eye movements in direction and scaled with stimulation current in magnitude. These results suggest that electrical stimulation of the vestibular end organ in human subjects provided controlled vestibular inputs over time, but in Meniere's patients this apparently came at the cost of hearing and vestibular function in the implanted ear.
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Affiliation(s)
- James O Phillips
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Leo Ling
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| | - Kaibao Nie
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Elyse Jameyson
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Christopher M Phillips
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| | - Amy L Nowack
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| | - Justin S Golub
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jay T Rubinstein
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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13
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van de Berg R, Guinand N, Nguyen TAK, Ranieri M, Cavuscens S, Guyot JP, Stokroos R, Kingma H, Perez-Fornos A. The vestibular implant: frequency-dependency of the electrically evoked vestibulo-ocular reflex in humans. Front Syst Neurosci 2015; 8:255. [PMID: 25653601 PMCID: PMC4299437 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) shows frequency-dependent behavior. This study investigated whether the characteristics of the electrically evoked VOR (eVOR) elicited by a vestibular implant, showed the same frequency-dependency. Twelve vestibular electrodes implanted in seven patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) were tested. Stimuli consisted of amplitude-modulated electrical stimulation with a sinusoidal profile at frequencies of 0.5, 1, and 2 Hz. The main characteristics of the eVOR were evaluated and compared to the “natural” VOR characteristics measured in a group of age-matched healthy volunteers who were subjected to horizontal whole body rotations with equivalent sinusoidal velocity profiles at the same frequencies. A strong and significant effect of frequency was observed in the total peak eye velocity of the eVOR. This effect was similar to that observed in the “natural” VOR. Other characteristics of the (e)VOR (angle, habituation-index, and asymmetry) showed no significant frequency-dependent effect. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that, at least at the specific (limited) frequency range tested, responses elicited by a vestibular implant closely mimic the frequency-dependency of the “normal” vestibular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond van de Berg
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht, Netherlands ; Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University Tomsk, Russia
| | - Nils Guinand
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals Geneva, Switzerland
| | - T A Khoa Nguyen
- Translational Neural Engineering Lab, Center for Neuroprosthetics, Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maurizio Ranieri
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Cavuscens
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Philippe Guyot
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Robert Stokroos
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Herman Kingma
- Division of Balance Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht, Netherlands ; Faculty of Physics, Tomsk State University Tomsk, Russia
| | - Angelica Perez-Fornos
- Service of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals Geneva, Switzerland
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Abstract
HYPOTHESIS A functional vestibular prosthesis can be implanted in human such that electrical stimulation of each semicircular canal produces canal-specific eye movements while preserving vestibular and auditory function. BACKGROUND A number of vestibular disorders could be treated with prosthetic stimulation of the vestibular end organs. We have previously demonstrated in rhesus monkeys that a vestibular neurostimulator, based on the Nucleus Freedom cochlear implant, can produce canal-specific electrically evoked eye movements while preserving auditory and vestibular function. An investigational device exemption has been obtained from the FDA to study the feasibility of treating uncontrolled Ménière's disease with the device. METHODS The UW/Nucleus vestibular implant was implanted in the perilymphatic space adjacent to the three semicircular canal ampullae of a human subject with uncontrolled Ménière's disease. Preoperative and postoperative vestibular and auditory function was assessed. Electrically evoked eye movements were measured at 2 time points postoperatively. RESULTS Implantation of all semicircular canals was technically feasible. Horizontal canal and auditory function were largely, but not totally, lost. Electrode stimulation in 2 of 3 canals resulted in canal-appropriate eye movements. Over time, stimulation thresholds increased. CONCLUSION Prosthetic implantation of the semicircular canals in humans is technically feasible. Electrical stimulation resulted in canal-specific eye movements, although thresholds increased over time. Preservation of native auditory and vestibular function, previously observed in animals, was not demonstrated in a single subject with advanced Ménière's disease.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To summarize the recent progress in the development of vestibular implants. The review is timely because of the recent advances in the field and because MED-EL has recently announced that they are developing a vestibular implant for clinical applications. RECENT FINDINGS The handicap experienced by patients suffering from bilateral vestibulopathy has a strong negative impact on physical and social functioning that appears to justify a surgical intervention. Two different surgical approaches to insert electrodes to stimulate ampullary neurons have been shown to be viable. The three-dimensional vestibulo-ocular reflex in rhesus monkeys produced with a three-dimensional vestibular implant showed gains that were relatively normal during acute stimulation. Rotation cues provided by an implant interact with otolith cues in a qualitatively normal manner. The brain appears to adapt plastically to the cues provided via artificial electrical stimulation. SUMMARY Research to date includes just a few human studies, but available data from both humans and animals support the technological and physiological feasibility of vestibular implants. Although vestibular implant users should not expect normal vestibular function - any more than cochlear implant users should expect normal hearing - data suggest that significant functional improvements are possible.
