听骨链的等效杠杆原理与内耳淋巴液减振幅作用

本文对现行生理学教科书和参考书在阐明人耳传声原理中存在的一些问题进行有理有据的论证,提出笔者的见解,弥补文献不足。运用物理学的杠杆知识和声学理论,提出锤骨柄的等效简化模型,使之符合作为杠杆长臂的要求;构造成一个听骨链组合杠杆,建立听骨链的等效简化模型。将此模型分解成两个简单杠杆,在分析论证两个简单杠杆的基础上,推导出组合等效杠杆的原理公式。通过计算和对比外耳道空气和内耳淋巴液中的声位移振幅得出结论:对减少声位移振幅以适应基底膜的承受限度起关键作用的因素是淋巴液的密度和声速远比空气的密度和声速高。     

基于中耳与耳蜗集成有限元模型的耳声传递模拟

建立外耳道、中耳和简化耳蜗集成的有限元模型,包含中耳和耳蜗结构、耳道和中耳腔内的空气以及耳蜗内的液体.采用声-结构耦合动力学分析,计算声音由外耳道向内耳的传递过程,获得了鼓膜、镫骨足板的位移、中耳的声压增益、前庭阶的压力分布,同时也模拟了基底膜自蜗底至顶端的频率选择特性.计算结果与相关文献的实验结果具有较好的一致性,说明本模型对中耳传声功能模拟的准确性.结果表明,改进的耳蜗模型可为耳蜗运动功能模拟的探索提供更充分和合理的信息.     

高压下中耳结构动力损伤研究

目的研究高压对中耳结构造成的损伤。方法基于CT扫描建立中耳结构有限元数值模型,对模型施加随时间变化的压力,分析鼓膜以及镫骨足板的应力、应变和位移变化。结果获得的计算结果与相关文献中的试验数据吻合,验证了所建中耳模型的准确性。高压会对中耳造成损伤,随着压力的增加,损伤加重;快速加压使得中耳损伤严重,对内耳的影响较小;慢速加压也能导致中耳损伤,但在中耳损伤前,内耳会损伤。结论高压容易导致人耳出现损伤,为避免听力受到影响,在加压过程中要控制好加压速率。     

内耳圆窗膜解剖

圆窗膜是间隔于中耳和内耳之间的重要屏障，其结构及正常的功能对保证内耳正常生理功能具有重要意义。准确测量圆窗膜的面积和形态有助于对其进行深入的病理生理学研究，进而计算圆窗膜在病理状态下对各种物质的转运速率，测试内耳各腔隙离子浓度变化等，为阐明中耳和内耳疾病的相互影响，中耳腔内毒素和药物等影响内耳功能的机理，及更好的开展内耳显微手术，电子耳蜗手术等治疗奠定基础。     

中耳肌

<正> 实验证明中耳肌不但是消声器,也是一个巧妙的调谐器,它既能有效地抑制从身体内部或外界传来的强噪声,又能使较弱的声音与无关的强声分开。因此中耳肌的反射性收缩,不但对内耳起保护作用,也提高人的听力。现在已有专门的仪器能用来记录镫骨肌对强声的反射性收缩,这种记录已被证明是检查耳与脑干之间的神经环路是否完整的     

豚鼠颞骨显微解剖学研究

目的　准确定位豚鼠中、内耳结构。方法　对 15只正常健康成年豚鼠的中耳、内耳进行显微解剖 ,对颞骨标本标志结构放大 0 6 1倍并照相。结果　在豚鼠的颞骨标本上准确定位出下列中耳结构 :鼓膜、听骨链、卵圆窗、圆窗、咽圆窗鼓管鼓口、面神经等 ;内耳结构 :耳蜗、三个半规管、椭圆囊、球囊、乙状窦、内听道、内淋巴囊裂、前庭导水管口、蜗水管口等。结论　豚鼠颞骨结构与人体颞骨结构基本一致 ,但亦有区别 ,此项研究工作可以指导和帮助利用豚鼠作耳科研究的工作者准确定位中耳、内耳结构     

