Abstract
An intracochlear lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) micro-actuator can complement a cochlear implant electrode array to rehabilitate hearing loss patients with enhanced speech recognition. The presence of the intracochlear micro-actuator has significantly altered the cochlear dynamics, because the actuation now results from the micro-actuator instead of the stapes. To understand sound induction mechanisms by the micro-actuator, we design a test rig that mimics the box model of a human cochlea. The test rig consists of two connected fluid canals, one aluminum membrane sandwiched between the canals, and a PZT thin-film micro-actuator. Frequency response functions of the micro-actuator and the aluminum membrane are measured using a laser Doppler vibrometer and a spectrum analyzer. Measurements are taken when the micro-actuator is in air, in a petri dish surrounded by oil, and in the fluid canals inside the test rig. When the micro-actuator is moved from the petri dish (i.e., an open environment) to the inside of the fluid canals (i.e., a closed environment), the natural frequency and static gain of the micro-actuator both drop significantly indicating substantial increase in stiffness and inertia. A possible reason for the change, which remains to be confirmed, is the squeeze film effect from the fluid between the micro-actuator and the aluminum membrane.
