Development and validation of vision system for improved placement of cochlear implant electrode arrays

Active Project Grant Awarded Last action

Award ID
R01DC022099
Recipient
Awarding agency
Obligated
$1,269,999

Award facts

Completion date 25% complete
Place of performance
Nashville, TN 37203, USA

Award details come from USAspending.gov.

Description

Abstract
Cochlear implants (CIS) are neuroprosthetic devices that are considered standard-of-care treatment for severe-to-profound sensory-based hearing loss. CIS restore hearing by electrically stimulating the auditory nerve with an electrode array that is implanted in the cochlea. While CIS are effective for most recipients, there is wide variability in outcomes. Research by many groups over the last few decades has shown that proper positioning of the electrode array within the cochlea is crucial for optimizing the electro-neural interface to maximize post-implantation speech recognition. Poor placement can lead to poor electrical coverage of the auditory nerve and/or excessive channel stimulation overlap. In this project, an augmented reality CI insertion guidance system will be developed and validated. The proposed system leverages modern artificial intelligence technology and does not require any expensive or exotic equipment. The system will be experimentally tested to confirm IT facilitates achieving a more optimal CI electro-neural interface. System development will begin by developing reliable and accurate algorithms for scene mapping to facilitate microscope self-localization and registration of 2D microscope video capture to 3D pre-operative imaging. Methods will be developed for registering anatomy segmentations and pre-procedure plans created using CT or MR to the microscope video directly as well as solve the microscope self-localization and scene mapping problem to update the registration as the scene changes over time. Next, tool pose detection algorithms to enable active electrode placement feedback will be developed. We will develop machine learning approaches for detecting the 3D pose of CI insertion tools to detect how closely the pre-planned electrode array insertion strategy is being followed. This will facilitate providing warning in the AR environment when the insertion is sub- optimal. Finally, we will develop and validate a fully integrated and automated augmented reality interface. This system will enable visualization of CO-registered segmentations and plans and feedback on adherence to the plan. Clinical translation of the system will be comprehensively tested in a large temporal bone study. If successful, the system will facilitate placing arrays with a more optimal electro-neural interface, which would ultimately lead to improved CI outcomes.

Transactions

Action Obligated Date
Amendment $618,802
Original award $651,197

Subawards

Subrecipient Amount Awarded
Vanderbilt University Medical Center The Vanderbilt University (VU) team will be responsible for the further development of algorithms and methods to design the augmented reality cochlear implant… $85,805
Medical University Of South Carolina The The Vanderbilt University (VU) team will be responsible for the further development of algorithms and methods to design the augmented reality cochlear implant… $80,553
Vanderbilt University Medical Center The Vanderbilt University (VU) team will be responsible for the further development of algorithms and methods to design the augmented reality cochlear implant… $85,551
Medical University Of South Carolina The The Vanderbilt University (VU) team will be responsible for the further development of algorithms and methods to design the augmented reality cochlear implant… $81,513

Quick answers

Who received award R01DC022099?

R01DC022099 was awarded to Vanderbilt University by National Institute on Deafness and Other Communincation Disorders (National Institutes of Health) on August 8, 2025.

How much is award R01DC022099 worth?

$1,269,999 has been obligated on R01DC022099.

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