Micro-focus X-ray for cochlear implantation research on small animals / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop an imaging system suitable for cochlear implant research on small laboratory animals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A novel micro-focus X-ray imaging system was developed. The key features of the system were the use of a micro-focus X-ray source (less than 10 micrometers) and an appropriate choice of source-object and object-image distance. The new X-ray modality was evaluated on heads of cats, guinea pigs and rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It proved to be an useful tool to provide excellent image of small animal cochlea, allowing a clear electrode position to be established, and also helped greatly in detecting the breakage of electrode array.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Experimental studies performed in cats, guinea pigs and rats confirmed that micro-focus radiography was an important tool for cochlear implant research in laboratory</p>