Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Robotic Cochlear Implantation for Direct Cochlear Access
Published on: June 16, 2022
Mitek QuickAnchor fixation of cochlear implants using a minimal access technique
P Campisi1, L Hayward, B Papsin
1The Cochlear Implant Program and Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, The University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, 6th Floor, Elm Wing, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8. paolo.campisi@sickkids.ca
Insights
The Mitek QuickAnchor system effectively secures cochlear implants in children with thick cortical bone, simplifying minimal access surgery. This method ensures successful fixation even in challenging cases.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Minimal access cochlear implant fixation is challenging in children with thick cortical bone.
- The Mitek QuickAnchor system offers a potential solution for this surgical difficulty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the Mitek QuickAnchor system for cochlear implant fixation in pediatric patients with thick cortical bone.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric cochlear implantations over 12 months.
- Analysis of pre-operative CT scans for cortical bone thickness at the receiver-stimulator well site.
- Review of Mitek QuickAnchor system application and outcomes.
Main Results:
- The Mitek QuickAnchor system was used in 14 children (mean age 12 years).
- Mean cortical bone thickness was significantly greater (5.6mm) in the Mitek QuickAnchor group compared to conventional fixation (3.2mm).
- All cases achieved successful and secure cochlear implant fixation.
Conclusions:
- The Mitek QuickAnchor system is an effective solution for cochlear implant fixation in children with thick cortical bone using a minimal access technique.
- This system facilitates secure device placement, overcoming challenges associated with dense bone structures.
Rationale:
In children with thick cortical bone, surgical exposure for cochlear implant fixation is difficult when using a minimal access technique. We report our experience in these children using the Mitek QuickAnchor system.
Methods:
A retrospective review of all children undergoing cochlear implantation over a 12-month period was performed to identify those children in which a Mitek QuickAnchor was used. Measurements of cortical bone thickness at the receiver-stimulator well site were obtained from pre-operative CT scans of temporal bones of all children. The application of the Mitek QuickAnchor system was also reviewed.
Results:
Cochlear implant fixation using the Mitek QuickAnchor system was performed in 14 children (mean age 12 years) during the study period. The mean cortical bone thickness was 5.6mm in patients receiving the Mitek QuickAnchor system and 3.2mm in patients undergoing conventional fixation. The difference in cortical thickness was highly statistically significant. Successful secure fixation was obtained in all cases.
Conclusions:
The Mitek QuickAnchor system provides an effective method of cochlear implant fixation when using a minimal access technique in children with thick cortical bone.
