Characterization of the human helicotrema: implications for cochlear duct length and frequency mapping

Abstract Background Despite significant anatomical variation amongst patients, cochlear implant frequency-mapping has traditionally followed a patient-independent approach. Basilar membrane (BM) length is required for patient-specific frequency-mapping, however cochlear duct length (CDL) measurement...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luke Helpard, Hao Li, Helge Rask-Andersen, Hanif M. Ladak, Sumit K. Agrawal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-019-0398-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849400746260299776
author Luke Helpard
Hao Li
Helge Rask-Andersen
Hanif M. Ladak
Sumit K. Agrawal
author_facet Luke Helpard
Hao Li
Helge Rask-Andersen
Hanif M. Ladak
Sumit K. Agrawal
author_sort Luke Helpard
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Despite significant anatomical variation amongst patients, cochlear implant frequency-mapping has traditionally followed a patient-independent approach. Basilar membrane (BM) length is required for patient-specific frequency-mapping, however cochlear duct length (CDL) measurements generally extend to the apical tip of the entire cochlea or have no clearly defined end-point. By characterizing the length between the end of the BM and the apical tip of the entire cochlea (helicotrema length), current CDL models can be corrected to obtain the appropriate BM length. Synchrotron radiation phase-contrast imaging has made this analysis possible due to the soft-tissue contrast through the entire cochlear apex. Methods Helicotrema linear length and helicotrema angular length measurements were performed on synchrotron radiation phase-contrast imaging data of 14 cadaveric human cochleae. On a sub-set of six samples, the CDL to the apical tip of the entire cochlea (CDLTIP) and the BM length (CDLBM) were determined. Regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between CDLTIP and CDLBM. Results The mean helicotrema linear length and helicotrema angular length values were 1.6 ± 0.9 mm and 67.8 ± 37.9 degrees, respectively. Regression analysis revealed the following relationship between CDLTIP and CDLBM: CDLBM = 0.88(CDLTIP) + 3.71 (R 2 = 0.995). Conclusion This is the first known study to characterize the length of the helicotrema in the context of CDL measurements. It was determined that the distance between the end of the BM and the tip of the entire cochlea is clinically consequential. A relationship was determined that can predict the BM length of an individual patient based on their respective CDL measured to the apical tip of the cochlea.
format Article
id doaj-art-8d9bcde4acd349808d14f82af44c4bef
institution Kabale University
issn 1916-0216
language English
publishDate 2020-01-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
spelling doaj-art-8d9bcde4acd349808d14f82af44c4bef2025-08-20T03:37:56ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162020-01-014911710.1186/s40463-019-0398-8Characterization of the human helicotrema: implications for cochlear duct length and frequency mappingLuke Helpard0Hao Li1Helge Rask-Andersen2Hanif M. Ladak3Sumit K. Agrawal4School of Biomedical Engineering, Western UniversityDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Head and Neck Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology, Uppsala University HospitalDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Head and Neck Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology, Uppsala University HospitalSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Western UniversitySchool of Biomedical Engineering, Western UniversityAbstract Background Despite significant anatomical variation amongst patients, cochlear implant frequency-mapping has traditionally followed a patient-independent approach. Basilar membrane (BM) length is required for patient-specific frequency-mapping, however cochlear duct length (CDL) measurements generally extend to the apical tip of the entire cochlea or have no clearly defined end-point. By characterizing the length between the end of the BM and the apical tip of the entire cochlea (helicotrema length), current CDL models can be corrected to obtain the appropriate BM length. Synchrotron radiation phase-contrast imaging has made this analysis possible due to the soft-tissue contrast through the entire cochlear apex. Methods Helicotrema linear length and helicotrema angular length measurements were performed on synchrotron radiation phase-contrast imaging data of 14 cadaveric human cochleae. On a sub-set of six samples, the CDL to the apical tip of the entire cochlea (CDLTIP) and the BM length (CDLBM) were determined. Regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between CDLTIP and CDLBM. Results The mean helicotrema linear length and helicotrema angular length values were 1.6 ± 0.9 mm and 67.8 ± 37.9 degrees, respectively. Regression analysis revealed the following relationship between CDLTIP and CDLBM: CDLBM = 0.88(CDLTIP) + 3.71 (R 2 = 0.995). Conclusion This is the first known study to characterize the length of the helicotrema in the context of CDL measurements. It was determined that the distance between the end of the BM and the tip of the entire cochlea is clinically consequential. A relationship was determined that can predict the BM length of an individual patient based on their respective CDL measured to the apical tip of the cochlea.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-019-0398-8HelicotremaHelicotrema sizeCochlear duct lengthBasilar membraneCochlear apexCochlear implant
spellingShingle Luke Helpard
Hao Li
Helge Rask-Andersen
Hanif M. Ladak
Sumit K. Agrawal
Characterization of the human helicotrema: implications for cochlear duct length and frequency mapping
Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Helicotrema
Helicotrema size
Cochlear duct length
Basilar membrane
Cochlear apex
Cochlear implant
title Characterization of the human helicotrema: implications for cochlear duct length and frequency mapping
title_full Characterization of the human helicotrema: implications for cochlear duct length and frequency mapping
title_fullStr Characterization of the human helicotrema: implications for cochlear duct length and frequency mapping
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of the human helicotrema: implications for cochlear duct length and frequency mapping
title_short Characterization of the human helicotrema: implications for cochlear duct length and frequency mapping
title_sort characterization of the human helicotrema implications for cochlear duct length and frequency mapping
topic Helicotrema
Helicotrema size
Cochlear duct length
Basilar membrane
Cochlear apex
Cochlear implant
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-019-0398-8
work_keys_str_mv AT lukehelpard characterizationofthehumanhelicotremaimplicationsforcochlearductlengthandfrequencymapping
AT haoli characterizationofthehumanhelicotremaimplicationsforcochlearductlengthandfrequencymapping
AT helgeraskandersen characterizationofthehumanhelicotremaimplicationsforcochlearductlengthandfrequencymapping
AT hanifmladak characterizationofthehumanhelicotremaimplicationsforcochlearductlengthandfrequencymapping
AT sumitkagrawal characterizationofthehumanhelicotremaimplicationsforcochlearductlengthandfrequencymapping