Current distributions of intracochlear electrodes in cats [Abstract]

This is an abstract of a paper presented at a symposium on the Mechanisms of Hearing, held at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia from August 23-27, 1983. This version is reproduced with the permission of Monash University Press.A non-invasive technique, "two electrode mapping" has been developed to measure the current distribution of a multichannel electrode array within the feline scala tympani. An electrode’s current distribution is an important determinant of its ability to excite discrete neural groups. The electrode array, a “banded electrode” is a series of platinum rings, supported by a cylinder of silastic which fits freely into the scala tympani. All cats had normal hearing pre-operatively and were implanted through the round window. Hearing was normal within 10 dB after implantation, necessitating the presentation of 30-40 dB white noise to the implanted ear throughout experimentation to mask the electrophonic component (Black et al., 1983)