Projects

Our research team cooperates with the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (FhG-IAF) in Freiburg in the framework of the BMBF-funded WiVoPro Project „Lichthören“ (project leader Prof. Dr. U. Schwarz). In this context, we are responsible to provide highly flexible substrate materials for an innovative optical cochlear implant based on thin-film light emitting diodes (µLED). These µLEDs are powered using a double-sided metallization embedded in the flexible substrate material. In view of the implantation capability of these new systems into the narrow space of a cochlear, the influence of the metal leads on the mechanical stiffness of the implant has to be minimized maintaining their overall robustness. Within this exploratory research project, the biocompatibility of the encapsulation is of high importance. The project aims for in vivo demonstration of this innovative optical cochlear implant.