Grant: Idea to Innovation
University of Alberta
$91,565.00
The development of a concha electrode for electrocochleography (ECochG) (I)
FY 2012-13
Summary
More than 600 million people suffer from hearing impairment and the North American hearing services market is a billion dollar market. The impairment is commonly located at cochlea of the inner ear. The electrodes that are currently used to diagnose hearing problems linked to the cochlea and/or hearing nerves are placed in the ear canal. The concha electrode technology described in this application can simultaneously and non-invasively measure electrical responses from the cochlea and hearing nerves. Compared to the ear canal electrode, the concha electrode has many advantages: (i) it is easy to use and the electrode can be seen during use, (ii) it can be used if the ear canal has disorders or swelling due to inflammation or infection, (iii) it does not require extensive cleaning of the ear canal if earwax is present, (iv) it can be used if the ear canal is too sensitive to touch, (v) it is suitable for use with infants, particularly if a child is too young to cooperate, (vi) it avoids potential injuries to the ear canal, and (vii) it saves time in placing the electrode. With these advantages, the concha electrode has many potential applications: (i) measuring cochlear responses, (ii) measuring nerve responses, (iii) infant hearing screening, (iv) assessing adult low-frequency cochlear function, (v) monitoring noise-induced hearing impairment, (vi) monitoring drug-induced hearing impairment, and (vii) monitoring age-related hearing loss/change. This technology can be used everywhere in the world with a minimum of training and is going to be affordable, making it attractive to developing countries. This Phase I study will develop a practical prototype, validate its technical performance in electrocochleography, and perform a comparative study versus the canal electrode. This new technology will improve the standard of care for Canadian patients with hearing loss and balance disorders. It has the potential to have a major impact on the effective screening of Canadian new-borns and infants for rare hearing disorders. It will also potentially strengthen the competitiveness of Canadian firms in this niche market, which are unable to perform fundamental R&D in this area due to its small size of the Canadian market.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
437642-2012
Name nom
Zhang, Ming
Department département
Speech Pathology and Audiology
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2012
Competition year année de concours
2012
Award amount
91565
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1201
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Life sciences (including biotechnology)
Area of application fr
Sciences de la vie (y compris biotechnologie)
Research subject code
1100
Research subject group en
Structural engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie des structures
Research subject en
Structural engineering
Research subject fr
Génie des structures
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
The development of a concha electrode for electrocochleography (ECochG) (I)
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
More than 600 million people suffer from hearing impairment and the North American hearing services market is a billion dollar market. The impairment is commonly located at cochlea of the inner ear. The electrodes that are currently used to diagnose hearing problems linked to the cochlea and/or hearing nerves are placed in the ear canal. The concha electrode technology described in this application can simultaneously and non-invasively measure electrical responses from the cochlea and hearing nerves. Compared to the ear canal electrode, the concha electrode has many advantages: (i) it is easy to use and the electrode can be seen during use, (ii) it can be used if the ear canal has disorders or swelling due to inflammation or infection, (iii) it does not require extensive cleaning of the ear canal if earwax is present, (iv) it can be used if the ear canal is too sensitive to touch, (v) it is suitable for use with infants, particularly if a child is too young to cooperate, (vi) it avoids potential injuries to the ear canal, and (vii) it saves time in placing the electrode. With these advantages, the concha electrode has many potential applications: (i) measuring cochlear responses, (ii) measuring nerve responses, (iii) infant hearing screening, (iv) assessing adult low-frequency cochlear function, (v) monitoring noise-induced hearing impairment, (vi) monitoring drug-induced hearing impairment, and (vii) monitoring age-related hearing loss/change. This technology can be used everywhere in the world with a minimum of training and is going to be affordable, making it attractive to developing countries. This Phase I study will develop a practical prototype, validate its technical performance in electrocochleography, and perform a comparative study versus the canal electrode. This new technology will improve the standard of care for Canadian patients with hearing loss and balance disorders. It has the potential to have a major impact on the effective screening of Canadian new-borns and infants for rare hearing disorders. It will also potentially strengthen the competitiveness of Canadian firms in this niche market, which are unable to perform fundamental R&D in this area due to its small size of the Canadian market.
