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Robotic Insertion Aid for Self-Coiling Cochlear Implants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2016

Hans Ajieren ,
Radu Reit ,
Roxanne Lee ,
Tiffany Pham ,
Dongmei Shao ,
Kenneth Lee  and
Walter Voit
Hans Ajieren
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
Radu Reit
Affiliation:
Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
Roxanne Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390
Tiffany Pham
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390
Dongmei Shao
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390
Kenneth Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390
Walter Voit*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080
*
*(Email: walter.voit@utdallas.edu)
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Abstract

This study investigates the use of shape memory polymers (SMPs) as a substrate for a self-coiling cochlear implant electrode array and investigates the self-coiling ability of a sham probe micromachined atop such a substrate. Through the use of a self-coiling cochlear implant, the capability to avoid contact with the tissue of the cochlear duct is investigated via the insertion of a dummy device into a model cochlea heated to an ambient 34 °C. Finally, a prototype straightening and insertion tool is developed for automated retraction and locking of the coiled shape into a bar geometry. Preliminary demonstration of the deployment of self-coiling cochlear implants is shown and paves the way for future studies focused on using histological analysis of the cochlear wall tissue to compare the degree of trauma resulting from linear cochlear implant arrays versus the self-coiling, non-contact probes demonstrated herein.

Keywords

polymermemorydevices
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 1 , Issue 1: Biomaterials and Soft Materials , 2016 , pp. 51 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

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References

REFERENCES

NIH, NIDCD Fact Sheet: Cochlear Implants. 2011.Google Scholar
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Finley, C.C. and Skinner, M.W., Role of electrode placement as a contributor to variability in cochlear implant outcomes. Otology & neurotology: official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology, 2008. 29(7): p. 920.Google ScholarPubMed
Voit, W., et al. , High-Strain Shape-Memory Polymers . Advanced functional materials, 2010. 20(1): p. 162–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar