title: High precision cochleostomy by use of a pulsed CO2 laser - an experimental approach.
abstract: A precise cochleostomy is a crucial step in cochlear implantation, particularly if residual hearing is to be preserved. A contactless ablation of the promontory bone by a pulsed CO(2) laser system seems to be a promising approach. The bone is removed by a scan head controlled laser beam in sequential scan cycles with a pulse rate of 50-100 mus. Digital picture analysis and pattern detection are used to identify the membranous lining of the cochlea. We achieved a bone ablation in a micrometer range per scan cycle with the laser. A perforation of the promontory bone could be detected by automatic pattern detection. The enhancement of automatic pattern detection can lead to a minimally invasive, function-preserving laser cochleostomy.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Duesseldorf, Germany. Thomas.Klenzner@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klenzner
authors.forename: Felix B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raczkowsky
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Woern
authors.forename: Lueder A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kahrs
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hering
mesh_terms: D003051:Cochlea / Q000601:surgery*; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*