Keywords: Vestibular system, vestibular implant, biophysics, vestibular diagnostics

"FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES TO ASSESS AND RESTORE VESTIBULAR FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE BILATERAL VESTIBULAR LOSS"

This research was focused around the artificial balance organ – the vestibular implant (VI). At first, diagnostic tools for vestibular function were studied: electro-oculography (EOG) showed good results as compared with the ‘golden standard’ of vestibular diagnostics, which is video-oculography (VOG). The latter is a non-invasive video-based method recording the eye movements, whereas the first measures the movements by placing electrodes around the eyes. Hence, EOG can serve as a more affordable alternative for VOG. Next, the selection criteria for VI were studied in a group of patients with bilateral vestibular loss. It was shown that only 76% of patients are eligible to get the VI, and no association between etiology of the disease and reflex test outcomes was found. Nevertheless, self-motion perception can be tested in a quick way in clinics and can thus complement vestibular reflex tests in diagnosing dysfunction and evaluating the VI efficiency. Finally, 3D model of electrical conductivity in the inner ear was constructed based on the animal experiments to improve electrical stimulation of the VI.

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