查看文章

Objective: During cochlear implantation, electrode array translocation and trauma should be avoided to enhance preservation of inner ear structures. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of physical parameters of the array on residual hearing and cochlear structures after implantation. Material and Methods: Three array prototypes with different stiffnesses or external diameters were implanted in normal hearing guinea pigs via a motorized insertion tool carried on a robot-based arm. Insertion forces were recorded with a 6-axis force sensor placed under the animal head. Array prototypes 0.4 and 0.4 R had 0.4 mm external diameter and prototype 0.3 had 0.3 mm external diameter. The axial stiffness was set to 1 for the 0.4 prototype and the stiffnesses of the 0.4 R and 0.3 prototypes were calculated from this as 6.8 and 0.8 (relative units), respectively. Hearing was assessed preoperatively by the auditory …