Case Study: Cochlear BAS achieves population-based design validation for Baha® Attract with Materialise's Anatomical Data Mining (ADaM™)

Population-Based Validation of a Subcutaneous Bone Conduction Implant System

Cochlear BAS, developer of the Baha® Attract bone conduction implant system, faced the challenge of proving that its new subcutaneous magnetic implant would fit the vast majority of target patients and meet requirements for bone screw length and external magnet strength. To validate the design and provide evidence for launch, Cochlear BAS engaged Materialise and its Anatomical Data Mining (ADaM™) services, leveraging Mimics® Research and 3-matic® Research to analyze population CT data.

Materialise acquired and segmented 50 CT crania (22 USA, 28 Europe, ages 16–63, equal gender split), virtually implanted a 13 mm‑radius magnet within a 20 mm ROI, and statistically analyzed overlap, bone thickness and soft-tissue thickness. Materialise found that minor reaming would be needed in about 20% of cases (11 subjects had >10 mm² overlap), external magnet strength was adequate for the measured soft-tissue distribution, and bone-thickness ranges (average ~5–25 mm, minimum ~2–7 mm) informed appropriate screw-length selection—giving Cochlear BAS population-based evidence to optimize the implant and surgical instruments.

Cochlear BAS

Jerry Frimanson

Cochlear BAS