Signal processing for a vestibular neurostimulator.

An implanted vestibular neurostimulator has been developed based on commercial cochlear implant technology. It has been implanted chronically in Rhesus monkeys and the physiology of electrical stimulation of the vestibular periphery has been studied. We are currently proposing a human feasibility study of implantation of the device for the treatment of incapacitating Meniere's disease. Because no animal model of Meniere's disease exists, signal processing for such a device must be based on prior observations of human subjects who have suffered Meniere's attacks while their eye-movements could be quantified. Based on such data, and on the leading theories for the pathophysiology of a Meniere's attack, our animal data suggests that fixed amplitude, constant frequency biphasic pulse trains should be adequate to suppress the symptoms of an attack when they occur. The intensity of the stimuli and efficacy of vertigo suppression should be readily modulated either by amplitude or frequency adjustments.