A manually operated, advance off-stylet insertion tool for minimally invasive cochlear implantation surgery

The current technique for cochlear implantation (CI) surgery requires a mastoidectomy to gain access to the cochlea for electrode array insertion. It has been shown that microstereotactic frames can enable an image-guided, minimally invasive approach to CI surgery called percutaneous cochlear implantation (PCI) that uses a single drill hole for electrode array insertion, avoiding a more invasive mastoidectomy. Current clinical methods for electrode array insertion are not compatible with PCI surgery because they require a mastoidectomy to access the cochlea; thus, we have developed a manually operated electrode array insertion tool that can be deployed through a PCI drill hole. The tool can be adjusted using a preoperative CT scan for accurate execution of the advance off-stylet (AOS) insertion technique and requires less skill to operate than is currently required to implant electrode arrays. We performed three cadaver insertion experiments using the AOS technique and determined that all insertions were successful using CT and microdissection.     

Lumped-parameter model for in vivo cochlear stimulation

A lumped-parameter model that simulates the in vivo electrical properties of a guinea pig cochlea implanted with a multielectrode stimulating array is presented. A basic model of the low-frequency electroanatomy in a normally functioning guinea pig cochlea is developed by adding critical membrane capacitances to D. Strelioff's resistive network model (1973). The basic model of normal cochlear tissues is modified to account for anatomical and physiological differences between a normal and implanted cochlea, resulting in an impedance model of an implanted cochlea. Simulating the results of in vivo cochlear stimulation verifies the accuracy with which the modified cochlear model represents electrical properties within an electrically stimulated cochlea. Generalized simulations using this model suggest a straightforward phasing scheme capable of achieving sharply focused, channel-independent multielectrode cochlear stimulation     

A Low-Power Wide-Dynamic-Range Analog VLSI Cochlea

Low-power wide-dynamic-range systems are extremely hard to build. The biological cochlea is one of the most awesome examples of such a system: It can sense sounds over 12 orders of magnitude in intensity, with an estimated power dissipation of only a few tens of microwatts. In this paper, we describe an analog electronic cochlea that processes sounds over 6 orders of magnitude in intensity, and that dissipates 0.5 mW. This 117-stage, 100 Hz to 10 KHz cochlea has the widest dynamic range of any artificial cochlea built to date. The wide dynamic range is attained through the use of a wide-linear-range transconductance amplifier, of a low-noise filter topology, of dynamic gain control (AGC) at each cochlear stage, and of an architecture that we refer to as overlapping cochlear cascades. The operation of the cochlea is made robust through the use of automatic offset-compensation circuitry. A BiCMOS circuit approach helps us to attain nearly scale-invariant behavior and good matching at all frequencies. The synthesis and analysis of our artificial cochlea yields insight into why the human cochlea uses an active traveling-wave mechanism to sense sounds, instead of using bandpass filters. The low power, wide dynamic range, and biological realism make our cochlea well suited as a front end for cochlear implants.     

Spiral CT image deblurring for cochlear implantation

Cochlear implantation is the standard treatment for profound hearing loss, Preimplantation and postimplantation spiral computed tomography (CT) is essential in several key clinical and research aspects. The maximum image resolution with commercial spiral CT scanners is insufficient to define clearly anatomical features and implant electrode positions in the inner ear, In this paper, the authors develop an expectation maximization (EM)-like iterative deblurring algorithm to achieve spiral CT image super-resolution for cochlear implantation, assuming a spatially invariant linear spiral CT system with a three-dimensional (3-D) separable Gaussian point spread function (PSF). The authors experimentally validate the 3-D Gaussian blurring model via phantom measurement and profile fitting. The imaging process is further expressed as convolution of an isotropic 3-D Gaussian PSF and a blurred underlying volumetric image. Under practical conditions, an oblique reconstructed section is approximated as convolution of an isotropic two dimensional (2-D) Gaussian PSF and the corresponding actual cross section. The spiral CT image deblurring algorithm is formulated with sieve and resolution kernels for suppressing noise and edge artifacts. A typical cochlear cross section is used for evaluation, demonstrating a resolution gain up to 30%-40% according to the correlation criterion. Physical phantoms, preimplantation and postimplantation patients are reconstructed into volumes of 0.1-mm cubic voxels. The patient images are digitally unwrapped along the central axis of the cochlea and the implanted electrode array respectively, then oblique sections orthogonal to the central axis formed. After deblurring, representation of structural features is substantially improved in all the cases     

