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

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.