人耳鼓膜病变数值分析

目的研究鼓膜厚度和硬度对人耳传声的影响。方法利用CT获取志愿者耳部结构临床资料,使用Matlab软件提取相关结构的边界,将边界文件导入ANSYS建立人耳结构数值有限元模型。结果利用本文人耳数值模型,在外耳道口施加105dB声压,进行200～8000Hz频率范围的谐响应分析。以此研究在鼓膜病变情况下,鼓膜和镫骨底板位移幅值的变化规律。结论用数值方法解释了鼓膜病变对传声的影响,为鼓膜修补提供了力学参考。     

年龄因素对声导纳测试共振频率和相位角结果影响的初探

声导纳测试已广泛应用于临床.本研究对多个年龄组的正常耳利用声导纳计进行共振频率和相位角测试,其结果表明 中耳传音系统的劲度因素作用在20～40岁年龄段时较大,随着年龄1增长,其作用逐渐减小并有波动,质量因素作用在50岁以后逐渐开始增强.     

不同激振位置对压电式人工中耳听力补偿性能的影响

研究不同激振位置对压电式人工中耳听力补偿性能的影响,确定压电式人工中耳最优激振位置。建立人耳有限元模型,并通过和相关实验数据进行对比验证模型的可靠性。基于该模型,分别在鼓膜脐部、砧骨体、砧骨长突和圆窗施加相同的位移驱动,通过检测镫骨足底板位移及基底膜的最大位移,分析这些位置的激振对人工中耳听力补偿性能的影响。结果表明,以镫骨足底板位移为评估标准会低估圆窗激振的高频听力补偿效果。砧骨长突激振下的基底膜特征位置处的运动位移大于激振鼓膜脐部及激振砧骨体时的位移值,其中激振砧骨体时的基底膜特征位置处运动位移最小;激振圆窗时的基底膜特征位置处运动位移在低频段小于激振其他位置时对应的位移值,但在中、高频段其激振效果最好。在频率低于400 Hz时,砧骨长突激励听力补偿效果最好,圆窗激励听力补偿效果最差。当频率大于1 kHz时,圆窗激励听力补偿效果比其他位置好。以传统的镫骨足底板响应为评估标准,将低估圆窗激振式人工中耳的听力补偿效果。     

中耳病变及人工镫骨形体研究

目的 研究听骨韧带、肌腱硬化和切除以及人工镫骨置换对声音传导的影响。方法 基于CT扫描数据,通过自编C＋＋程序读取CT数据中体单元建立人耳结构几何模型,将几何模型导入PATRAN中赋予材料参数、设置关节接触面以及相应其他边界条件生成数值模型。结果 利用本文人耳数值模型进行正常耳和病变耳的谐响应分析,得到正常耳和病变耳镫骨底板和鼓膜凸的振幅变化规律。并由此构建了套型人工镫骨。结论 正常耳的模拟结果与实验测试结果吻合,证明了本模型准确性,可以模拟人传声功能。本模型模拟病变耳的计算结果可以从力学角度解释病变对声音传导的影响,为病变耳治疗提供参考。本文的套型人工镫骨较我国临床用的环型人工镫骨更吻合人耳的生理功能,其重建听力效果更好。     

Modeling of Sound Transmission from Ear Canal to Cochlea

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.     

The development of the mammalian outer and middle?ear

The mammalian ear is a complex structure divided into three main parts: the outer; middle; and inner ear. These parts are formed from all three germ layers and neural crest cells, which have to integrate successfully in order to form a fully functioning organ of hearing. Any defect in development of the outer and middle ear leads to conductive hearing loss, while defects in the inner ear can lead to sensorineural hearing loss. This review focuses on the development of the parts of the ear involved with sound transduction into the inner ear, and the parts largely ignored in the world of hearing research: the outer and middle ear. The published data on the embryonic origin, signalling, genetic control, development and timing of the mammalian middle and outer ear are reviewed here along with new data showing the Eustachian tube cartilage is of dual embryonic origin. The embryonic origin of some of these structures has only recently been uncovered (Science, 339, 2013, 1453; Development, 140, 2013, 4386), while the molecular mechanisms controlling the growth, structure and integration of many outer and middle ear components are hardly known. The genetic analysis of outer and middle ear development is rather limited, with a small number of genes often affecting either more than one part of the ear or having only very small effects on development. This review therefore highlights the necessity for further research into the development of outer and middle ear structures, which will be important for the understanding and treatment of conductive hearing loss.     

