Toward Self-Measures in Cochlear Implants: Daily and “Homemade” Impedance Assessment

Abstract

Introduction: Cochlear implant (CI) impedance reflects the status of the electro neural interface, potentially acting as a biomarker for inner ear injury. Most impedance shifts are diagnosed retrospectively because they are only measured in clinical appointments, with unknown behavior between visits. Here we study the application and discuss the benefits of daily and remote impedance measures with software specifically designed for this purpose. Methods: We designed software to perform CI impedance measurements without the intervention of health personnel. Ten patients were recruited to self-measure impedance for 30 days at home, between CI surgery and activation. Data were transferred to a secured online server allowing remote monitoring. Results: Most subjects successfully performed measurements at home without supervision. Only a subset of measurements was missed due to lack of patient engagement. Data were successfully and securely transferred to the online server. No adverse events, pain, or discomfort was reported by participants. Discussion: This work overviews a flexible and highly configurable platform for self-measurement CI impedance. This novel approach simplifies the CI standard of care by reducing the number of clinical visits and by proving useful and constant information to CI clinicians.