Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42645130›Full record

ArticleAudiology research2026

Automatic Detection of Extracochlear Electrodes in Cochlear Implants Using Electric Field Imaging: Bench and Clinical Validation.

Mehrangiz Ashiri, Tony Spahr, Chen Chen, Azret Botash, Ashish Mehta, Patrick Boyle, Manohar Bance, Daniele Borsetto, Susan T Eitutis, Jordan J Varghese and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Audiology research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Mehrangiz AshiriResearch and Technology, Advanced Bionics LLC, Valencia, CA 91355, USA.ORCID 0009-0002-9900-6770
Tony SpahrResearch and Technology, Advanced Bionics LLC, Valencia, CA 91355, USA.
Chen ChenResearch and Technology, Advanced Bionics LLC, Valencia, CA 91355, USA.
Azret BotashResearch and Technology, Advanced Bionics LLC, Valencia, CA 91355, USA.
Ashish MehtaResearch and Technology, Advanced Bionics LLC, Valencia, CA 91355, USA.ORCID 0009-0004-8856-4317
Patrick BoyleResearch and Technology, Advanced Bionics LLC, Valencia, CA 91355, USA.
Manohar BanceDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
Daniele BorsettoDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3464-2688
Susan T EitutisDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9931-0564
Jordan J VargheseDepartment of Otolaryngology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5312-5091
Craig A BuchmanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
René H GiffordHearts for Hearing, Oklahoma City, OK 73120, USA.
Andrea J DeFreeseDepartment of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Matthew MillerOtolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sanford Health, Fargo, ND 58104, USA.
Syed F AhsanHead & Neck Surgery Department, Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Anaheim, CA 92806, USA.
Christopher DannerTampa Bay Hearing & Balance Center, Tampa, FL 33606, USA.
Kyle P AllenTampa Bay Hearing & Balance Center, Tampa, FL 33606, USA.
Loren BartelsTampa Bay Hearing & Balance Center, Tampa, FL 33606, USA.
Kanthaiah KokaResearch and Technology, Advanced Bionics LLC, Valencia, CA 91355, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesExtracochlear electrodes (EEs), defined as electrode contacts located outside the cochlea, can degrade cochlear implant (CI) performance. We present and validate an Electric Field Imaging (EFI)-based algorithm that helps detect EEs and can be used intra- or post-operatively.

methodsAn algorithm for detecting EEs from EFI data was developed. Validation and testing were performed using three datasets: (a) bench models with known EE conditions (saline and resistive load model), (b) clinical EFI recordings from CI recipients with imaging confirmation (CT or plain X-ray), and (c) EFI recordings without imaging. Primary outcomes included the ability to differentiate extracochlear conditions from fully inserted electrode arrays, as well as the concordance between the number of EE contacts identified by the algorithm and those determined from controlled bench configurations or available imaging data.

resultsThe algorithm reliably differentiated full insertion from EE conditions on bench models and clinical EFI recordings from CI recipients with imaging confirmation. In the imaging-confirmed clinical cohort (6 EE cases among 226 CI recipients), the algorithm achieved 100% sensitivity and specificity. In clinical cases without imaging, the algorithm flagged 3.94% as having extracochlear electrodes, within the range of prevalence reported in the literature. Furthermore, the lateral-wall electrode arrays were associated with a significantly higher extracochlear electrode occurrence compared to the pre-curved arrays.

conclusionsThis EFI-based algorithm may provide a useful screening tool for EEs using routine clinical measurements, supporting intra-operative and post-operative detection while reducing reliance on imaging and thereby aiding clinical decision-making. The method can be integrated into existing clinical fitting software workflow and complements recent work on EFI-based tip fold-over detection. The observed sensitivity and specificity suggest that this approach may provide a valuable tool for identifying EEs in situations where imaging is unavailable or impractical.

Indexed as

cochlear implant (CI)electric field imaging (EFI)extracochlear electrode (EE)impedance

Identifiers

PMID42645130
PMCPMC13510263

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.