Cochlear Implants: Identifying Current Paths through Computational Modelling of MRI Data. The Cochlear implant is an Australian invention (first prototype 1978), leading to the formation of Cochlear Ltd. to commercialise it. Cochlear Ltd. has now delivered implants to over 60,000 people in 70 nations across the world. Copycat companies have arisen overseas, but Cochlear Ltd. remains the market leader, due to their commitment to ongoing R&D. The present project involves magnetic resonance imaging ....Cochlear Implants: Identifying Current Paths through Computational Modelling of MRI Data. The Cochlear implant is an Australian invention (first prototype 1978), leading to the formation of Cochlear Ltd. to commercialise it. Cochlear Ltd. has now delivered implants to over 60,000 people in 70 nations across the world. Copycat companies have arisen overseas, but Cochlear Ltd. remains the market leader, due to their commitment to ongoing R&D. The present project involves magnetic resonance imaging and finite element analysis to study the current leakage pathways in the cranial cavity for the purpose of optimizing the design and placement of the return electrode. The obvious benefit of this is longer battery life. Better understanding of current leakage over other intracranial nerves is the other anticipated benefit.Read moreRead less
Smart Algorithms Linking Medical Image Data and Measures of Dysfunction. Losing sight has a profound affect on a person's quality of life. Advances in devices that monitor vision have not been matched by advances in computer software that analyses data from those devices. This project will combine computer science, visual neuroscience and clinical expertise to devise algorithms and build software that will vastly improve clinician's abilities to diagnose and monitor vision loss. In turn, this wi ....Smart Algorithms Linking Medical Image Data and Measures of Dysfunction. Losing sight has a profound affect on a person's quality of life. Advances in devices that monitor vision have not been matched by advances in computer software that analyses data from those devices. This project will combine computer science, visual neuroscience and clinical expertise to devise algorithms and build software that will vastly improve clinician's abilities to diagnose and monitor vision loss. In turn, this will dramatically improve the chances of those with diseases such as glaucoma to preserve their sight into old age. Furthermore, outcomes from this project will inform the development bionic eye technologies, which will assist those with eye diseases such as retinis pigmantosa and age-related macular degeneration to see.Read moreRead less
Enhanced ultrasound-based imaging using image-based registration and acoustic impedance reconstruction. The project will nurture the development of a new centre for medical image analysis work in Australia at the ANU. This is in line with the vision of ANU's Department of Engineering for the growth of biomedical engineering research. The project is directed at the creation of new surgical and imaging techniques based on ultrasound. These will have a direct effect on improved healthcare and new c ....Enhanced ultrasound-based imaging using image-based registration and acoustic impedance reconstruction. The project will nurture the development of a new centre for medical image analysis work in Australia at the ANU. This is in line with the vision of ANU's Department of Engineering for the growth of biomedical engineering research. The project is directed at the creation of new surgical and imaging techniques based on ultrasound. These will have a direct effect on improved healthcare and new clinical procedures. The creation of a new ultrasound imaging modality will have commercial applications, enhancing the growth of biomedical engineering in Australia. The training of new PhD students and postdoctoral fellows will provide a basis for further development in this area, and its extension to other imaging research in Australia. Read moreRead less
Individualized cochlear implant sound coding: Optimized algorithms for better hearing. One in six Australians is affected by hearing loss. Hearing loss impacts on a person's educational and employment opportunities, resulting in a significant economic impact upon Australia. Over 10% of people with hearing impairment have a severe or profound hearing loss and may be candidates for a cochlear implant. Current cochlear implant sound processing only offers limited benefit to users. This project repr ....Individualized cochlear implant sound coding: Optimized algorithms for better hearing. One in six Australians is affected by hearing loss. Hearing loss impacts on a person's educational and employment opportunities, resulting in a significant economic impact upon Australia. Over 10% of people with hearing impairment have a severe or profound hearing loss and may be candidates for a cochlear implant. Current cochlear implant sound processing only offers limited benefit to users. This project represents a truly innovative pathway forward in the development of cochlear implant sound coding that could substantially increase the speech perception of users, enabling these people to become and remain active and productive members of our community.Read moreRead less
