4 Topic Commentaries

Robotic cochlear insertion shows early potential

• 

  Seiji Shibata, MD, PhD

  Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery; Neurotology

  •

  USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Keck Medicine of USC

  “The motor allows you to advance the electrodes at different speeds,” he continues, “and it advances at a very steady speed. The surgeon can choose the speed. Most recently when using it, I inserted an electrode at a rate of 0.2 millimeters per second. You can’t replicate a rate that slow by hand. It’s impossible. It’s much steadier compared to the human hand.” — verbatim from source

  Source
• 

  Mallory J. Raymond, M.D.

  Otology/Neurotology

  •

  Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida

  “Studies have shown that this type of insertion leads to the least insertional trauma and lowest amount of force,” Dr. Raymond says. “I use this tool to try to preserve hearing in patients who may have better residual hearing or asymmetric hearing in the opposite ear.” — verbatim from source

  Source
• 

  Jay A. Gantz, M.D., Ph.D.

  Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery; Neurotology

  •

  Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Medicine

  “Robot-assisted cochlear implantation is so much slower and more careful,” Gantz added. “It has far less variation in force than the human hand, which can improve outcomes and minimize potential unintentional damage.” — verbatim from source

  Source
• 

  Eric M. Kraus, MD, MS

  Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery; Otology/Neurotology

  •

  Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

  “Our ultimate goal is to be able to one day preserve 90% of residual hearing in 90% of our patients,” Kraus said. “This is a very high bar, but we are very hopeful that this quantum change in technology will put us one step closer to achieving our goal to provide the best long-term hearing possible for our patients.” — verbatim from source

  Source