Finite Element Modeling of Residual Hearing after Cochlear Implant Surgery in Chinchillas

• Published in: Bioengineering (Basel) 2023-04, Vol.10 (5), p.539
• Main Authors: Castle, Nicholas, Liang, Junfeng, Smith, Matthew, Petersen, Brett, Matson, Cayman, Eldridge, Tara, Zhang, Ke, Lee, Chung-Hao, Liu, Yingtao, Dai, Chenkai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioengineering; chinchilla; Cochlea; cochlear implant; Cochlear implants; Computed tomography; Electrodes; Ethics; finite element; Finite element method; Geometry; Hearing; Hearing loss; Inner ear; Insertion; insertion angle; Laboratory animals; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Medical imaging; Medical research; Patients; Properties; Quality of life; Surgery; Transplants & implants; Vestibular system
• ISSN: 2306-5354; 2306-5354
• DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10050539

Cochlear implant (CI) surgery is one of the most utilized treatments for severe hearing loss. However, the effects of a successful scala tympani insertion on the mechanics of hearing are not yet fully understood. This paper presents a finite element (FE) model of the chinchilla inner ear for studying the interrelationship between the mechanical function and the insertion angle of a CI electrode. This FE model includes a three-chambered cochlea and full vestibular system, accomplished using µ-MRI and µ-CT scanning technologies. This model's first application found minimal loss of residual hearing due to insertion angle after CI surgery, and this indicates that it is a reliable and helpful tool for future applications in CI design, surgical planning, and stimuli setup.