TY - JOUR

T1 - An automated insertion tool for cochlear implants

T2 - Another step towards atraumatic cochlear implant surgery

AU - Hussong, Andreas

AU - Rau, Thomas S.

AU - Ortmaier, Tobias

AU - Heimann, Bodo

AU - Lenarz, Thomas

AU - Majdani, Omid

N1 - Funding information: The project was funded by the German Research Association (DFG) in the special research cluster SPP1124 “Medical Navigation and Robotics” (MA 4038/1-1, HE-2445/19-1). Additionally, we would like to thank Dr. Robert Labadie, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Bioengineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN for very fruitful cooperation. Parts of the presented results where achieved by the authors while studying in his laboratory which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (1R01DC008408-01, R21EB006044-01A1). European and U.S. patents for the automated insertion tool are pending.

PY - 2010/3

Y1 - 2010/3

N2 - Purpose: Atraumatic electrode insertion has been identified to be a crucial step for the preservation of residual hearing abilities, which allows hybrid electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS). The authors propose a tool for automation of the insertion process to achieve this. Methods: General benefits as well as concept and design of an automated insertion tool are presented. Thirty insertions of Nucleus 24 Contour Advance Practice Electrodes in an artificial scala tympani model as well as 20 insertions in a human cochlea specimen were performed using the tool, implementing the AOS technique. For both studies, the achieved insertion depth angle was evaluated by photographic or X-ray documentation. Results: The mean achieved insertion depth angle was 410° for the lubricated model and 330° for the human cochlea specimen. Conclusion: The automated insertion tool has proven its capability to perform electrode insertions with final insertion depth angles within the target range of a standard cochlear implant surgery. Additionally, to the knowledge of the authors, it represents the only possibility to automatically insert cochlear implant electrodes via minimally invasive approaches.

AB - Purpose: Atraumatic electrode insertion has been identified to be a crucial step for the preservation of residual hearing abilities, which allows hybrid electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS). The authors propose a tool for automation of the insertion process to achieve this. Methods: General benefits as well as concept and design of an automated insertion tool are presented. Thirty insertions of Nucleus 24 Contour Advance Practice Electrodes in an artificial scala tympani model as well as 20 insertions in a human cochlea specimen were performed using the tool, implementing the AOS technique. For both studies, the achieved insertion depth angle was evaluated by photographic or X-ray documentation. Results: The mean achieved insertion depth angle was 410° for the lubricated model and 330° for the human cochlea specimen. Conclusion: The automated insertion tool has proven its capability to perform electrode insertions with final insertion depth angles within the target range of a standard cochlear implant surgery. Additionally, to the knowledge of the authors, it represents the only possibility to automatically insert cochlear implant electrodes via minimally invasive approaches.

KW - Atraumatic electrode insertion

KW - Automated insertion tool

KW - Cochlear implant

KW - Minimally invasive surgery

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77649238375&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11548-009-0368-0

DO - 10.1007/s11548-009-0368-0

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:77649238375

VL - 5

SP - 163

EP - 171

JO - International journal of computer assisted radiology and surgery

JF - International journal of computer assisted radiology and surgery

SN - 1861-6410

IS - 2

ER -