Finite element modeling of human ear with external ear canal and middle ear cavity

Author

Gan, R.Z. ; Sun, Q.

Author_Institution

Sch. of Aerosp. & Mech. Eng., Oklahoma Univ., Norman, OK, USA

Volume

1

fYear

2002

fDate

2002

Firstpage

264

Abstract

Two technologies, 3-D reconstruction of human temporal bones and finite element analysis of ear biomechanics, were combined to construct a computational model for describing function of the ear for sound transmission. A set of histological sections of a human temporal bone was prepared, scanned, and digitized for imaging analysis. The aligned and treated images of the middle ear components, external ear canal and middle ear cavity were constructed with attached ligaments, muscles, and tendons. A 3-D CAD model was first created which provided accurate geometric data. Based on the solid model, the finite element (FE) model of the human ear was generated with whole middle ear and ear canal. The dynamic behavior of the FE model was very close to the actual mechanical performance of human temporal bone with 90 dB SPL at the eardrum across auditory frequencies. The model will be further used for acoustic analysis of the ear. (Supported by Whitaker Foundation and OCAST).

Keywords

ear; finite element analysis; physiological models; 3-D CAD model; 3-D reconstruction; 90 dB; accurate geometric data; attached ligaments; auditory frequencies; computational model construction; ear acoustic analysis; ear biomechanics; eardrum; histological sections set; human temporal bones; mechanical performance; muscles; sound transmission; tendons; Biomechanics; Bones; Computational modeling; Ear; Finite element methods; Humans; Image analysis; Irrigation; Solid modeling; Three dimensional displays;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Engineering in Medicine and Biology, 2002. 24th Annual Conference and the Annual Fall Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society EMBS/BMES Conference, 2002. Proceedings of the Second Joint

ISSN

1094-687X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7612-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.2002.1134484

Filename

1134484