Ear Biomechanics for Restoration of Hearing

项目描述（由申请人提供）：本项目的长期目标是确定正常、病理和重建耳的人耳的结构和力学特性如何影响通过外耳道和中耳到内耳（或耳蜗）的声力学传输。我们的假设是，将我们的人耳三维综合有限元模型纳入临床中耳疾病的诊断工具鼓室测量法和诊断传导性听力损失的潜在临床工具激光多普勒干涉测量法，可以提高中耳炎伴积液（OME）的诊断。本文提出了四个具体目标：(1)确定中耳结构的变化如何影响声音从耳道通过中耳到耳蜗的传输，激光干涉测量和鼓室测量；(2)测量韧带、鼓膜等中耳组织的力学性能或粘弹性；(3)建立考虑颞骨中耳结构变化的三维有限元模型，进行声-结构-流体多场耦合分析；(4)将我们的三维有限元模型结果与鼓室测量和激光干涉测量获得的临床测量结果相关联，以提高对中耳疾病（如OME）的诊断。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of this project is to determine how the structure and mechanical properties of human ear affect acoustic-mechanical transmission through the external ear canal and middle ear to inner ear (or cochlea) in normal, pathological and reconstructed ears. Our hypothesis is that incorporation of our 3-D comprehensive FE model of the human ear into clinical tympanometry, a diagnostic tool commonly used on middle ear diseases, and laser Doppler interferometry, a potential clinical tool for diagnosis of conductive hearing loss, can improve the diagnosis of otitis media with effusion (OME). There are four specific aims proposed here: (1) to identify how alterations in middle ear structures affect sound transmission from the ear canal through the middle ear to the cochlea measured with laser interferometry and tympanometry; (2) to measure mechanical properties or viscoelasticity of middle ear tissues such as the ligaments and tympanic membrane; (3) to develop multi-field (i.e., acoustic-structure-fluid) coupled analysis of the 3-D FE model with structural alterations in middle ear on human temporal bones; and (4) To correlate our 3-D FE model results with clinical measurements obtained by tympanometry and laser interferometry for improvement of the diagnosis of middle ear diseases such as OME. Four unique approaches are incorporated in the project: (a) accurate geometric reconstruction of entire human ear based on histological images of temporal bone morphometry; (b) direct, accurate measurement of viscoelastic properties of middle ear tissues using the nanoindentation system and digital image correlation techniques; (c) improved human temporal bone experiment with dual laser Doppler interferometry system to measure simultaneously the acoustic-mechanical conduction through the middle ear; and (d) coupled acoustic-structure-fluid analysis of sound transmission from the ear canal to middle ear, and to the cochlea. Experiments described in this proposal will show how changes in middle ear structure and cochlear load affect the sound transmission in the ear. The FE model will demonstrate the potential clinical applications on how the middle ear fluid, ligament cut or removal, and ossicular disarticulation, fixation, or necrosis affect the middle ear transfer function. Thus, the results will be essential for improving the diagnosis of OME, assessing surgical treatment for conductive hearing loss, and potentially improve the quality of life for millions of people.