CHD


The Cochlea Hydro Drive.
Toward Automated Electrode Insertion

A crucial element of cochlear implant soft surgery for hearing preservation is the velocity at which the electrode array is inserted. It has been previously described that insertion forces and subsequently intracochlear trauma can be reduced with lower insertion velocities. However, it is also recognized that there is a human limitation as to how slow an electrode array (EA) can be manually inserted. While several investigations have performed automated EA insertions in laboratory settings, such technologies have not been widely transferred to clinical settings. Therefore, our research group developed a novel insertion tool called Cochlea Hydro Drive (CHD), which is characterized by its simplicity given that it uses a standard syringe as hydraulic actuator to deliver an EA into a cochlea model. The present investigation sought to evaluate the use of the CHD in achieving EA insertions into a cochlea model with continuous velocities lower than humanly feasible (0.9mm/s).

Flyer

The key feature is its simplicity and theoretical low cost, as it takes advantage of already existing medical supplies. The automation component is provided by hydraulic actuation using a sterile, disposable, commercially available syringe. The plunger of the syringe serves as a piston converting the pressure inside the barrel into a continuous and steady movement. The CHD is then run by an infusion pump. Using a few more sterile adaptors, the EA can be connected to the syringe plunger allowing its assembly directly in the operating room. The prototype is designed to be connected to a standard surgical retractor with a flexible arm for positioning of the CHD.

The CHD can reliably deliver and insert an EA at velocities lower than humanly feasible and could be a relevant tool to optimize some of the technical aspects of soft surgery in the future, as it eliminates human tremor during insertion and allows for very low, continuous insertion velocities. In addition, the simple design of the device promises an easy translation into clinical practice. Further testing of different slow and ultra-slow insertion velocities is needed and ongoing.


Funding:

This work is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy – EXC 2177/1 "Hearing4all" - Project ID 390895286.

Contact:

If your are interested in this technology, want to join a collaboration for further development, or just have additional questions please do not hesitate to contact:

Dr.-Ing. Thomas Rau     
rau.thomas@mh-hannover.de
++49(0)511/532-3025

Further Reading:

Zuniga M. G., Lenarz Th., Rau Th. S. (2021e): Hydraulic insertions of cochlear implant electrode arrays into the human cadaver cochlea: preliminary findings. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. epub. [ doi].
Zuniga M. G., Lenarz Th., Rau Th. S. (2021d): Preliminary time estimations using a novel and simple insertion tool for cochlear implant electrode arrays: observations toward clinical application. Laryngorhinootologie. 100(S02):S219.
Zuniga M. G., Schell V., Lenarz Th., Rau Th. S. (2021b): Hydraulic Insertion of CI Electrode Arrays Achieving Very Slow, Continuous Insertion Velocities: Proof of Concept. Poster presented online during CI2021 Cochlear Implants in Children and Adults, April 28 - May 1, Virtual, US.
Zuniga M. G., Hügl S., Lenarz Th., Rau S. Th. (2020b): Hydraulic Insertion of a Cochlear Implant Electrode Array Into a Human Cadaver Cochlea. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 163(1S):233. [ doi].
Rau Th. S., Zuniga M. G., Salcher R., Lenarz Th. (2020d): A simple tool to automate the insertion process in cochlear implant surgery. Int J CARS 15(11):1931–1939. [ doi].
Rau Th. S., Zuniga M. G., Salcher R., Lenarz Th. (2020c): The Cochlea Hydro Drive. Description of a concept for hydraulically operated, automated insertion of electrodes in cochlear implant surgery. Poster presented online during CARS 2020 - 34th International Congress and Exhibition on Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery, June 23-273, Munich, Germany.

About The VIANNA research team