Stimulation efficiency of an actuator driven piston at the biological interface to the inner ear

Direct acoustic cochlear stimulation uses piston motion to substitute for stapes footplate (SFP) motion. The ratio of piston to stapes footplate motion amplitude, to generate the same loudness percept, is an indicator of stimulation efficiency. We determined the relationship between piston displacement to perceived loudness, the achieved maximum power output and investigated stapes fixation and obliteration as confounding factors. The electro-mechanical transfer function of the actuator was determined preoperatively on the bench and intraoperatively by laser Doppler vibrometry. Clinically, perceived loudness as a function of actuator input voltage was calculated from bone conduction thresholds and direct thresholds via the implant. The displacement of a 0.4 mm diameter piston required for a perception equivalent to 94 dB SPL at the tympanic membrane compared to normal SFP piston displacement was 27.6–35.9 dB larger, consistent with the hypothesis that the ratio between areas is responsible for stimulation efficiency. Actuator output was 110 ± 10 eq dB SPL(FF) @1V(rms) ≤ 3 kHz and decreased to 100 eq dB SPL(FF) at 10 kHz. Output was significantly higher for mobile SFPs but independent from obliteration. Our findings from clinical data strongly support the assumption of a geometrical dependency on piston diameter at the biological interface to the cochlea.