<scp>3D</scp> ‐Printed Electroanatomic Twins of Cadaveric Cochleae: A Platform for Cochlear Implant Testing

ABSTRACT Objectives Cochlear implants (CIs) can restore hearing to individuals with severe deafness, yet clinical outcomes vary widely because it remains difficult to predict how electrical currents interact with the unique anatomy of each cochlea. A central challenge in auditory rehabilitation is the lack of experimental systems that capture both the anatomical fidelity and the electrical properties of the human cochlea. To address this need, we developed electroanatomic twins: three‐dimensional, 3D printed models of human cochleae that incorporate anatomically accurate features of the otic capsule and conductive biomimetic structures designed to reproduce tissue resistivity. Methods Electroanatomic cochlea twins were generated from high resolution microCT scans of cadaveric specimens and from clinical CT scans, and they allowed reproducible, high‐resolution mapping of voltage fields during CI stimulation. Results These models reproduced intraoperative spread of current profiles with a root mean square error below 0.1 kΩ, closely matched cadaveric impedance spectra, and recapitulated spatial voltage distributions under monopolar, bipolar, and tripolar stimulation. Conclusion By combining anatomical precision with electrical realism, electroanatomic twins provide a robust translational platform for systematic testing of electrode designs and programming strategies. This approach has the potential to guide individualized CI programming and thereby improve auditory outcomes, while also establishing a generalisable framework for modeling electroanatomic interactions that could accelerate the development of personalized bioelectronic therapies. Level of Evidence Level 3.

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Publication Details

Journal
Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Published
2026-07-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.70509
Primary Topic
Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

3D ‐Printed Electroanatomic Twins of Cadaveric Cochleae: A Platform for Cochlear Implant Testing

Chloe Swords, Manohar Bance, François Guérit, Iwan Roberts et al.
Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation
article

3D ‐Printed Electroanatomic Twins of Cadaveric Cochleae: A Platform for Cochlear Implant Testing

Chloe Swords, Manohar Bance, François Guérit, Iwan Roberts, Cecilia Brassett, Sita Tarini Clark, Filip Hrnčiřík, Botian Huang
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives Cochlear implants (CIs) can restore hearing to individuals with severe deafness, yet clinical outcomes vary widely because it remains difficult to predict how electrical currents interact with the unique anatomy of each cochlea. A central challenge in auditory rehabilitation is the lack of experimental systems that capture both the anatomical fidelity and the electrical properties of the human cochlea. To address this need, we developed electroanatomic twins: three‐dimensional, 3D printed models of human cochleae that incorporate anatomically accurate features of the otic capsule and conductive biomimetic structures designed to reproduce tissue resistivity. Methods Electroanatomic cochlea twins were generated from high resolution microCT scans of cadaveric specimens and from clinical CT scans, and they allowed reproducible, high‐resolution mapping of voltage fields during CI stimulation. Results These models reproduced intraoperative spread of current profiles with a root mean square error below 0.1 kΩ, closely matched cadaveric impedance spectra, and recapitulated spatial voltage distributions under monopolar, bipolar, and tripolar stimulation. Conclusion By combining anatomical precision with electrical realism, electroanatomic twins provide a robust translational platform for systematic testing of electrode designs and programming strategies. This approach has the potential to guide individualized CI programming and thereby improve auditory outcomes, while also establishing a generalisable framework for modeling electroanatomic interactions that could accelerate the development of personalized bioelectronic therapies. Level of Evidence Level 3.

Laryngoscope Investigative OtolaryngologyVol. 11(4)
MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (GB), University of Cambridge (GB)
Anatomical Society, Royal College of Surgeons of England, Royal National Institute for Deaf People, Woolf Fisher Trust, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation
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