Feasibility of Minimally Invasive Robot-Assisted Retrofacial Access to the Stapedius Muscle for Applications in Objective Cochlear Implant Fitting: A Cadaveric Study

Accurate setting of maximum comfort levels (MCL) during cochlear implant (CI) fitting is essential but subjective, especially in non-cooperative patients. The stapedius reflex (SR) correlates with the MCL and offers an objective measure. Surgical access to the stapedius muscle (SM) is challenging due to its proximity to the facial nerve and sigmoid sinus; a retrofacial approach is preferred....

This cadaveric feasibility study is too preliminary to change clinical cochlear implant fitting practice, but it demonstrates a potential robotic pathway for objective fitting in non-cooperative patients; no actionable change at this stage.

Objective, surgeon-independent cochlear implant fitting via robotic access to the stapedius reflex could eventually improve programming accuracy for non-cooperative patients such as young children or those with cognitive impairments.

1. 01Cadaveric study tested robot-assisted retrofacial surgical access to the stapedius muscle.
2. 02Goal is to enable objective cochlear implant fitting via the stapedius reflex.
3. 03Targeted specifically at non-cooperative patients unable to participate in standard behavioral fitting.
4. 04Minimally invasive robotic approach was evaluated for anatomical feasibility.
5. 05Published in The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery (doi: 10.1002/rcs.70178).

PMID

42080602

DOI

10.1002/rcs.70178.

Journal

The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Human cadaveric specimens

Intervention

Minimally invasive robot-assisted retrofacial surgical access to the stapedius muscle