Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Robotic Cochlear Implantation for Direct Cochlear Access
Published on: June 16, 2022
[Evaluation of an integrated OR based on open standards in Cochlea Implant surgery]
Teresa Weber-Chüo1, Max Rockstroh2, Stefan Franke2
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Plastische Operationen, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Germany.
Background:
Digitalization in surgery makes it necessary to develop modern surgical concepts. New approaches to system networking with integration and open standardized communication of all medical devices are being pursued.
Methods:
At the University Hospital Leipzig, a demonstration of the integrated OR was carried out together with the Innovation Center for Computer Assisted Surgery (ICCAS) using the example of a cochlea implantation. The preoperative management, technical preparation, surgical procedure and postoperative documentation by a total of n = 30 study participants (2 expert groups) were evaluated. In addition to the collection of objective parameters, qualitative questionnaires and quantitative, interval-scaled questions were used.
Results:
Preoperatively, the digital presentation of the patient's clinical data was considered as helpful by both groups (group 1: median = 5, group 2: median = 4). This also applies to the personalized OR settings, the intraoperative display options and the dynamic, surgeon-centered visualization (median = 4). Similar positive conclusions were drawn for postoperative documentation and postoperative follow-up (median = 4). A significant difference in the final evaluation of the integrated surgical concept between the two expert groups could not be determined (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
The positive study results show that the theoretical idea of system networking based on open standards can be successfully implemented in practice using the example of a cochlea implantation. Thus, the intelligent "operating room of the future" no longer seems to be a fictitious idea, but a realistic image of modern surgical medicine.

