18 Auditory Midbrain Implant

Thomas Lenarz, Amir Samii, Karl-Heinz Dyballa, and Hubert H. Lim

Abstract

The auditory midbrain implant (AMI) is a novel central auditory implant for hearing restoration in patients with neural deafness due to damage of the auditory nerve by bilateral vestibular schwannomas (mainly NF2). These patients cannot benefit from a cochlear implant nor from an auditory brainstem implant due to damage of the cochlear nucleus at the brainstem either by the tumor itself or its treatment.

The penetrating multichannel electrode arrays are inserted into the central nucleus perpendicular to the frequency layer. The tonotopic stimulation encodes different frequencies which can be used for speech discrimination. Five patients with a single shank and five patients with a double shank electrode have been implanted so far. The patients experience limited speech recognition scores comparable to those with auditory brainstem implants.

Overall the AMI provides an alternative treatment for hearing rehabilitation in NF2-patients.

Key words

auditory midbrain – NF2 – penetrating electrode

18 Auditory Midbrain Implant

18.1 Introduction

Patients with neural deafness cannot benefit from a cochlear implant (CI) due to damaged auditory nerves, such as those with neurofibromatosis type II (NF2) who have had removal of tumors involving the cochlear nerve. There are also deaf individuals with cochleas that cannot be implanted with a CI due to anatomical distortions/ossification or damage of the cochleas. In these types of patients, electrical stimulation of structures of the auditory pathway central to the auditory nerve can be used for hearing restoration. Two types of central auditory prostheses have been realized for clinical application: the auditory brainstem implant (ABI) and the auditory midbrain implant (AMI; Fig. 18.1). ¹ ^, ² ^, ³

**Fig. 18.1** Location of central auditory implants. Auditory brainstem implant (ABI) and auditory midbrain implant (AMI) compared to cochlear implant (CI). Different auditory neural prosthetics used in patients for hearing restoration. CI is implanted into the cochlea and used for auditory nerve stimulation. ABI is used for stimulation of the cochlear nucleus. AMI is used for penetrating stimulation of the auditory midbrain (i.e., the inferior colliculus). The examples shown in this figure were developed by Cochlear Limited (Australia). (Figure was taken from Lenarz et al, 2006 and reprinted with permission from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ⁴ )

The ABI has been in clinical use since 1979 in different versions including surface and penetrating electrodes. ⁵ Hearing performance with the ABI has remained substantially inferior to those achieved with cochlear implants and show a large variability in outcomes, spanning from no auditory sensations to some degree of open-set speech understanding. ⁶ ^, ⁷ ^, ⁸ ^, ⁹ Several possible reasons for the poor outcomes include the limited access or stimulation of the tonotopic organization of the cochlear nucleus, even with the penetrating electrode arrays used in a previous clinical study, and the preprocessing of auditory information from the cochlea to the brainstem that has been bypassed with the ABI. Current stimulation strategies for the ABI are derived from CIs and may not be able to sufficiently restore the auditory information at the brainstem level. Particularly in NF2 deaf patients, it has been proposed that poor ABI outcomes may be due to the damage caused at the brainstem level, associated with the tumor and/or tumor removal process, especially since hearing outcomes in nontumor patients have shown greater performance than those of tumor patients. ⁶ ^, ⁷ ^, ¹³

Considering these limitations, as well as to attempt to overcome some of these limitations, the AMI has been developed. ⁴ ^, ¹⁴ ^, ¹⁵ ^, ¹⁶ The main concept of the AMI is the use of penetrating single-shank or double-shank electrode array with ring contacts that can stimulate the different frequency layers of the inferior colliculus, beyond the damaged tumor region in the brainstem area (Fig. 18.2). This frequency layer stimulation could potentially improve speech discrimination by more precisely stimulating the tonotopic organization of the inferior colliculus in its central nucleus. In order to address the three-dimensional organization and the different neuronal presentation within one frequency layer, a double-shank electrode array was recently developed and brought into clinical studies with patients implanted in 2017 to 2019. This double-shank electrode array stems from research in animals and outcomes from a previous clinical study using the single-shank electrode array version in five deaf NF2 patients. The rationale, technology development and validation, and animal and human research supporting both human studies is described in detail in previous reviews. ³ ^, ¹⁷

