Hydrogel scaffold to facilitate insertion of modiolar electrode and homogenous delivery of drugs along the cochlea

This project aims to show the feasibility of using hydrogels to improve perimodiolor arrays including, but not limited to, creating a hydrogel scaffold for perimodiolar electrode arrays or creating self-curving perimodiolar arrays. The improved perimodiolar array’s main aim will be to make insertion of modiolar electrode arrays easier by holding it straight pre-insertion. Additional benefit is that the scaffold can be loaded with anti-inflammatory drugs and/or neurotrophins to allow for simultaneous homogenous drug distribution along the cochlear length.