Introduction:
Electrode insertion into the cochlea lead to significant pressure changes inside the cochlea with assumed effects on the functionality of the cochlea in terms of residual hearing. So far model based intracochlear pressure changes were performed statically at the helix of a cochlear.
The aim of the study was to observe dynamic pressure measurements during electrode insertion directly at the cochlea implant electrode.
Methods:
The experiments were performed in decurled cochlear model with a full cochlea equivalent volume value. A micro fibre pressure sensor was attached to a cochlear implant electrode at two different positions of the electrode and inserted under different insertional conditions.
Results:
We observed an insertional depth dependent increase of intracochlear pressure. A sensor position specific pressure change is insertional depth dependent. Intervall insertion does not lead to a lower peak insertional intracochlear pressure.
Conclusion:
In contrast to a static pressure sensor measurement in the helix of an artifical model a dynamical measurement directly at the electrode shows a different pressure profile with possible mechanical implications on the cochlear function.
