Medición de impedancias in-vivo durante la cirugía de implante coclear como predictor de la posición de los electrodos dentro de la cóclea / Impedance measures during in-vivo cochlear implantation predict array positioning / Medição das impedâncias in-vivo durante a cirurgia de implante coclear como preditor da posição dos eletrodos no interior da cóclea

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los implantes cocleares son dispositivos protésicos neuronales utilizados para el tratamiento de las hipoacusias neurosensoriales severas a profundas. La activación de electrodos estimula las células del ganglio espiral y las vías nerviosas. Una estimulación más discreta de subpoblaciones neuronales se puede obtener cuando los electrodos están más cerca de las células ganglionares en la pared del modiolo. La distancia del electrodo al modiolo podría ser una de las múltiples variables que influyen en el resultado del paciente con un implante coclear. Actualmente no hay un protocolo establecido para medir esta distancia. Mediante diversas técnicas de imágenes se puede determinar la posición de la guía de electrodos dentro de la cóclea. La tomografía computada cone beam ha sido validada como una herramienta útil para evaluar la posición de los electrodos luego de la implantación. Tykocinski et al. describieron un modelo de la interfase electrodo-electrolito del implante coclear como una resistencia y un condensador en paralelo, y la resistencia del tejido circundante como una resistencia en serie. Realizando un registro detallado de la forma de la curva de voltaje, los datos pueden usarse para calcular la impedancia clínica o total, la resistencia de acceso, la impedancia de polarización y sus subcomponentes: Resistencia de polarización y capacitancia de polarización. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si la distancia electrodo modiolar de cada uno de los electrodos podría predecirse a partir de mediciones de impedancia...

INTRODUCTION: Cochlear implants are neuronal prosthetic devices used for the treatment of severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. The activation of electrodes stimulates spiral ganglion cells and nerve pathways. A more discrete stimulation of neuronal subpopulations can be obtained when the electrodes are closer to the ganglion cells in the modiolus wall. The distance from the electrode to the modiolus could be one of the multiple variables that influence the outcome of the patient with a cochlear implant. Currently there is no established protocol to measure this distance. By means of various imaging techniques, the position of the electrode guide inside the cochlea can be determined. Cone beam computed tomography has been validated as a useful tool to evaluate the position of the electrodes after implantation. Tykocinski et al., described a model of the electrode-electrolyte interface of the cochlear implant as a resistance and a capacitor in parallel, and the resistance of the surrounding tissue as a series resistance. By making a detailed record of the shape of the voltage curve, the data can be used to calculate the clinical or total impedance, the access resistance, the polarization impedance and its subcomponents: polarization resistance and polarization capacitance. The objective of this study is to determine if the electrode distance modiolar of each of the electrodes could be predicted from impedance measurements…

INTRODUCÃO: Os implantes cocleares são dispositivos protéticos neuronais utilizados no tratamento da perda auditiva neurossensorial severa a profunda. A ativação de eletrodos estimula as células ganglionares espirais e as vias nervosas. Uma estimulação mais discreta de subpopulações neuronais pode ser obtida quando os eletrodos estão mais próximos das células ganglionares na parede do modíolo. A distância do eletrodo ao modíolo pode ser uma das múltiplas variáveis que influenciam o resultado do paciente com implante coclear. Atualmente não há protocolo estabelecido para medir essa distância. Por meio de várias técnicas de imagem, a posição do guia do eletrodo dentro da cóclea pode ser determinada. A tomografia computadorizada por feixe cônico foi validada como uma ferramenta útil para avaliar a posição dos eletrodos após o implante. Tykocinski et al. Descreveu um modelo da interface eletrodo-eletrólito do implante coclear como uma resistência e um capacitor em paralelo, e a resistência do tecido circundante como uma resistência em série. Realizando um registo detalhado da forma da curva de tensão, os dados podem ser usados para calcular a impedância clínico ou total, a resistência de acesso, a impedância de polarização e seus subcomponentes: resistência de polarização e capacitância de polarização. O objetivo deste estudo é determinar se a distância modiolar do eletrodo de cada um dos eletrodos poderia ser prevista a partir de medidas de impedância...

3D Printed Models and Navigation for Skull Base Surgery: Case Report and Virtual Validation.

In recent years, computer-assisted surgery tools have become more versatile. Having access to a 3D printed model expands the possibility for surgeons to practice with the particular anatomy of a patient before surgery and improve their skills. Optical navigation is capable of guiding a surgeon according to a previously defined plan. These methods improve accuracy and safety at the moment of executing the operation. We intend to carry on a validation process for computed-assisted tools. The aim of this project is to propose a comparative validation method to enable physicians to evaluate differences between a virtual planned approach trajectory and a real executed course. Summarily, this project is focused on decoding data in order to obtain numerical values so as to establish the quality of surgical procedures.

Accuracy of Chest Wall Tumor Resection Guided by Navigation: Experimental Model.

Difficulty in identification wall chest tumors lead to unnecessary wide resections. Optical navigation and preoperative virtual planning are assets for surgeries that require exactness and accuracy. These tools enable physicians to study real anatomy before surgery and to follow an established pathway during procedure ensuring effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that Preoperative Virtual Planning is a useful tool in chest tumor interventions to define oncological margins successfully. Moreover, it is possible to use a virtual specimen in order to quantify accuracy. Optical navigation has been used in surgical procedures such as neurosurgery, orthopaedics and ENT over the last ten years. This principle is used in order to orientate the surgeon in three dimensional spaces during the surgery. Surgeons are guided intraoperatively with navigation and are able to obtain a correspondence between images acquired and processed before the surgery and the real anatomy.

Virtual Microscopy Large Slide Automated Acquisition: Error Analysis and Validation.

The aim of this work is to assess and analyze the discrepancies introduced in the reconstruction of an entire tumoral bone slice from multiple field acquisitions of a large microscopy slide. The reconstruction tends to preserve the original structural information and its error is estimated by comparing the reconstructed images of eight samples against single pictures of these samples. This comparison is held using the Structural Similarity index. The measurements show that smaller samples yield better results. The detected errors are introduced by the insufficiently corrected optical distortion caused by the camera lens, which tends to accumulate along the sample. Nevertheless, the maximum error encountered does not exceed 0.39 mm, which is smaller than the maximum tolerable error for the intended application, stated in 1 mm.