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

Nicholas Castle; Junfeng Liang; Matthew Smith; Brett Petersen; Cayman Matson; Tara Eldridge; Ke Zhang; Chung-Hao Lee; Yingtao Liu; Chenkai Dai

doi:10.3390/bioengineering10050539

Bioengineering (Apr 2023)

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

Nicholas Castle,
Junfeng Liang,
Matthew Smith,
Brett Petersen,
Cayman Matson,
Tara Eldridge,
Ke Zhang,
Chung-Hao Lee,
Yingtao Liu,
Chenkai Dai

Affiliations

Nicholas Castle: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Junfeng Liang: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Matthew Smith: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Brett Petersen: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Cayman Matson: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Tara Eldridge: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Ke Zhang: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Chung-Hao Lee: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Yingtao Liu: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Chenkai Dai: Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10050539
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 5
p. 539

Abstract

Read online

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.

Published in Bioengineering

ISSN: 2306-5354 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology; Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/bioengineering

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords