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Starovoyt A, Shaheen E, Putzeys T, Kerckhofs G, Politis C, Wouters J, Verhaert N. Anatomically and mechanically accurate scala tympani model for electrode insertion studies. Hear Res 2023; 430:108707. [PMID: 36773540 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The risk of insertion trauma in cochlear implantation is determined by the interplay between individual cochlear anatomy and electrode insertion mechanics. Whereas patient anatomy cannot be changed, new surgical techniques, devices for cochlear monitoring, drugs, and electrode array designs are continuously being developed and tested, to optimize the insertion mechanics and prevent trauma. Preclinical testing of these developments is a crucial step in feasibility testing and optimization for clinical application. Human cadaveric specimens allow for the best simulation of an intraoperative setting. However, their availability is limited and it is not possible to conduct repeated, controlled experiments on the same sample. A variety of artificial cochlear models have been developed for electrode insertion studies, but none of them were both anatomically and mechanically representative for surgical insertion into an individual cochlea. In this study, we developed anatomically representative models of the scala tympani for surgical insertion through the round window, based on microCT images of individual human cochleae. The models were produced in transparent material using commonly-available 3D printing technology at a desired scale. The anatomical and mechanical accuracy of the produced models was validated by comparison with human cadaveric cochleae. Mechanical evaluation was performed by recording insertion forces, counting the number of inserted electrodes and grading tactile feedback during manual insertion of a straight electrode by experienced cochlear implant surgeons. Our results demonstrated that the developed models were highly representative for the anatomy of the original cochleae and for the insertion mechanics in human cadaveric cochleae. The individual anatomy of the produced models had a significant impact on the insertion mechanics. The described models have a promising potential to accelerate preclinical development and testing of atraumatic insertion techniques, reducing the need for human cadaveric material. In addition, realistic models of the cochlea can be used for surgical training and preoperative planning of patient-tailored cochlear implantation surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiya Starovoyt
- Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eman Shaheen
- OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, UZ Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tristan Putzeys
- Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Biomechanics lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; IREC, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Belgium; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Constantinus Politis
- OMFS IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, UZ Leuven, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Wouters
- Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Verhaert
- Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, UZ Leuven, University Hospitals of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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