Assessing the Placement of a Cochlear Electrode Array by Multidimensional Scaling

• Published in: IEEE transactions on biomedical engineering Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 307 - 310
• Main Authors: Vanpoucke, Filiep J., Boermans, Peter-Paul B., Frijns, Johannes H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.02.2012; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Arrays; Biological and medical sciences; Cochlea - anatomy & histology; Cochlea - physiology; Cochlear implant (CI); Cochlear Implantation - methods; Cochlear Implants; Contacts; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; electrode; Electrodes; Electromagnetic Fields; Electrophysiological Phenomena - physiology; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; Imaging; Medical sciences; multidimensional scaling (MDS); objective measures; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the ear, the auditive nerve and the facial nerve; Surgery, Computer-Assisted - methods; Trajectory; Human; objective measures; Objective analysis; Laying process; Cochlear implant (CI); Multidimensional scaling; Inner ear; Organ of hearing; Electrodes; electrode; Cochlea; Cochlear implant; Technique; multidimensional scaling (MDS); Biomedical engineering
• ISSN: 0018-9294; 1558-2531
• DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2011.2173198

Correct placement of the electrode is crucial for cochlear implantation (CI) surgery. It determines the access to the auditory nerve and subsequent hearing performance. Here, we propose an objective measures tool that can partially verify the electrode position. The intracochlear spread of the electrical fields is measured and analyzed by means of multidimensional scaling resulting in an intuitive visual representation. The user can then detect major issues, such as electrode foldover or ossification. Other implantation issues, such as electrode migration into the scala vestibuli, may not significantly alter the electrical conduction pattern and remain undetected. Still, as the measurement is quick and readily available, it may be a valuable intraoperative verification tool.