基于基底膜响应的圆窗激振性能评估偏差研究

目的 研究采用传统基底膜位移评价标准评估圆窗激振式人工中耳听力补偿性能的准确性,为圆窗激振式人工中耳的性能评估提供理论基础.方法 基于耳蜗几何结构的实验数据,建立耳蜗感声微观有限元模型,通过对比内听毛细胞、外听毛细胞、盖膜等部位位移响应的实验测量值,验证模型的可靠性.基于该模型,对比分析正向激振、圆窗激振下的基底膜位移...     

Viscoelastic Properties of Human Tympanic Membrane

The tympanic membrane or eardrum of human ear transfers sound waves into mechanical vibration from the external ear canal into the middle ear and cochlea. Mechanical properties of the tympanic membrane (TM) play an important role in sound transmission through the ear. Although limited resources about linear elastic properties of the TM are available in literature, there is a lack of measurement or modeling of viscoelastic properties of the TM at low stress levels. In this study, the uniaxial tensile, stress relaxation, and failure tests were conducted on fresh human cadaver TM specimens to explore mechanical properties of the TM. The experimental results were analyzed using the hyperelastic Ogden model and digital image correlation method. The constitutive equation and non-linear elastic properties of the TM were presented by functions of the stress and strain at the stress range from 0 to 1 MPa. Viscoelastic properties of the TM were described by the stress relaxation function and hysteresis. The results show that the uniaxial tensile test with the aid of digital image correlation analysis is a reliable and useful approach for measuring mechanical properties of ear tissues. The data presented in this paper contribute to ear biomechanics in both experimental measurement and theoretical analysis of ear tissues.     

Direct visualization of organ of corti kinematics in a hemicochlea

The basilar membrane in the mammalian cochlea vibrates when the cochlea receives a sound stimulus. This mechanical vibration is transduced into hair cell receptor potentials and thereafter encoded by action potentials in the auditory nerve. Knowledge of the mechanical transformation that converts basilar membrane vibration into hair cell stimulation has been limited, until recently, to hypothetical geometric models. Experimental observations are largely lacking to prove or disprove the validity of these models. We have developed a hemicochlea preparation to visualize the kinematics of the cochlear micromechanism. Direct mechanical drive of 1-2 Hz sinusoidal command was applied to the basilar membrane. Vibration patterns of the basilar membrane, inner and outer hair cells, supporting cells, and tectorial membrane have been recorded concurrently by means of a video optical flow technique. Basilar membrane vibration was driven in a direction transversal to its plane. However, the direction of the resulting vibration was found to be essentially radial at the level of the reticular lamina and cuticular plates of inner and outer hair cells. The tectorial membrane vibration was mainly transversal. The transmission ratio between cilia displacement of inner and outer hair cells and basilar membrane vibration is in the range of 0.7-1.1. These observations support, in part, the classical geometric models at low frequencies. However, there appears to be less tectorial membrane motion than predicted, and it is largely in the transversal direction.     

