Automatic Generation of a Computational Model for Monopolar Stimulation of Cochlear Implants

International audienceCochlear implants have the potential to significantly improve severe sensorineural hearing loss. However, the outcome of this technique is highly variable and depends on patient-specific factors. We previously proposed a method for patient-specific electrical simulation after CI, which can assist in surgical planning of the CI and determination of the electrical stimulation pattern. However, the virtual implant placement and mesh generation were carried out manually and the process was not easily applied automatically for further cochlear anatomies. Moreover, in order to optimize the implant designs, it is important to develop a way to stimulate the results of the implantation in a population of virtual patients. In this work we propose an automatic framework for patient-specific electrical simulation in CI surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first method proposed for patient-specific generation of hearing models which combines high-resolution imaging techniques, clinical CT data and virtual electrode insertion. Furthermore, we show that it is possible to use the computational models of virtual patients to simulate the results of the electrical activation of the implant in the cochlea and surrounding bone. This is an important step because it allows us to advance towards a complete surgical planning and implant optimization procedure

Complex congenital heart disease associated with disordered myocardial architecture in a midtrimester human fetus

In the era of increasingly successful corrective interventions in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), global and regional myocardial remodeling are emerging as important sources of long-term morbidity/mortality. Changes in organization of the myocardium in CHD, and in its mechanical properties, conduction, and blood supply, result in altered myocardial function both before and after surgery. To gain a better understanding and develop appropriate and individualized treatment strategies, the microscopic organization of cardiomyocytes, and their integration at a macroscopic level, needs to be completely understood. The aim of this study is to describe, for the first time, in 3 dimensions and nondestructively the detailed remodeling of cardiac microstructure present in a human fetal heart with complex CHD.This study was partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grant TIN2014-52923-R and the Maria de Maeztu Units of Excellence Programme - MDM- 2015-0502) and FEDER. CB is supported by Fundació La Marató de TV3 (Spain), grant Nº: 20154031. JAS is supported by the Center of Excellence CompBioMed funded under H2020-EU.1.4.1.3. under grant agreement Nº 675451. DJS is supported by the British Heart Foundation under the grant Nº FS/15/33/31608