Towards an Implantable Vestibular Prosthesis: The Surgical Challenges

Restoring the sensation of inertia in individuals with balance-related impairments is achievable through development of an artificial vestibular prosthesis, based on the cochlear implant paradigm. The vestibular system, however, involves added complexity in surgical methods required for reliable implantation, thus limiting widespread feasibility. This work aims to support research in developing surgical technology for precisely accessing inside the vestibular organ. Issues relating to surgical procedure, microrobotics and medical imaging are discussed, with the goal being the precise and safe implantation of microelectrode arrays. This paper presents the challenges modern surgical technology would encounter in adopting such a procedure and proposes possible solutions, aiming to promote and motivate research in this direction.