Middle ear forward and reverse transmission in gerbil

The middle ear transmits environmental sound to the inner ear. It also transmits acoustic energy sourced within the inner ear out to the ear canal, where it can be detected with a sensitive microphone as an otoacoustic emission. Otoacoustic emissions are an important noninvasive measure of the condition of sensory hair cells and to use them most effectively one must know how they are shaped by the middle ear. In this contribution, forward and reverse transmissions through the middle ear were studied by simultaneously measuring intracochlear pressure in scala vestibuli near the stapes and ear canal pressure. Measurements were made in gerbil, in vivo, with acoustic two-tone stimuli. The forward transmission pressure gain was about 20-25 dB, with a phase-frequency relationship that could be fit by a straight line, and was thus characteristic of a delay, over a wide frequency range. The forward delay was about 32 micros. The reverse transmission pressure loss was on average about 35 dB, and the phase-frequency relationship was again delaylike with a delay of about 38 mus. Therefore to a first approximation the middle ear operates similarly in the forward and reverse directions. The observation that the amount of pressure reduction in reverse transmission was greater than the amount of pressure gain in forward transmission suggests that complex motions of the tympanic membrane and ossicles affect reverse more than forward transmission.     

Three-Dimensional Finite Element Modeling of Human Ear for Sound Transmission

An accurate, comprehensive finite element model of the human ear can provide better understanding of sound transmission, and can be used for assessing the influence of diseases on hearing and the treatment of hearing loss. In this study, we proposed a three-dimensional finite element model of the human ear that included the external ear canal, tympanic membrane (eardrum), ossicular bones, middle ear suspensory ligaments/muscles, and middle ear cavity. This model was constructed based on a complete set of histological section images of a left ear temporal bone. The finite element (FE) model of the human ear was validated by comparing model-predicted ossicular movements at the stapes footplate and tympanic membrane with published experimental measurements on human temporal bones. The FE model was employed to predict the effects of eardrum thickness and stiffness, incudostapedial joint material, and cochlear load on acoustic-mechanical transmission through the human ossicular chain. The acoustic-structural coupled FE analysis between the ear canal air column and middle ear ossicles was also conducted and the results revealed that the peak responses of both tympanic membrane and stapes footplate occurred between 3000 and 4000 Hz.     

Ultraminiature encapsulated accelerometers as a fully implantable sensor for implantable hearing aids

Experiments were conducted to evaluate a silicon accelerometer as an implantable sound sensor for implantable hearing aids. The main motivation of this study is to find an alternative sound sensor that is implantable inside the body, yet does not suffer from the signal attenuation from the body. The merit of the accelerometer sensor as a sound sensor will be that it will utilize the natural mechanical conduction in the middle ear as a source of the vibration. With this kind of implantable sound sensor, a totally implantable hearing aid is feasible. A piezoresistive silicon accelerometer that is completely encapsulated with a thin silicon film and long flexible flex-circuit electrical cables were used for this study. The sensor is attached on the middle ear ossicles and measures the vibration transmitted from the tympanic membrane due to the sound in the ear canal. In this study, the sensor is fully characterized on a human cadaveric temporal bone preparation. Earlier portion of the work in this paper was presented at the 13th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems (Transducers) 2005, Seoul Korea.     

Tuning and sensitivity of the human vestibular system to low-frequency vibration

Mechanoreceptive hair-cells of the vertebrate inner ear have a remarkable sensitivity to displacement, whether excited by sound, whole-body acceleration or substrate-borne vibration. In response to seismic or substrate-borne vibration, thresholds for vestibular afferent fibre activation have been reported in anamniotes (fish and frogs) in the range -120 to -90dB re 1g. In this article, we demonstrate for the first time that the human vestibular system is also extremely sensitive to low-frequency and infrasound vibrations by making use of a new technique for measuring vestibular activation, via the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). We found a highly tuned response to whole-head vibration in the transmastoid plane with a best frequency of about 100Hz. At the best frequency we obtained VOR responses at intensities of less than -70dB re 1g, which was 15dB lower than the threshold of hearing for bone-conducted sound in humans at this frequency. Given the likely synaptic attenuation of the VOR pathway, human receptor sensitivity is probably an order of magnitude lower, thus approaching the seismic sensitivity of the frog ear. These results extend our knowledge of vibration-sensitivity of vestibular afferents but also are remarkable as they indicate that the seismic sensitivity of the human vestibular system exceeds that of the cochlea for low-frequencies.