A 3D-printed functioning anatomical human middle ear model
A 3D-printed functioning anatomical human middle ear model
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DOI：
10.1016/j.heares.2015.12.025
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发表时间：
2016-10-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
Lueth, Tim C.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Kuru, Ismail;Maier, Hannes;Lueth, Tim C.
中耳是一个复杂而复杂的结构，具有多种功能，但由于各种原因，它是一个容易受伤的微妙器官。因此，了解和重建其功能一直是医学和技术领域研究者的重要课题。目前，人体颞骨通常被用作测试、实验和验证数值结果的模型。然而，新鲜的人体制剂并不总是容易获得，其机械性能随时间和个体而变化。因此，我们建立了一个基于解剖学的功能性中耳模型，作为可重复的测试环境。我们的中耳模型是借助3D打印技术制造的。我们已经分割的基本功能元素从微型计算机断层扫描数据（μ CT）的一个单一的颞骨。通过选择性激光熔化（SLM）对听小骨进行3D打印，并将软组织与硅橡胶一起浇铸到3D打印模具中。耳道、鼓室和内耳是人工设计的，但它们的设计保证了鼓膜、听骨韧带和卵圆窗的解剖学正确位置。为了确定它们的听觉特性，我们进行了两种测试：测量镫骨踏板对声音的反应和模型的鼓室导抗测试。我们关于声音传输的实验表明，该模型具有与人类中耳相似的行为。传递函数具有在大约1 kHz处的谐振频率，镫骨的响应对于低于谐振的频率几乎是恒定的，并且在谐振之上观察到滚降。鼓室导抗测试结果表明，中耳模型的顺应性与健康人中耳的顺应性相似。我们还提出，我们能够操纵传输行为，以便可以创建健康或病理场景。为此，我们通过改变用于不同结构（例如鼓膜、卵圆窗和听小骨附件）的硅橡胶的硬度，在海岸10-40 A范围内，建立了具有不同机械性能的模型。这允许我们将平台区域中的传输幅度设置得更高、更低或在正常中耳的公差内（Rosowski等人，2007).我们的研究结果表明，可以通过使用3D打印技术结合硅橡胶成型来构建人类中耳的人工模型。我们能够以高精度再现中耳基本要素的解剖形状，并将其组装成功能性中耳模型。模型的声学特性可以通过材料的选择来再现和操纵。如果可以解决诸如壳体共振和较高频率下的陡峭滚降斜率等问题，则该模型为实验创建了可再现的环境，并且可以用于评估假体装置。(C)© 2016 Elsevier B. V.版权所有。
The middle ear is a sophisticated and complex structure with a variety of functions, yet a delicate organ prone to injuries due to various reasons. Both, understanding and reconstructing its functions has always been an important topic for researchers from medical and technical background. Currently, human temporal bones are generally used as model for tests, experiments and validation of the numerical results. However, fresh human preparations are not always easily accessible and their mechanical properties vary with time and between individuals. Therefore we have built an anatomically based and functional middle ear model to serve as a reproducible test environment.Our middle ear model was manufactured with the aid of 3D-printing technology. We have segmented the essential functional elements from micro computed tomography data (mu CT) of a single temporal bone. The ossicles were 3D-printed by selective laser melting (SLM) and the soft tissues were casted with silicone rubber into 3D-printed molds. The ear canal, the tympanic cavity and the inner ear were artificially designed, but their design ensured the anatomically correct position of the tympanic membrane, ossicular ligaments and the oval window.For the determination of their auditory properties we have conducted two kinds of tests: measurement of the stapes footplate response to sound and tympanometry of the model. Our experiments regarding the sound transmission showed that the model has a similar behavior to a human middle ear. The transfer function has a resonance frequency at around 1 kHz, the stapes' response is almost constant for frequencies below the resonance and a roll-off is observed above the resonance. The tympanometry results show that the compliance of the middle ear model is similar to the compliance of a healthy human middle ear.We also present that we were able to manipulate the transmission behavior, so that healthy or pathological scenarios can be created. For this purpose we have built models with different mechanical properties by varying the hardness of the silicone rubber used for different structures, such as tympanic membrane, oval window and ossicle attachments in the range of Shore 10-40 A. This allowed us to set the transmission amplitudes in the plateau region higher, lower or within the tolerances of normal middle ears (Rosowski et al., 2007).Our results showed that it is possible to build an artificial model of the human middle ear by using 3D-printing technology in combination with silicone rubber molding. We were able to reproduce the anatomical shape of the middle ear's essential elements with high accuracy and also assemble them into a functioning middle ear model. The acoustic behavior of the model can be reproduced and manipulated by the choice of material. If the issues such as resonance of the casing and steep roll-off slope in higher frequencies can be solved, this model creates a reproducible environment for experiments and can be useful for the evaluation of prosthetic devices. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.