Effect of modeling parameters on the frequency response of the middle ear by means of finite element analysis

A 3D finite element model of the human middle ear was developed for the investigation of the modeling parameters´ effect on the frequency response. In this study, we incorporated realistic reconstructed geometries from microCT imaging data. The geometric representation of the stapedial annular ligament provided additional damping and the Rayleigh parameter β was adjusted to lower values in comparison to previous computational studies. The maximum displacement of the stapes footplate, equal to 0.168 μm, was observed at a frequency of 1050 Hz. The computational results were validated with experimental measurements. Good agreement is observed between our results and the experimental data and other finite element studies.