Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

HL: Fachverband Halbleiterphysik

HL 20: Poster I

HL 20.57: Poster

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 18:00–20:00, P1

Organic LEDs for optogenetic cochlear implants — •Nirbhika Nandakumar and Caroline Murawski — Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany

Recent studies have highlighted the potential of optogenetic cochlear implants (oCIs) to surpass the spatial resolution limitations of conventional electrical stimulation by utilizing confined light to activate genetically modified auditory neurons [1]. Existing oCI prototypes predominantly use micro-LEDs, which can generate high optical power but are constrained by thermal load, rigidity, and limited scalability toward dense stimulation arrays [2]. In this work, we investigate organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) as alternative light sources for next-generation oCIs. Bottom-emitting OLEDs were fabricated and experimentally characterized with respect to spectral emission, efficiency, and achievable optical power density. The micro-cavity was designed by complementary optical simulations to generate a forward-directed, spatially confined illumination capable of efficiently reaching the intended spiral ganglion neurons. An implant design is proposed based on the geometry of the cochlea, required pixel size, and spacing. The combined experimental and simulation results establish OLEDs as promising alternatives to micro-LEDs for integration into future oCI architectures.

[1] A. Huet et al., Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 47, 103 (2024).

[2] L. Jablonski et al., J. Neural Eng. 22, 046034 (2025).

Keywords: OLEDs; biomedical; cochlear implant; microcavity design; optogenetics