Modeling of Sound Transmission from Ear Canal to Cochlea

Abstract

A 3-D finite element (FE) model of the human ear consisting of the external ear canal, middle ear, and cochlea is reported in this paper. The acoustic-structure-fluid coupled FE analysis was conducted on the model which included the air in the ear canal and middle ear cavity, the fluid in the cochlea, and the middle ear and cochlea structures (i.e., bones and soft tissues). The middle ear transfer function such as the movements of tympanic membrane, stapes footplate, and round window, the sound pressure gain across the middle ear, and the cochlear input impedance in response to sound stimulus applied in the ear canal were derived and compared with the published experimental measurements in human temporal bones. The frequency sensitivity of the basilar membrane motion and intracochlear pressure induced by sound pressure in the ear canal was predicted along the length of the basilar membrane from the basal turn to the apex. The satisfactory agreements between the model and experimental data in the literature indicate that the middle ear function was well simulated by the model and the simplified cochlea was able to correlate sound stimulus in the ear canal with vibration of the basilar membrane and pressure variation of the cochlear fluid. This study is the first step toward the development of a comprehensive FE model of the entire human ear for acoustic-mechanical analysis.

Human middle-ear model with compound eardrum and airway branching in mastoid air cells

“…Funnell et al (2013) reviewed FEMs of the human and other mammalian middle ears. A FEM model of human middle ear mechanics and the passive mechanics of the cochlea (Gan et al, 2007;Zhang and Gan, 2011) was extended to predict the absorbance in the ear canal of adults (Zhang and Gan, 2013). A FEM model of the ear canal and middle ear was used to analyze the role of the human mastoid cavity on sound transmission (Lee et al, 2010).…”

Investigation of intracochlear dual actuator stimulation in a scaled test rig

“…The test rig used for the experimental validation of the numerical results is an up-scaled (4:1) and slightly modified version of the cochlea model proposed in [7] and build out of acryl. It consists out of two fluid-filled chambers, the scala vestibule (SV) and the ST, separated through a silicone membrane (BM) and connected to each other at the distal part, i.e.…”

Fabrication of Si3N4-Based Artificial Basilar Membrane with ZnO Nanopillar Using MEMS Process

“…The characteristics of the sound wave are then recognized by the auditory nerve. Basilar membranes extend from the inner ear base connected to the middle ear, all the way to the apex [4,5]. The base is thick and narrow.…”