CEIT-IK4 designs a tool for the operation of patients with hearing problems

2010/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Teknologia
• Medikuntza

The developed tool allows surgeons to work more accurately

Engineers from CEIT-IK4 and doctors from the University Clinic of Navarra have developed a new tool to operate the inner ear accurately and reduce the hearing damage that the operation can cause.

It is a special micromaneiadora, especially suitable for operations with cochlear implants. Specifically, the goal of the micromaneiadora is to help the surgeon in those parts of the body of small dimension and high sensitivity, in this case the inner ear. The inner ear is smaller than the nail of a small finger and its structure is very thin and fragile.

The micromaneiadora allows to operate accurately in this type of sections without causing damage. It consists of two parts, one of them serves as support for the other part, for which the patient's temporal bone is anchored by a screw and the other part has tied the milling tools necessary for the operation. Through them, the surgeon makes a hole in the patient's temporary bone to reach the inner ear. In addition, it has a flexible metal part in the center for the surgeon to perform the milling with greater control and precision, reducing the vibrations of the hand.