**Fig. 18.2** **(a)** Single-shank and **(b)** double-shank auditory midbrain implant (AMI) electrode arrays. **(c)** Schematic of double-shank electrode array. **(d)** Schematic of double shank inserted into inferior colliculus. Fig. **(a)** shows the first generation of the AMI array that was implanted into five deaf patients in 2006 to 2008 consisting of 20 ring sites (200 µm spacing, 200 µm thickness, 400 µm diameter) along a silicone carrier. The Dacron mesh prevents over-insertion of the array into the inferior colliculus and tethers it to the brain. Fig. **(b)** shows new two-shank AMI array that was recently implanted into five deaf patients (2017–2019) in a second clinical trial. Each shank consists of 11 ring sites along a silicone carrier (300 µm site spacing except for one site positioned closer to the Dacron mesh for tinnitus treatment). Fig. **(c)** shows a schematic of the two-shank array. Fig. **(c)** shows schematic of inserted double-shank array into inferior colliculus along tonotope structure from low to high pitch. Images in **(a)** and **(b)** were taken from Samii et al¹⁶ and Lim et al³, respectively, and reprinted with permission from Wolters Kluwer and Elsevier. Schematic in Fig. **(c)** was taken with permission from Cochlear Limited (Australia). Image **(d)** was taken from Geniec and Morest¹⁸ and reprinted with permission from Taylor & Francis.

The penetrating electrode arrays are attached to a CI receiver-stimulator developed by Cochlear Limited (Australia). The electrode arrays have a tapered tip (Fig. 18.2). For insertion purposes, each electrode shank is stabilized by a stylet with a sharp tip in a central canal of the shank. The stylet enables insertion of the shank into the brain and then can be pulled out after insertion, allowing the electrode array to become more flexible in order to adjust to the brain structure and creating less force on the brain tissue. The implant has a reference electrode with a separate wire which is ball-shaped placed into the temporalis muscle area in addition to the receiver-stimulator casing, similar to typical CIs developed by Cochlear Limited.

18.2 Preoperative Diagnostics and Selection Criteria for Patients

The AMI is indicated in patients with bilateral neural deafness due to damage of the auditory nerve, mainly in NF2 patients with bilateral vestibular schwannomas (Fig. 18.3). In those NF2 patients, the tumor itself or subsequent treatment such as microsurgical tumor removal and/or radiotherapy can create damage at the brainstem level, including the nearby area of the cochlear nucleus and/or the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle. The AMI can bypass the damaged brainstem areas by targeting the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus. Targeting of the inferior colliculus is possible through preoperative imaging of the midbrain structures and fusion of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) images (Fig. 18.4). These images can help identify key anatomical landmarks for the inferior colliculus, which includes the division line between the inferior colliculus and the superior colliculus, the midbrain midline, the tentorium, and the third ventricle. Audiological tests must document the neural deafness on both sides. The audiological profile is characterized by a severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss with pure speech discrimination in comparison to the pure tone threshold, missing auditory brainstem responses, and a negative (transtympanic) promontory test. These patients would not benefit from acoustic amplification.

AMI should be especially considered in patients with distorted or damaged brainstem due to previous treatment or by the tumor itself. The anatomic situation shall be well documented using high-resolution imaging including MRI of the temporal bone and the brain as well as a CT scan of the temporal bone and the skull.

**Fig. 18.3** Bilateral vestibular schwannomas in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patient. Vestibular schwannoma marked with *arrows* in axial **(a)** and coronal **(b)** views.

**Fig. 18.4** Imaging of the inferior colliculus with reconstruction of electrode positions. Figs. **(a)** to **(i)** show magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images (**[g]** to **[i]** preoperative MRI fused with postoperative computed tomography [CT] images of one of the patients implanted with the double-shank auditory midbrain implant [AMI]) of the midbrain in different views, column by column, according to the headings. **(a)**, **(b)**, and **(c)** show a raw image dataset. *Arrows* point to the target region, which is the left inferior colliculus in this patient. **(d)**, **(e)**, and **(f)** are an aligned dataset that is used for the navigation which leads to the top peaks of the inferior colliculus and superior colliculus being aligned vertically in the sagittal view, both inferior colliculi being aligned horizontally in the axial view, and all four colliculi being viewed directly orthogonally to their top surfaces in the coronal view. **(g)**, **(h)**, and **(i)** show the two shanks inserted in the fused CT-MRI images. *Arrows* point to the shanks in the central portion of the inferior colliculus with appropriate angles to be aligned along the tonotopic axis.

18.3 Surgical Technique

AMI implantation can be performed either with or without tumor removal depending on the individual case. Surgery is possible either in the semi-sitting or supine position. The preferred position is semi-sitting for retrosigmoid (suboccipital) approach with medial extension up to the midline (Fig. 18.5). Navigation is advised in order to safely identify target structures, and determine the angles of electrode insertion. Bone anchored fiducials are placed in the skull around the craniotomy and a CT scan is taken. Surgery is done with the head fixed in the Mayfield clamp and using monitoring for facial nerve and long tracts and, depending on tumor extension, also other cranial nerves. After the exposure of the skull, a retrosigmoid craniotomy with extension to the midline is performed. After incision of the dura and opening the cistern for cerebellar relaxation a brain spatula is placed to hold the cerebellum, and tumor removal (e.g., vestibular schwannoma in the cerebellopontine angle) is initiated.

