Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Laryngoscope. 2010 Aug;120(8):1619-24. doi: 10.1002/lary.20979.
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To validate the scientific utility of flexible cochlear microendoscopy in the gerbil. This model is currently being developed to study the effects of intracochlear electrode positioning on functional parameters.
Animal experiments.
A flexible fiberoptic microendoscope featuring a light channel and an outer diameter of 0.4 mm was specially modified to allow intracochlear visualization. Specifically, the focus distance was reduced to 1 mm and the optical properties were modified so that visualization was adequate when submerged in perilymphatic fluid. This endoscope was used to view intracochlear contents and monitor the progress of electrode insertions in 11 gerbils. The endoscopic data estimating the site of damage were compared to postmortem microdissections.
The endoscope allowed for adequate visualization of intracochlear content in all animals. The site of electrode contact seen in the endoscope was confirmed in the microdissected cochleae in 10 of 11 cases, indicating the endoscope's ability to correctly identify the site of intracochlear trauma in this animal model.
The current report demonstrates the feasibility of intracochlear microendoscopy in an animal model of hearing preservation cochlear implantation.
目的/假设：验证在沙鼠中柔性耳蜗微内镜的科学效用。该模型目前正在开发中，用于研究内耳蜗电极定位对功能参数的影响。
动物实验。
专门对一种带有光通道和 0.4 毫米外径的柔性纤维光学微内镜进行了修改，以允许进行内耳蜗可视化。具体来说，将焦点距离缩短至 1 毫米，并修改光学特性，以便在内淋巴液中浸没时可以进行充分的可视化。该内窥镜用于观察内耳蜗内容物，并监测 11 只沙鼠中电极插入的进展情况。估计损伤部位的内窥镜数据与死后微解剖进行了比较。
内窥镜允许在所有动物中充分观察内耳蜗内容物。在 11 例中有 10 例在内窥镜中看到的电极接触部位在微解剖的耳蜗中得到了证实，表明内窥镜能够正确识别该动物模型中内耳蜗创伤的部位。
本报告证明了在听力保护耳蜗植入动物模型中进行内耳蜗微内镜检查的可行性。
