Precision Surgical Robot Advances Cochlear Implantation
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 30 Mar 2017 |
|
Image: The RCI robot aligned with entry trajectory on the phantom head (Photo courtesy of the University of Bern).
Innovative robotic technology and a new surgical procedure could lead to improved hearing outcomes for cochlear implantation patients, according to a new study.
Developed by researchers at the University of Bern and Bern University Hospital, the new robotic cochlear implantation (RCI) technique involves the use of surgical planning software and a robotic drill to create a tunnel approximately 2.5 mm in diameter that can provide access to the cochlea from behind the ear. Due to the size and scale of the robotic procedure, the robot carries out the drilling procedure without the need for direct, manual operation by the surgeon.
The minimally invasive keyhole tunnel runs at a safe distance between the facial nerve and the chorda tympani nerve, so that the electrode wire of the implant can be inserted into the cochlea at the correct preplanned angle. Safe navigation and drilling inside the human ear while avoiding damage to nerves and microscopic structures of the inner ear is accomplished through a combination of interlocking safety components that include computer-assisted planning, stereotactic image guidance, in situ assessment of tissue properties, and multipolar neuro-monitoring. The study was published on March 15, 2017, in Science Robotics.
“This first robotic cochlea implantation is the result of a decade of multidisciplinary research by a team of biomedical engineers, neuroradiologists, neurologists, audiologists, allied health professionals, and surgeons,” said senior author Professor Marco Caversaccio, MD, of Inselspital. “The technology underwent rigorous technical and laboratory testing stages to ensure patient safety that would allow the translation of such complex technology from the lab into the operation room.”
A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, cochlear implants do the work of damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to provide sound signals to the brain.
Developed by researchers at the University of Bern and Bern University Hospital, the new robotic cochlear implantation (RCI) technique involves the use of surgical planning software and a robotic drill to create a tunnel approximately 2.5 mm in diameter that can provide access to the cochlea from behind the ear. Due to the size and scale of the robotic procedure, the robot carries out the drilling procedure without the need for direct, manual operation by the surgeon.
The minimally invasive keyhole tunnel runs at a safe distance between the facial nerve and the chorda tympani nerve, so that the electrode wire of the implant can be inserted into the cochlea at the correct preplanned angle. Safe navigation and drilling inside the human ear while avoiding damage to nerves and microscopic structures of the inner ear is accomplished through a combination of interlocking safety components that include computer-assisted planning, stereotactic image guidance, in situ assessment of tissue properties, and multipolar neuro-monitoring. The study was published on March 15, 2017, in Science Robotics.
“This first robotic cochlea implantation is the result of a decade of multidisciplinary research by a team of biomedical engineers, neuroradiologists, neurologists, audiologists, allied health professionals, and surgeons,” said senior author Professor Marco Caversaccio, MD, of Inselspital. “The technology underwent rigorous technical and laboratory testing stages to ensure patient safety that would allow the translation of such complex technology from the lab into the operation room.”
A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, cochlear implants do the work of damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to provide sound signals to the brain.
Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
New
Mobile Cart
MS550
New
Coronary Stent System
Ultimaster Sirolimus
Latest Surgical Techniques News
- Pioneering Sutureless Coronary Bypass Technology to Eliminate Open-Chest Procedures
- Intravascular Imaging for Guiding Stent Implantation Ensures Safer Stenting Procedures
- World's First AI Surgical Guidance Platform Allows Surgeons to Measure Success in Real-Time
- AI-Generated Synthetic Scarred Hearts Aid Atrial Fibrillation Treatment
- New Class of Bioadhesives to Connect Human Tissues to Long-Term Medical Implants
- New Transcatheter Valve Found Safe and Effective for Treating Aortic Regurgitation
- Minimally Invasive Valve Repair Reduces Hospitalizations in Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation Patients
- Tiny Robotic Tools Powered by Magnetic Fields to Enable Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery
- Magnetic Tweezers Make Robotic Surgery Safer and More Precise
- AI-Powered Surgical Planning Tool Improves Pre-Op Planning
- Novel Sensing System Restores Missing Sense of Touch in Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Headset-Based AR Navigation System Improves EVD Placement
- Higher Electrode Density Improves Epilepsy Surgery by Pinpointing Where Seizures Begin
- Open-Source Tool Optimizes Placement of Visual Brain Implants
- Easy-To-Apply Gel Could Prevent Formation of Post-Surgical Abdominal Adhesions
- Groundbreaking Leadless Pacemaker to Prevent Invasive Surgeries for Children
Channels
Critical Care
view channel
Ingestible Smart Capsule for Chemical Sensing in the Gut Moves Closer to Market
Intestinal gases are associated with several health conditions, including colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease, and they have the potential to serve as crucial biomarkers... Read more
Novel Cannula Delivery System Enables Targeted Delivery of Imaging Agents and Drugs
Multiphoton microscopy has become an invaluable tool in neuroscience, allowing researchers to observe brain activity in real time with high-resolution imaging. A crucial aspect of many multiphoton microscopy... Read more
Novel Intrabronchial Method Delivers Cell Therapies in Critically Ill Patients on External Lung Support
Until now, administering cell therapies to patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)—a life-support system typically used for severe lung failure—has been nearly impossible.... Read more
Patient Care
view channel
Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
Approximately 4 million patients in the European Union acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections each year, with around 37,000 deaths directly resulting from these infections,... Read more
First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately... Read more
Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization
An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more
Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
A groundbreaking innovation enables hospitals to significantly improve instrument processing time and throughput in operating rooms (ORs) and sterile processing departments. Turbett Surgical, Inc.... Read moreHealth IT
view channel
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read more
Smartwatches Could Detect Congestive Heart Failure
Diagnosing congestive heart failure (CHF) typically requires expensive and time-consuming imaging techniques like echocardiography, also known as cardiac ultrasound. Previously, detecting CHF by analyzing... Read more
Business
view channel
Expanded Collaboration to Transform OR Technology Through AI and Automation
The expansion of an existing collaboration between three leading companies aims to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions for smart operating rooms with sophisticated monitoring and automation.... Read more
