[Establishment of a mathematical model for calculating cochlear length].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cochlear length of the miniature pig calculated by 3-dimensional reconstruction technique and an Archimedean spiral model, and to evaluate the feasibility of determining the length of the cochlea using a mathematical model. METHODS: The temporal bones of three miniature pigs with normal hearing were selected and scanned by micro-CT. The pictures were input into Mimics software, the 3D structure of the inner ear was reconstructed, and the following parameters were determined through Mimics cochlear length, diameter of each turn, cochlear height, and apical turn angle. The cochlear length was calculated using the Archimedean spiral model. RESULTS: The length of the cochlea was (35.30±0.88)mm based on the three-dimensional reconstruction technique compared to (34.85±0.64)mm based on the Archimedean spiral model. The differences between the two values were not statistically significant. The height of the cochlea is (2.64±0.24)mm. The capsule of the cochlea had 3.67 turns. CONCLUSIONS: The three-dimensional reconstruction technique provides accurate and reliable results, but the reconstruction process is time-consuming and is unsuitable for clinical application. The Archimedean spiral model method is simple, feasible, reliable, and therefore suitable for clinical applications, in particular to provide references for cochlear implantation surgeries.