逐点插入法在三维地质建模中的运用

随着科学计算可视化技术和地质信息技术的发展,三维地质建模逐渐成为石油勘探、岩土工程、GIS和科学计算可视化等领域研究与应用的热点。本文主要介绍了在三维地质建模中常用的三角剖分算法中的逐点插入法,在实际运用中进行了改进,对三维空间中的原始数据点进行三角网化并构造地质体。     

Three-dimensional localization of cochlear implant electrodes using epipolar stereophotogrammetry

Three-dimensional (3-D) localization of individual cochlear implant electrodes within the inner ear is of importance for modeling the electrical field of the cochlea, designing the electrode array, and programming the associated speech processor. A 3-D reconstruction method of cochlear implant electrodes is proposed to localize individual electrodes from two X-ray views in combination with the spiral computed tomography technique. By adapting epipolar geometry to the configuration of an X-ray imaging system, we estimate individual electrode locations in the least square sense without using a patient attachment required by an existing stereophotogrammetry technique. Furthermore, our method does not require any knowledge of the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of the imaging system. The performance of our method is studied in numerical simulation and with patient data and is found to be sufficiently accurate for clinical use. The maximum root mean-square errors measured are 0.0445 and 0.214 mm for numerical simulation and patient data, respectively.     

Mimicking the human ear

A prosthetic device, called a cochlear implant, can be implanted in the inner ear and can restore partial hearing to profoundly deaf people. Some individuals with implants can now communicate without lip-reading or signing, and some can communicate over the telephone. The success of cochlear implants can be attributed to the combined efforts of scientists from various disciplines including bioengineering, physiology, otolaryngology, speech science, and signal processing. Each of these disciplines contributed to various aspects of the design of cochlear prostheses. Signal processing, in particular, played an important role in the development of different techniques for deriving electrical stimuli from the speech signal. Designers of cochlear prosthesis were faced with the challenge of developing signal-processing techniques that would mimic the function of a normal cochlea. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of various signal-processing techniques that have been used for cochlear prosthesis over 25 years. The signal-processing strategies described are only a subset of the many that have been developed for cochlear prosthesis     

Model-based design of artificial zero power cochlear implant

This paper deals with a model-based design of an autonomous biomechatronic device for sensing and analog signal processing of acoustic signals. The aim is to develop a biomechatronic artificial cochlear implant for people with hearing loss due to damage or disease of their cochlea. The unique artificial electronic cochlear implant is based on an array of microelectromechanical piezoelectric membranes. Oscillations of membranes detect and filter acoustic signals in individual acoustic frequencies. The proposed biomechatronic device of the artificial cochlear implant consists of an active filters array, signal processing electronics, stimulation nerves electrodes and energy harvesting system for autonomous powering of the device. This solution differs from current cochlear implants solutions, which are bulky electronic systems limited by their high power consumption. The multidisciplinary models of the artificial cochlea implant concept are presented. The mechatronic approach based on model seems to be very useful for development of the full implantable cochlear implant which is designed for the sensing and processing of acoustic signals without external energy source.     

基于OpenGL和FDTD的电磁建模三维可视化实现

开放的图形程序接口(OpenGL)是一个国际组织提供的规范,可以跨平台使用,是一个功能强大,调用方便的底层3D图形库;时域有限差分(FDTD)算法是解决电磁场问题的简单而又有效的数值方法。把两者结合并利用计算机可视化技术,对目标系统进行电磁建模研究,实现了电磁建模模块的三维可视化设计。该建模模块可用于进行目标物体的三维可视化建模和电磁学参数描述及仿真数据预处理。微带耦合器的建模实例表明该电磁建模模块数据处理具有高效性、可靠性和良好的三维可视化效果。     

Digital X-ray stereophotogrammetry for cochlear implantation

Multielectrode, intracochlear implant systems are effective treatment for profound sensorineural hearing loss. In some cases, these systems do not perform well, which may be partially due to variations in implant location within the cochlea. Determination of each electrode's position in a patient's inner ear provides an in vivo basis for both the cochlear modeling of electrical fields and the future design of electrode arrays that deliver electrical stimulation to surviving auditory neurons, and may improve speech processor programming for better speech recognition. We developed an X-ray stereophotogrammetric approach to localize implanted electrodes in three dimensions. Stereophotogrammetry of implanted electrodes is formulated in weak perspective geometry, with knowledge of a three-dimensional (3-D) reference structure and electrode positions in each of two digital stereo-images. The localization error is theoretically, numerically, and experimentally quantified. Both numerical and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the technique.     