Micromachined electrode arrays for improved performance and manufacturability of cochlear neuroprostheses. The cochlear implant for the deaf, and bionic eye for the blind are two devices where Australian researchers possess considerable expertise. Benefit can be had from collaborative research between these non-competing scientific fields. Microelectrodes is an area wherein overcoming the unique requirements of one field offers new opportunities in the other. We aim to enhance Australia's leader ....Micromachined electrode arrays for improved performance and manufacturability of cochlear neuroprostheses. The cochlear implant for the deaf, and bionic eye for the blind are two devices where Australian researchers possess considerable expertise. Benefit can be had from collaborative research between these non-competing scientific fields. Microelectrodes is an area wherein overcoming the unique requirements of one field offers new opportunities in the other. We aim to enhance Australia's leadership in cochlear implants by applying decade-long research on electrode fabrication techniques for the bionic eye into 3D shapes for the cochlea. Furthermore, we aim to further improve the effectiveness, safety and reliability of the cochlear implant while facilitating increased electrode numbers.Read moreRead less
Novel Neural Interfaces and Instrumentation for Stimulation and Monitoring of Retinal Activation in an Epiretinal Vision Prosthesis. Australia's reputation in medical neuroprostheses is second to none with the most notable example being the 'bionic ear' for the deaf. This research compliments that reputation by advancing science and engineering knowledge towards achieving a truly beneficial prosthesis for the blind, a 'bionic eye'. This research will also advance our capacity to address other a ....Novel Neural Interfaces and Instrumentation for Stimulation and Monitoring of Retinal Activation in an Epiretinal Vision Prosthesis. Australia's reputation in medical neuroprostheses is second to none with the most notable example being the 'bionic ear' for the deaf. This research compliments that reputation by advancing science and engineering knowledge towards achieving a truly beneficial prosthesis for the blind, a 'bionic eye'. This research will also advance our capacity to address other areas of therapeutic medical implants including those for limb movement to the paralysed. Benefits to the community include the very real possibility of restoring some visual capacity to the blind thus improving their quality of life through improved mobility, social interaction, and mental health. Read moreRead less
The kinematics of the anterior eye deformation. This project has a potential to benefit Australia from a number of perspectives. The outcomes will provide ophthalmologists and optometrists with currently unavailable knowledge on dynamic behaviour of eye. In particular the research will identify aspects of corneal deformation that in turn will help improve the accuracy of refractive surgeries and aid in the management of glaucoma. Also, the knowledge generated through this project will be of valu ....The kinematics of the anterior eye deformation. This project has a potential to benefit Australia from a number of perspectives. The outcomes will provide ophthalmologists and optometrists with currently unavailable knowledge on dynamic behaviour of eye. In particular the research will identify aspects of corneal deformation that in turn will help improve the accuracy of refractive surgeries and aid in the management of glaucoma. Also, the knowledge generated through this project will be of value to engineers designing advanced clinical instrument for measuring eye parameters. Read moreRead less
Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing abili ....Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing ability of future patients. The 'bionic ear' was invented in Australia and this project will help to ensure the continued success of Australia's world leading implant industry.Read moreRead less
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential ....Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. This project will develop biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for future generations of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Applications include the reduction in overall toxicity of chemo- and radio- therapy by magnetic target drug delivery, enhanced ability to detect and diagnose diseases using magnetic binding/sorting techniques and an enhanced ability to repair detached retinas. The development of these products provides the potential for the development of new commercial opportunities in biotechnology and biomedical science in which Australia has an excellent track record. The project will also enhance Australia's capabilities in both nanotechnologiocal and biotechnological sciences.Read moreRead less
Image processing techniques for artificial human vision systems. Blindness affects millions of people worldwide and over 100,000 Australians. Our project supports quality of life improvements for them by developing image processing techniques necessary for artificial human vision systems: "bionic eyes". Our approach will extract the most visually informative content in a scene,allowing low resolution images to be generated which optimise usage of the limited number of eletrodes available in prot ....Image processing techniques for artificial human vision systems. Blindness affects millions of people worldwide and over 100,000 Australians. Our project supports quality of life improvements for them by developing image processing techniques necessary for artificial human vision systems: "bionic eyes". Our approach will extract the most visually informative content in a scene,allowing low resolution images to be generated which optimise usage of the limited number of eletrodes available in prototype bionic eye implants. Psychophysical tests presenting such modified images to normally sighted participants will verify the effectiveness of this approach. The techniques developed will provide a real-time image processing toolkit for visual protheses, with significant commercial and social benefits including enhancement of Australilia's neuroprostheses industry profile.Read moreRead less