**Fig. 18.5** Lateral suboccipital infratentorial supracerebellar approach. **(a)** Schematic drawing showing the area of exposure provided by the lateral suboccipital craniotomy including the ipsilateral cerebellopontine angle and the dorsolateral aspect of the mesencephalon. **(b)** Schematic drawing showing the skin incision (*red dotted line*), appropriate location for the receiver-stimulator of the auditory midbrain implant (AMI) in the temporoparietal area (*red star*), and the location of the lateral suboccipital craniotomy (*yellow circle*) exposing the inferior margin of the transverse sinus and the medial margin of the sigmoid sinus. (Image was taken from Samii et al¹⁶ and reprinted with permission from Wolters Kluwer).

The next step is the exposure of the auditory midbrain through an infratentorial supracerebellar approach. In the semi-sitting position after removing the brain spatula from the cerebellopontine angle, the cerebellum shows a significant shift to the caudal direction due to gravity. This provides a sufficient surgical corridor to access the midbrain without any further retraction. The bridging veins from the tentorium can be typically preserved (Fig. 18.6). The surface of the inferior colliculus is exposed (Fig. 18.7). The inferior and superior colliculi, the brachium, and the trochlear nerve are exposed with proper dissection of vascular structures that should be preserved (Fig. 18.8).

**Fig. 18.6** Infratentorial supracerebellar dissection with preservation of bridging veins.

**Fig. 18.7** Gentle dissection with exposure of the inferior colliculus.

**Fig. 18.8** Exposure of the surface of the inferior colliculus with preservation of all adjacent neurovascular structures.

The penetrating electrode arrays shall be placed into the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus with perpendicular penetration across the frequency layers shown to exist in previous anatomical and imaging studies in humans. ¹⁸ ^, ¹⁹ ^, ²⁰ From the previous electrophysiological experiments and cadaver studies the optimum entry point on the surface of the inferior colliculus can be determined using anatomical landmarks (Fig. 18.9). The landmarks include the midline between the two inferior colliculi, the horizontal division line between the superior and inferior colliculi, the brachium to the lateral side, and the exit point of the trochlear nerve as the inferior point of reference. The electrode shanks of the double-shank array are then inserted into the inferior colliculus in a rostral-lateral toward inferior-medial direction with an insertion angle of 40 degrees toward the midline. Special navigation tools have been developed to determine this angle (Fig. 18.10). Placement of millimeter paper is useful to identify the two entry points, the rostral one being more lateral and the caudal one being more medial. The pia mater is first perforated with a special surgical tool (Fig. 18.11). After placement of the receiver-stimulator in the drilled-out bony bed superior to the craniotomy, the electrode arrays are pre-positioned with their leads bifurcated intracranially. First, the rostral shank is inserted (Fig. 18.12 and Fig. 18.13), followed by the caudal shank. The stylet is removed. The Dacron mesh defines the insertion depth (Fig. 18.14). Electrode cables are protected in the bone canal between the bony bed and the craniotomy. The reference electrode is placed under the temporalis muscle. Intraoperative electrophysiology is performed to determine the electrode impedances and measure the so-called neural responses with the telemetry system of the implant. In addition, the electrically evoked middle latency responses (E-MLRs) are recorded (Fig. 18.15). Watertight closure of the dura is (Fig. 18.16) performed and the craniotomy is closed by cranioplastic approach with artificial bone cement wound closure.

**Fig. 18.9** Entry points of penetrating electrode arrays into the right inferior colliculus.

**Fig. 18.10** Navigation tool on the surface of the right inferior colliculus indicating the angle toward the midline using a Fiagon navigation system.

**Fig. 18.11** Special surgical tool/pick to penetrate the pia mater in the right inferior colliculus.

**Fig. 18.12** Insertion of the rostral shank into the inferior colliculus.

**Fig. 18.13** Rostral shank completely inserted with stylet in place.

**Fig. 18.14** Both shanks are inserted with stylets removed. The Dacron mesh helps to stabilize the electrode shanks in their position.

**Fig. 18.15** Electrical middle latency responses (E-MLRs) intraoperatively recorded with electrical stimulation of the inferior colliculus.

**Fig. 18.16** Implant in bony bed. Dura closed.

18.3.1 Location of the Electrode Arrays

Postoperative CT scans are taken and the position of the electrodes within the inferior colliculus are reconstructed with superposition into the preoperative MRI scans (Fig. 18.4). These data are still being analyzed to create three-dimensional anatomical reconstructions of the midbrain and shank positions, and will be published in a future publication.

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