Analysis of implanted cochlear X-rays

Cochlear implants are life-changing technologies that facilitate hearing for those who have lost it.

To function, the processing of audio signals must be done according to the locations of the implant electrodes within the cochlear, relative to the auditory nerve endings. The success of the implant procedure can also be better assessed with knowledge of the implant's exact location.

This project aims to use standard procedure scan data, pre-op CT and post- op X-ray, from cochlear implant operations to locate the implant electrodes in 3D space within the patient for these purposes, without the need for more scans involving ionising radiation.

In parallel, COMSOL modelling will be used to produce electric field projections around the electrodes in the patient to predict which electrodes would have the lowest thresholds for hearing.

This work hopes to extract significantly more information from scan data, with the potential to enable faster and more effective individualised implant programming.

We also hope to use this to analyse our pre-existing data for shape/cochlear implant position factors that might be impacting both preservation of residual hearing, and hearing outcomes from implantation.

The data and algorithms would be released for use by other clinics around the world, with a hope to having significant would-wide impacts.