论文标题
全光检查植入物
All-Optical Cochlear Implants
论文作者
论文摘要
在目前的工作中，我们引入了一种新型的人工耳蜗（CI）结构，即全光CI（AOCI），该结构将声学直接转换为能够刺激耳蜗神经元的光学信号。首先，我们描述了AOCI的建筑块（BB），并解释其功能及其互连。接下来，我们提出了一个综合系统模型，该模型结合了每个BB的技术特征和约束，透射光通道特殊性，即光路 - 损失和外部植入设备的随机指向error以及人工耳蜗神经元生物学特性。此外，为了证明AOCI结构的可行性，我们进行了链接预算分析，该分析为在耳蜗神经元上发出的瞬时和平均光子通量输出新型的闭合表达式。同样，我们定义了三个新的钥匙绩效指导者（KPI），即听力的可能性，错误听力的可能性以及神经损害的可能性。提出的理论框架通过各自的模拟进行了验证，该模拟不仅量化了所提出的体系结构的效率，而且还揭示了光传递功率与患者的安全性以及AOCI BBS规格之间的平衡。最后，强调的是，AOCI方法比传统的顺式绿色更安全。
In the present work, we introduce a novel cochlear implant (CI) architecture, namely all-optical CI (AOCI), which directly converts acoustic to optical signals capable of stimulating the cochlear neurons. First, we describe the building-blocks (BBs) of the AOCI, and explain their functionalities as well as their interconnections. Next, we present a comprehensive system model that incorporates the technical characteristics and constraints of each BB, the transdermal-optical-channel particularities, i.e. optical path-loss and external-implanted device stochastic pointing-errors, and the cochlear neurons biological properties. Additionally, in order to prove the feasibility of the AOCI architecture, we conduct a link-budget analysis that outputs novel closed-form expressions for the instantaneous and average photon flux that is emitted on the cochlear neurons. Likewise, we define three new key-performance-indicators (KPIs), namely probability of hearing, probability of false-hearing, and probability of neural damage. The proposed theoretical framework is verified through respective simulations, which not only quantify the efficiency of the proposed architecture, but also reveal an equilibrium between the optical transmission power and the patient's safety, as well as the AOCI BBs specifications. Finally, it is highlighted that the AOCI approach is greener and safer than the conventional CIs.
