Detection of electrode proximity to the cochlea wall based on impedance variation: a preliminary computational study

Salkim, Enver, Zamani, Majid and Demosthenous, Andreas (2020) Detection of electrode proximity to the cochlea wall based on impedance variation: a preliminary computational study. International Journal of Simulation: Systems, Science & Technology. (doi:10.5013/ijssst.a.21.02.13).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The electro anatomy of the cochlea plays a crucial role in hearing, where damage to the cochlea may cause hearing loss. Cochlear implants provide hearing to severe or profound hearing-impaired individuals. The accurate insertion of electrodes into the cochlea is important. If misplaced it may lead to further damage (insertion trauma). Visual inspection of the electrode array insertion is limited and relies on the experience of the surgeon. Assisted real time guidance in positioning the electrode array in the cochlea during insertion is needed. Using an advanced computational model of the cochlea accounting for different tissue layers, impedance variations at different electrode distances from the cochlear wall were simulated. Preliminary simulations suggest that the variations may be used to detect the proximity of the electrodes to the cochlea wall. Keywords-Cochlear implant, computational models, electrode proximity, impedance measurement.

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