An endoscope device and imaging method for intraoperative imaging of the cochlea and imaging-guided cochlear implantation

A method of imaging a cochlea, comprising:

• providing an endoscope device, comprising:
• an optical imaging probe comprising a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a fiber connector, an optical probe position module, an optical fiber, and an optical probe head,
• the optical probe head being configured to deliver a focused light beam,
• the optical probe position module controlling an axial position of the optical probe head, and
• a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising a flexible sheath, a tube adaptor, and a stylet tube,
• the flexible sheath, tube adaptor, and stylet tube being configured to form a continuous channel and surround at least a portion of the optical fiber;
• disposing the endoscope device into the channel of an electrode array;
• inserting the endoscope device into the cochlea and advancing the endoscope device,
• wherein inserting comprises:
• emitting light into the proximal end of the optical imaging probe and causing the optical probe head to emit light toward the interior of the cochlea and focus on the tissues of the cochlea,
• rotating the optical imaging probe to focus light on different locations of the cochlea, and
• causing the optical imaging probe to receive reflected light from the cochlea and transmit the reflected light toward the proximal end of the optical imaging probe;
• and
• generating a two-dimensional image of a portion of the cochlea surrounding the optical imaging probe based on the reflected light received from the optical imaging probe;
• and
• causing the two-dimensional image of the portion of the cochlea surrounding the optical probe to be presented, wherein the two-dimensional image is indicative of a distance between an outer surface of the optical imaging probe and a wall of the cochlea.

A method of imaging-guided cochlear implantation, comprising:

• providing an endoscope device, comprising:
• an optical imaging probe comprising a proximal end and a distal end and comprising a fiber connector, an optical probe position module, an optical fiber, and an optical probe head,
• the optical probe head being configured to deliver a focused light beam,
• the optical probe position module controlling an axial position of the optical probe head, and
• a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising a flexible sheath, a tube adaptor, and a stylet tube,
• the flexible sheath, tube adaptor, and stylet tube being configured to form a continuous channel and surround at least a portion of the optical fiber;
• disposing the endoscope device into the channel of an electrode array;
• inserting the electrode array-endoscope device into a cochlea and advancing the electrode array and the endoscope,
• wherein inserting comprises:
• emitting light into the proximal end of the optical imaging probe and causing the optical probe head to emit light toward the interior of the cochlea and focus on the tissue of the cochlea,
• rotating the optical imaging probe to focus light on different locations of the tissue of cochlea,
• causing the optical imaging probe to receive reflected light from the cochlea and transmit the reflected light toward the proximal end of the optical imaging probe, and
• generating a two-dimensional image of a portion of the cochlea surrounding the optical imaging probe based on the reflected light received from the optical imaging probe;
• identifying an insertion depth based on the generated two-dimensional images of the cochlea;
• and
• advancing the electrode array off of the stylet tube, during which the optical imaging probe continues rotating and imaging to monitor the position of the electrode array and the cochlea.