Characterization of metals for Cochlear Implants

The need for Cochlear Implants (CI's) with improved functionality and quality requires new techniques to be used to manufacture the electrode array. Titanium nitride (TiN) is one of the contenders for use as metal in the future CI's, but its characteristics need to be verified, measured and tested. A metal should comply to certain requirements like the ability to deliver enough charge to the nerve ending in the saline environment of the cochlea. TiN is able to withstand a high current density (2.8 mA µm2 ), while aluminium failed due to electromigration; even when coated with TiN. The resistance of a 10mm long and 5µm wide track decreases from 1.08 . 10^4? to 6.9. 10^2? when a combination of Al and TiN is made. This solves the reasonably high resistance of TiN. The self-heating and the change in resistance due to temperature changes (TCR) are measured, because the amount of dissipated heat should stay as low as possible. TiN has a low TCR, 5.9 . 10^-4. Furthermore, the metal must not dissolve in the environment, which can be checked by a (cyclic) voltammetry and by endurance tests. TiN was able to withstand the harsh tests. The improved functionality and quality asks for the addition of transistors to the electrode array. Furthermore, this thesis shows that it is possible to create working npn, NMOS and PMOS transistors with TiN using only 5 masks.

Subject

titanium nitride
cochlear implants
bicmos
CI
hearing aids
electrode array

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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:0755603e-3c32-4dae-9628-de50881ba8e5

Embargo date

2013-05-07

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Student theses

Document type

master thesis

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Final.pdf

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