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Davidovics NS, Rahman MA, Dai C, Ahn J, Fridman GY, Della Santina CC. Multichannel vestibular prosthesis employing modulation of pulse rate and current with alignment precompensation elicits improved VOR performance in monkeys. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2013; 14:233-48. [PMID: 23355001 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-013-0370-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2012] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
An implantable prosthesis that stimulates vestibular nerve branches to restore the sensation of head rotation and the three-dimensional (3D) vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) could benefit individuals disabled by bilateral loss of vestibular sensation. Our group has developed a vestibular prosthesis that partly restores normal function in animals by delivering biphasic current pulses via electrodes implanted in semicircular canals. Despite otherwise promising results, this approach has been limited by insufficient velocity of VOR response to head movements that should inhibit the implanted labyrinth and by misalignment between direction of head motion and prosthetically elicited VOR. We report that significantly larger VOR eye velocities in the inhibitory direction can be elicited by adapting a monkey to elevated baseline stimulation rate and current prior to stimulus modulation and then concurrently modulating ("co-modulating") both rate and current below baseline levels to encode inhibitory angular head velocity. Co-modulation of pulse rate and current amplitude above baseline can also elicit larger VOR eye responses in the excitatory direction than do either pulse rate modulation or current modulation alone. Combining these stimulation strategies with a precompensatory 3D coordinate transformation improves alignment and magnitude of evoked VOR eye responses. By demonstrating that a combination of co-modulation and precompensatory transformation strategies achieves a robust VOR response in all directions with significantly improved alignment in an animal model that closely resembles humans with vestibular loss, these findings provide a solid preclinical foundation for application of vestibular stimulation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natan S Davidovics
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Nie K, Ling L, Bierer SM, Kaneko CRS, Fuchs AF, Oxford T, Rubinstein JT, Phillips JO. An experimental vestibular neural prosthesis: design and preliminary results with rhesus monkeys stimulated with modulated pulses. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2013; 60:1685-92. [PMID: 23358943 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2013.2241433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A vestibular neural prosthesis was designed on the basis of a cochlear implant for treatment of Meniere's disease and other vestibular disorders. Computer control software was developed to generate patterned pulse stimuli for exploring optimal parameters to activate the vestibular nerve. Two rhesus monkeys were implanted with the prototype vestibular prosthesis and they were behaviorally evaluated post implantation surgery. Horizontal and vertical eye movement responses to patterned electrical pulse stimulations were collected on both monkeys. Pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) and pulse rate modulated (PRM) trains were applied to the lateral canal of each implanted animal. Robust slow-phase nystagmus responses following the PAM or PRM modulation pattern were observed in both implanted monkeys in the direction consistent with the activation of the implanted canal. Both PAM and PRM pulse trains can elicit a significant amount of in-phase modulated eye velocity changes and they could potentially be used for efficiently coding head rotational signals in future vestibular neural prostheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaibao Nie
- Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Electrical Engineering, and Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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