Lipp Clémentine, Laamari Lara, Bertsch Arnaud, Podlesek Dino, Bensafi Moustafa, Hummel Thomas, Brugger Jürgen
Laboratory of Microsystems LMIS1, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Laboratory of Microsystems LMIS1, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Biosens Bioelectron. 2025 Mar 1;271:117063. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.117063. Epub 2024 Dec 17.
The loss of olfactory function has a profound impact on quality of life, affecting not only sensory perception but also memory, emotion, and overall well-being. Despite this, advancements in olfactory prostheses have lagged significantly behind those made for vision and hearing restoration. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of the current state of devices for electrical stimulation of the olfactory system. We begin by providing an overview of the olfactory system's structure and function, emphasizing the neural pathways involved in smell perception. Following this, we explore the key challenges associated with chronic implantation and electrical stimulation, material biocompatibility, inflammation risks, and ensuring long-term functionality and durability. A detailed analysis of existing neural stimulation devices-including ECoG, intracortical, and depth electrodes-is presented, assessing their potential for application in olfactory stimulation. We also discuss the limitations and pitfalls of current approaches and explore new emerging technologies aimed at overcoming these obstacles. A comprehensive literature review about the olfactory system electrical stimulation is reported, and results are analyzed to identify the most promising routes. Finally, the review highlights emerging technologies, ongoing research, and the ethical considerations associated with olfactory implants, along with future directions for developing more effective, safe, and durable solutions to restore the sense of smell for individuals with olfactory disorders.
嗅觉功能丧失对生活质量有深远影响，不仅影响感官知觉，还影响记忆、情感和整体幸福感。尽管如此，嗅觉假体的进展仍远远落后于视觉和听觉恢复方面的进展。本综述对用于嗅觉系统电刺激的设备的当前状态进行了全面分析。我们首先概述嗅觉系统的结构和功能，强调嗅觉感知所涉及的神经通路。在此之后，我们探讨与长期植入和电刺激、材料生物相容性、炎症风险以及确保长期功能和耐用性相关的关键挑战。对现有神经刺激设备——包括脑电皮层电图（ECoG）、皮层内电极和深度电极——进行了详细分析，评估它们在嗅觉刺激中的应用潜力。我们还讨论了当前方法的局限性和缺陷，并探索旨在克服这些障碍的新兴技术。报告了关于嗅觉系统电刺激的全面文献综述，并对结果进行分析以确定最有前景的途径。最后，本综述强调了新兴技术、正在进行的研究以及与嗅觉植入相关的伦理考量，以及为嗅觉障碍患者开发更有效、安全和耐用的嗅觉恢复解决方案的未来方向。
