Relations Between Scalar Shift and Insertion Depth in Human Cochlear Implantation.

Objective: The intracochlear position of an electrode array may influence the outcome after cochlear implantation. The design of the electrode array can increase the risk of trauma causing penetration of the basilar membrane or shift of the electrode array into the scala vestibuli. The aim of the present study was to identify a scalar shift after implantation of two different electrode arrays developed by one manufacturer.

Cochlear helix and duct length identification - Evaluation of different curve fitting techniques.

Objective: Within the field of cochlear implantation (CIs), the role of utilizing patient-specific cochlear anatomy for choosing the optimal implant electrode is becoming increasingly important. Unfortunately, performing detailed anatomical measurements of a cochlea using clinical imaging data is rather time consuming and hence difficult to implement into the clinical routine. In order to accelerate clinical cochlear anatomy evaluations, previously developed mathematical models can be adjusted to the patient-specific anatomy by measuring just a few overall cochlear dimensions.

On the accuracy of cochlear duct length measurement in computed tomographic images.

Purpose: Patient specific selection of cochlear implants would benefit from pre-operative knowledge of cochlear length. Several methods for its measurement or estimation have been described in literature. This study focused on the achievable accuracy in clinically available imaging.

Three-dimensional modeling of the cochlea by use of an arc fitting approach.

Purpose: A cochlea modeling approach is presented allowing for a user defined degree of geometry simplification which automatically adjusts to the patient specific anatomy. Model generation can be performed in a straightforward manner due to error estimation prior to the actual generation, thus minimizing modeling time. Therefore, the presented technique is well suited for a wide range of applications including finite element analyses where geometrical simplifications are often inevitable.

Visualization, measurement and modelling of the cochlea using rotating midmodiolar slice planes.

Purpose: Cross-sectional visualization of anatomical structures in DICOM viewers is usually presented in parallel slices. For visualizing the inner ear, this concept is unfavourable due to the spiral shape of the cochlea. Radial slicing through its central axis (known as midmodiolar view) is advantageous.