Force application during cochlear implant insertion: an analysis for improvement of surgeon technique

Highly invasive surgical procedures, such as the implantation of a prosthetic device, require correct force delivery to achieve desirable outcomes and minimize trauma induced during the operation. Improvement in surgeon technique can reduce the chances of excessive force application and lead to optimal placement of the electrode array. The fundamental factors that affect the degree of success for cochlear implant recipients are identified through empirical methods. Insertion studies are performed to assess force administration and electrode trajectories during implantations of the Nucleus 24 Contour and Nucleus 24 Contour Advance electrodes into a synthetic model of the human Scala Tympani, using associated methods. Results confirm that the Advance Off- Stylet insertion of the soft-tipped Contour Advance electrode gives an overall reduction in insertion force. Analysis of force delivery and electrode positioning during cochlear implantation can help identify and control key factors for improvement of insertion method. Based on the findings, suggestions are made to enhance surgeon technique.     

Ridged LiNbO/sub 3/ modulators fabricated by a novel oxygen-ion implant/wet-etch technique

This paper demonstrates a new ion implantation and wet-etch technique for fabricating high-quality ridged optical waveguides for high-speed LiNbO/sub 3/-based optical modulators. In addition, the paper demonstrates the fabrication of optical waveguide ridges >3 /spl mu/m in height with 90/spl deg/, and even re-entrant sidewall angles for the first time. The modeling used indicates that 90/spl deg/ (and re-entrant) sidewall ridges can reduce the required modulator drive voltage by 10-20% over modulators with conventional trapezoidal ridge profiles fabricated with reactive ion etching. A 40-Gb/s modulator with a 30-GHz bandwidth, 5.1-V switching voltage at 1 GHz, and a 4.8-dB optical insertion loss is fabricated using the ion implantation/wet-etch process. Fabricated devices showed good stability against accelerated aging, indicating that this process could be used for commercial purposes.     

三轴稳定卫星姿态可视化绘制与建模

三轴稳定卫星飞行过程的可视化绘制与建模是航天飞行视景可视化开发中的一个重要内容。文中系统介绍了此类飞行器姿态数据的常用表达方式,对欧拉角及四元数姿态的可视化绘制技术、建模方法、编程实现等进行了研究,并给出了姿态球的绘制及姿态运动过程的建模方法。在此基础上,基于OpenGL图形库对其绘制过程进行了原型实现,给出了绘制效果,试验结果证明了该方法的可行性,同时对姿态绘制及航天视景系统开发具有一定的参考价值。     

A method for brain 3D surface reconstruction from MR images

Due to the encephalic tissues are highly irregular, three-dimensional （3D） modeling of brain always leads to compli- cated computing. In this paper, we explore an efficient method for brain surface reconstruction from magnetic reso- nance （MR） images of head, which is helpful to surgery planning and tumor localization. A heuristic algorithm is pro- posed foi＂ surface triangle mesh generation with preserved features, and the diagonal length is regarded as the heuristic information to optimize the shape of triangle. The experimental results show that our approach not only reduces the computational complexity, but also completes 3D visualization with good quality.     

An Analog VLSI Model of Periodicity Extraction in the Human Auditory System

This paper presents an electronic system thatextracts the periodicity of a sound. It uses threeanalog VLSI building blocks: a silicon cochlea, twoInner Hair Cell circuits and two spiking neuron chips.The silicon cochlea consists of a cascade of filterswhich delays (and filters) the input sound as it passesalong the cascade. The time delay added by each individual filter in the cochlea increasesexponentially with position of the filter along thecochlea. The frequency for which the time delaybetween two outputs that are n-stages apart correspondsto a phase delay of 2 therefore decreases exponentially along the cochlea. In the systempresented in this paper we create spike trains from theoutput of the cochlear filters and we compare theoutput of each filter with the output of a filter foursections earlier in the cascade. If the signalfrequency corresponds to the inverse of the time delaybetween these two filters, then the two spikes in the spike trains created at these two outputs willcoincide. Detecting these coincidences can yield veryselective filters, i.e., filters that respond only toa very narrow range of periodicities, but that at thesame time still respond after a few periods of theinput signal. This is an advantage over traditionalband-pass filters, where an increase in selectivityhas to be traded off against decrease in responsetime.     

