The Stapes System
Microsurgical interventions in ear-surgery require very high target accuracy.
The simulation system evaluates
objectively the quality of surgical intervention, in this case the position accuracy of a stapes prosthesis.
The prosthesis is responsible for the sound transfer in the inner-ear and improves the power of hearing.
At the system, the insert of a stapes prosthesis can be simulated in a realistic environment.
The system evaluates specially the perforation accuracy of the stapes base.
It is connected with the USB
interface of standard computer with the installed simulation software. During the 5th International Conference
on Computer Aided Surgery around the Head (CAS-H) in Leipzig the system was presented for the first time.
The model is based on a high resolution CT of a cadaver skull. With the help
of a 3D-printer, the anatomical
model is created with properties being similar to the bone.
In the position of the oval window in the right ear, a glass plate was placed.
On this plate, the oval window
was marked with the center being the perforation target.
Movements of the instrument's tip are recognized by a camera which is located behind the glass plate. If the
instrument contacts the glass plate, a camera screenshot will be stored automatically. With the help of image
processing software, the devia-tion between the tip of the instrument and optimal target point is evaluated
automatically within submillimeter range.
Furthermore, the system estimates the time from the entry in the auditory canal till the position of the
instrument's tip on the target point. All relevant data as well as the camera image in the target contact
case are stored and can be applied for statistical analyses.
Thus the system allows on the one hand preclinical studies e.g. accuracy of computer assisted instruments
and on the other hand the education of surgeons under realistic conditions.
