PHYSICAL MODEL DESIGN FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT SURGICAL PLANNING AND PATIENT EDUCATION

Abstract

The goal of this project was to create a 3D printed composite temporal model for the purposes of patient education, medical education, and surgical planning in cochlear implantation surgery. Cochlear implantation surgery takes place in a small region and can be difficult to comprehend, however the use of models has been shown in past research to aid in the understanding of procedures and conditions. Using open-source software, composite models containing the relevant structures in cochlear implantation surgery were created for the left and right side of a patient's raw CT imaging data. A simulated electrode pathway was also created in the models to demonstrate how the cochlear implant electrode lead travels through the temporal bone. Three total printed models were created. One actual anatomical size model was created for the left side, one 3x size model for the left side, and one 3x size model for the right side. The models were validated by taking measurements between the raw CT data, the computational models, and the actual size 3D printed model. All measurements came to within 1mm. The simulated electrode pathway was also validated using single slice CT imaging data in literature. The models created have potential to be used in patient education, medical education, and in surgical planning in a patient-to-patient basis