一种二阶差分式耳蜗模型

本文通过双线性变换将一连续时间、连续空间耳蜗模型变换成一离散时间、离散空间耳蜗模型，并获得了一种实用的二阶差分式耳蜗模型。与传统耳蜗模型相比，新模型的幅频特性与相频特性更加接近耳蜗实际特性，尤其是幅频特性下降沿得到了较大改善。另外，文章从理论上推出了耳蜗图，并求出了耳蜗滤波器的３ｄＢ带宽特性。该模型具有简单的数学结构和较好的频率特性，相信其在语音信号处理中的应用会变得更加实际。     

Real time 3D visualization of intraoperative organ deformations using structured dictionary

Restricted visualization of the surgical field is one of the most critical challenges for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Current intraoperative visualization systems are promising. However, they can hardly meet the requirements of high resolution and real time 3D visualization of the surgical scene to support the recognition of anatomic structures for safe MIS procedures. In this paper, we present a new approach for real time 3D visualization of organ deformations based on optical imaging patches with limited field-of-view and a single preoperative scan of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). The idea for reconstruction is motivated by our empirical observation that the spherical harmonic coefficients corresponding to distorted surfaces of a given organ lie in lower dimensional subspaces in a structured dictionary that can be learned from a set of representative training surfaces. We provide both theoretical and practical designs for achieving these goals. Specifically, we discuss details about the selection of limited optical views and the registration of partial optical images with a single preoperative MRI/CT scan. The design proposed in this paper is evaluated with both finite element modeling data and ex vivo experiments. The ex vivo test is conducted on fresh porcine kidneys using 3D MRI scans with 1.2 mm resolution and a portable laser scanner with an accuracy of 0.13 mm. Results show that the proposed method achieves a sub-3 mm spatial resolution in terms of Hausdorff distance when using only one preoperative MRI scan and the optical patch from the single-sided view of the kidney. The reconstruction frame rate is between 10 frames/s and 39 frames/s depending on the complexity of the test model.     

In vivo validation of custom-designed silicon-based microelectrode arrays for long-term neural recording and stimulation

We developed and validated silicon-based neural probes for neural stimulating and recording in long-term implantation in the brain. The probes combine the deep reactive ion etching process and mechanical shaping of their tip region, yielding a mechanically sturdy shank with a sharpened tip to reduce insertion force into the brain and spinal cord, particularly, with multiple shanks in the same array. The arrays' insertion forces have been quantified in vitro. Five consecutive chronically-implanted devices were fully functional from 3 to 18 months. The microelectrode sites were electroplated with iridium oxide, and the charge injection capacity measurements were performed both in vitro and after implantation in the adult feline brain. The functionality of the chronic array was validated by stimulating in the cochlear nucleus and recording the evoked neuronal activity in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus. The arrays' recording quality has also been quantified in vivo with neuronal spike activity recorded up to 566 days after implantation. Histopathology evaluation of neurons and astrocytes using immunohistochemical stains indicated minimal alterations of tissue architecture after chronic implantation.     

Three-dimensional geometric modeling of the cochlea using helico-spiral approximation

In this paper, the three-dimensional geometry of the human cochlea is modeled by the helico-spiral seashell model. The 3-D helico-spiral model, the generalized representation of the Archimedian spiral model, provides a framework for measuring cochlear features based on consistent estimation of model parameters. Nonlinear least square minimization based algorithms are developed for the identification of rotation, center and intrinsic parameters of the helico-spiral representation. Two algorithms are designed for the rotation axis aligned to the modiolar axis: one is more susceptible in the presence of noise, while the other allows applicability to two-dimensional data sets. The estimated center and intrinsic parameters allow the calculation of length, height and angular positions needed for frequency mapping of multichannel cochlear implant electrodes. Model performance is evaluated with numerically synthesized curves with different levels of added random noise, histologic data and real human cochlear spiral computed tomography data.     

A time-domain digital cochlear model

The author presents a digital time-domain model of the human cochlea designed to represent normal auditory functioning and to allow for degradation related to auditory impairment. The model consists of the middle ear, the mechanical motion of the cochlea, and the neural transduction of the inner hair cells. The traveling waves on the cochlear partition are represented by a cascade of digital filter sections, and the cochlear micromechanics are represented by a second filter that further sharpens the excitation to the inner hair cells. The neural firing rate is determined by the sum of the outputs of multiple fibers attached to each inner hair cell, with the fiber neurons having firing characteristics representative of low- and high-spontaneous-rate fibers. The signal processing cochlear model incorporates dynamic-range compression by adjusting the Q of each cochlear filter section and second filter in response to the second-filter velocity and the averaged neural firing rate. Examples of the model response to impulse and tone-burst stimuli and to synthetic speech are presented