Integrated Augmented Reality Feedback for Cochlear Implant Surgery Instruments

In this article, we present a visualization system to provide assistance in cochlear implant surgery which can be seamlessly integrated within the devices that are currently used in surgery. The system is intended to improve tool alignment in positioning and during insertion, with the aim of reducing the problems encountered during perimodiolar electrode array insertion. Our system is composed of a semi-autonomous hand-held surgical tool, coupled with an optical tracker to monitor the tool position and an operating microscope. The microscope live view is overlaid with guidance information in the form of augmented reality to assist the surgeon in positioning the surgical tool and maintain that position during insertion. Our approach shows promising results in tool alignment, which are comparable to the state of the art.