CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Laryngorhinootologie 2021; 100(S 02): S205-S206
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1728388
Abstracts
Otology / Neurotology / Audiology

Low-cost CI electrode and cochlea dummies for minimally-invasive insertion training

M Leinung
1   Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Frankfurt am Main
,
AG Loth
1   Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Frankfurt am Main
,
M Gröger
1   Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Frankfurt am Main
,
R Weiss
1   Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Frankfurt am Main
,
T Stöver
1   Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Frankfurt am Main
› Author Affiliations
 

Introduction: The minimally-invasive electrode insertion ist a crucial microsurgical step during cochlear implantation (CI). This procedure can not be exercised as often as necessary since the required temporal bone specimens or models and practice electrodes are expensive and limited available. The aim of the study was the development of a combination of electrode dummy and cochlea model, that give the tactile feedback of a realistic insertion procedure.

Material and methods: The electrode design required solely commercially available disposable materials. The cochlea model was shaped out of dyed epoxy resin by use of a CNC milling machine. Repetitive automated insertion procedures were performed with each combination of test electrode and cochlea dummy. At the same time the insertion forces were measured by use of a load cell underneath the cochlea model.

Results: Unlike real (practice) electrodes the final test dummy design showed hardly any wear and tear. Its production is extremely inexpensive ( < 5ct). The configuration of the scala tympani in the cochlea model has been improved over several iterations until the resulting force progression was comparable to the insertion procedure of a FLEX28-electrode (MED-EL). The insertion depth was automatically determined from the video image with an accuracy of  < 0.1mm.

Conclusion: The result of this study is the successful development of a haptic simulator that consists of an electrode dummy and a cochlea model. It gives a realistic tactile feedback of the insertion of a FLEX28-electrode depending on insertion depth. Hereby young CI surgery trainees are enabled to carry out multiple insertion procedures in order to learn the technique of minimally-invasive cochlear implantation.

Poster-PDF A-1153.pdf



Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany