Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2013 Jan;56(1):1-6. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2013.56.1.1.

Development of Multichannel Vestibular Prosthesis for Treatment of Bilateral Vestibular Deficiency

• Ahn JH

• KMID: 1426533
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2013.56.1.1

Abstract

Bilateral loss of vestibular sensation from injuries of vestibular hair cells causes individuals suffering poor vision during head movement, postural instability, chronic disequilibrium, and cognitive distraction. A vestibular prosthesis analogous to cochlear implants but designed to modulate vestibular nerve activity during head movement should improve quality of life for these chronically dizzy individuals. An implantable prosthesis that partly restores normal activity on branches of the vestibular nerve should improve quality of life for individuals disabled by this disorder. There have been many efforts to develop and restore 3-dimensional angular vestibule-ocular reflex and the Johns Hopkins vestibular neuro-engineering laboratory has been developing a head-mounted multichannel vestibular prosthesis that restores sufficient semicircular canal function to partially recreate a normal 3-dimensional angular vestibulo-ocular reflex. In this review, their results are described.

Keyword

Dizziness; Hypofunction; Implant; Labyrinth; Prosthesis; Vestibular

MeSH Terms

Cochlear Implants
Dizziness
Ear, Inner
Hair Cells, Vestibular
Head Movements
Prostheses and Implants
Quality of Life
Reflex
Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular
Semicircular Canals
Sensation
Stress, Psychological
Vestibular Nerve
Vision, Ocular