Automated intraoperative monitoring of facial nerve function

提交的知识转移研究的目的是实现一个原型，用于自动检测面部肌肉肌电活动中的病理性A-系列活动。对这些模式的评估可以在术中检测到潜在的神经损伤，从而避免术后面瘫。该方法已经在前面的DFG资助项目中得到了开发。原型的实施将与INMED GMBH作为行业合作伙伴合作进行。在第一阶段，将实施测试平台，允许对项目期间开发的组件和复合系统进行测试和验证。有100多名患者的数据集可用，这些患者在之前的项目中接受了前庭神经鞘瘤手术。这些数据包含不同数量的A-系列模式；以一致的方式评估和记录术前和术后的面瘫程度。在此基础上，对检测方法进行重新实现和优化。同时，使用硬件记录数据，原型将使用该硬件。通过分析这些数据并与测试平台进行比较，可以对程序进行进一步的特定于硬件的调整。然后将实施第一个原型，可以在常规记录的同时对其进行术中评估。最后，最终的原型将按照CE标准实施。在该项目之后，计划进一步将原型开发为完全认证的医疗设备和可投放市场的产品。这也将使一项关于手术期间桥小脑角A-系列监测的多中心研究成为可能。

Aim of the submitted knowledge transfer study is the implementation of a prototype for the automated detection of pathological A-train activity in the electromyographic activity of the facial muscles. Evaluation of these patterns enables the intraoperative detection of potential nerve damage and consequently avoiding postoperative facial palsy. The method has been developed in the preceding DFG-funded project. Implementation of the prototype will be conducted in collaboration with inomed GmbH as industry partner.In a first stage, a testing platform will be implemented, allowing testing and validation of the components and composite system developed during the project. Datasets of more than 100 patients are available, who underwent surgery for vestibular schwannoma in the previous project. The data contain A-train patterns in different quantities; pre- and postoperative degree of facial palsy was evaluated and documented in a consistent manner. On this basis, the detection method will be reimplemented and optimized. In parallel, data are recorded using the hardware, which will be utilized by the prototype. Analysis of this data and comparison with the test platform enables further hardware-specific adaptations of the procedure. A first prototype will then be implemented, which can be evaluated intraoperatively, simultaneous with routine recordings. Finally, the resulting prototype will be implemented in compliance with CE standards.Following the project, further development of the prototype into a fully certified medical device and market-ready product is planned. This will also enable a multi-center study on A-train monitoring during surgery in the cerebello-pontine angle.