Visualization Of Electrodes Research Articles

Evaluation of artifacts of cochlear implant electrodes in cone beam computed tomography

PurposeCone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) offers a valid alternative to conventional Computed Tomography (CT). A possible radiation dose reduction with the use of CBCT in postoperative imaging of CIs is of great importance. Whether the visualization of Cochlear Implant (CI) electrodes in CBCT correlates with the radiation dose applied was investigated in this study.MethodsWe compared the visualization quality of Contour Advance CIs to Straight CIs from Cochlear using CBCT with varying tube parameters on whole-head specimen.ResultsThe internal diameter of the cochlea decreases from base to apex, resulting in a significantly different intracochlear positioning of the two tested CI models. While electrodes of the Contour Advance series are located close to the modiolus, thus closer to the spiral ganglion neurons, those of the Straight series are located further away. The artifact portion of the electrode amounts to 50–70% of the radiological diameter of the electrode. An increase in artifact portion from the base (electrode #1 approx. 50%) to the apex (electrode #20 approx. 70%) of the cochlea was observed. The visualization of electrodes in the medial and apical part of the cochlea is limited due to artifact overlapping. There was no correlation between the artifact size and the applied radiation dose.ConclusionThe results indicate that a reduction of the radiation dose by up to 45% of the currently applied radiation dose of standard protocols would be possible. Investigations of the effects on subjective image quality still need to be performed.

Development and evaluation of the modiolar research array – multi-centre collaborative study in human temporal bones

ObjectiveMulti-centre collaborative study to develop and refine the design of a prototype thin perimodiolar cochlear implant electrode array and to assess feasibility for use in human subjects.Study DesignMulti-centre temporal bone insertion studies.Materials and MethodsThe modiolar research array (MRA) is a thin pre-curved electrode that is held straight for initial insertion with an external sheath rather than an internal stylet. Between November 2006 and February 2009, six iterations of electrode design were studied in 21 separate insertion studies in which 140 electrode insertions were performed in 85 human temporal bones by 12 surgeons. These studies aimed at addressing four fundamental questions related to the electrode concept, being: (1) Could a sheath result in additional intra-cochlear trauma? (2) Could a sheath accommodate variations in cochlea size and anatomies? (3) Could a sheath be inserted via the round window? and (4) Could a sheath be safely removed once the electrode had been inserted? These questions were investigated within these studies using a number of evaluation techniques, including X-ray and microfluoroscopy, acrylic fixation and temporal bone histologic sectioning, temporal bone microdissection of cochlear structures with electrode visualization, rotational tomography, and insertion force analysis.ResultsFrequent examples of electrode rotation and tip fold-over were demonstrated with the initial designs. This was typically caused by excessive curvature of the electrode tip, and also difficulty in handling of the electrode and sheath. The degree of tip curvature was progressively relaxed in subsequent versions with a corresponding reduction in the frequency of tip fold-over. Modifications to the sheath facilitated electrode insertion and sheath removal. Insertion studies with the final MRA design demonstrated minimal trauma, excellent perimodiolar placement, and very small electrode dimensions within scala tympani. Force measurements in temporal bones demonstrated negligible force on cochlear structures with angular insertion depths of between 390 and 450°.ConclusionThe MRA is a novel, very thin perimodiolar prototype electrode array that has been developed using a systematic collaborative approach. The different evaluation techniques employed by the investigators contributed to the early identification of issues and generation of solutions. Regarding the four fundamental questions related to the electrode concept, the studies demonstrated that (1) the sheath did not result in additional intra-cochlear trauma; (2) the sheath could accommodate variations in cochlea size and anatomies; (3) the sheath was more successfully inserted via a cochleostomy than via the round window; and (4) the sheath could be safely removed once the electrode had been inserted.