Optical sensing system for cochlear implant surgery

1. A sensing system for implant surgery, comprising:

an insertion device or stylet configured for moving a cochlear implant into a narrow cavity in a patient's body;

an optical sensor for measuring distance from an end of the insertion device to anatomic surfaces at a distance from the end of the insertion device; and

an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system connected to the optical sensor,

wherein the optical sensor is incorporated within and at a distal end of the insertion device, and

wherein a distal end of the optical sensor provides a reference signal for the OCT system.

2. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor comprises an optical waveguide to transmit and collect a laser beam of light.

3. The sensing system of claim 2 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber.

4. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the OCT system is a Fourier domain common path OCT (FD-CPOCT) system, and wherein the OCT system includes a computer processor for processing OCT images from the optical sensor to anatomic surfaces and converting the OCT images to distances.

5. The sensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a display device for displaying OCT images or distance information to a surgeon.

6. The sensing system of claim 1 , further comprising an auditory device for providing auditory information representing distance information.

7. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein said optical sensor includes facets for creating forward and side viewing probe beams so as to measure multiple distances.

8. The sensing system of claim 7 , wherein the multiple distances are measured simultaneously.

9. The sensing system of claim 7 , wherein the multiple distances are measured sequentially.

10. The sensing system of claim 1 , further comprising multiple optical sensors to measure multiple distances between multiple anatomical locations.

11. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the distance measurements are directed to a control system of a robotic device for cochlear implant surgery.

12. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is an ultrasound sensor.

13. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the insertion device is a stylet.

14. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the insertion device is a sheath.

15. The sensing system of claim 14 , wherein the optical sensor is an ultrasound sensor.

16. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the OCT system produces A-mode OCT images.

17. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the OCT system produces B-mode OCT images.

18. The sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the OCT system produces C-mode OCT images.

19. A sensing system for implant surgery, comprising:

a cochlear implant adapted to be positioned into a narrow cavity during implant surgery;

an optical sensor for measuring distance from an end of the optical sensor to anatomical surfaces at a distance from the end of the optical sensor; and

an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system connected to the optical sensor,

wherein the optical sensor is incorporated within and at a distal end of the cochlear implant, and

wherein a distal end of the optical sensor provides a reference signal for the OCT system.

20. The sensing system of claim 19 , wherein the sensor is used to reshape the implant by manipulating its spatial relationship relative to the implant.

21. The sensing system of claim 19 , further comprising one or more optical fibers disposed within the implant, said optical fibers configured to measure multiple distances including at least one of a forward distance and one or more side distances to a cavity wall.

22. The sensing system of claim 19 , wherein the optical sensor comprises an optical waveguide to transmit and collect a laser beam of light.

23. The sensing system of claim 22 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises an optical fiber.

24. The sensing system of claim 19 , wherein said OCT system produces A-mode OCT images.

25. The sensing system of claim 19 , wherein the OCT system is a Fourier domain common path OCT (FD-CPOCT) system, and wherein the OCT system includes a computer processor for processing OCT images from the optical sensor to anatomic surfaces and converting OCT images to distances.

26. The sensing system of claim 24 , further comprising a display device for displaying OCT images or distance information to a surgeon.

27. The sensing system of claim 19 , further comprising an auditory device for providing auditory information representing distance information.

28. The sensing system of claim 19 , wherein said optical sensor includes facets for creating forward and side viewing probe beams so as to measure multiple distances.

29. The sensing system of claim 28 , wherein the multiple distances are measured simultaneously.

30. The sensing system of claim 28 , wherein the multiple distances are measured sequentially.

31. The sensing system of claim 19 , wherein the distance measurements are directed to a control system of a robotic device for cochlear implant surgery.

32. A method of implant surgery, comprising:

providing a cochlear implant having an optical sensor integrated therein, wherein the optical sensor is integrated at a distal end of the cochlear implant;

providing an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system connected to the optical sensor, wherein a distal end of the optical sensor provides a reference signal for the OCT system;

moving the cochlear implant into a narrow cavity in a patient's body; and

measuring a distance from an end of the optical sensor to anatomic surfaces at a distance from the end of the optical sensor.

33. The method of claim 32 , further comprising measuring a distance from an end of the optical sensor to anatomic surfaces at a distance from sides of the sensor or implant so as to center it from a cavity wall.