中耳炎病变对圆窗激振听力补偿影响的数值分析

Numerical analysis of the influence of otitis media on the hearing compensation performance of round-window stimulation

为了研究中耳炎引起的鼓膜病变和听小骨腐蚀对圆窗激振式人工中耳听力补偿的影响,利用计算机断层扫描(CT)技术和逆向成型技术建立了包含耳蜗不对称结构的人耳有限元模型,并与相关实验数据对比,验证模型的可靠性。基于该模型,通过改变相应的组织结构,分别模拟中耳炎引起的鼓膜病变和听小骨腐蚀,并对比相应的基底膜特征频率处的位移响应,来研究中耳炎病变对圆窗激振听力补偿效果的影响。结果表明:鼓膜增厚和鼓膜硬化主要恶化圆窗激振低频段的听力补偿效果;鼓膜穿孔和未导致听骨链脱离的听小骨腐蚀,对圆窗激振的影响较小;不同于前述病变类型的影响,听小骨腐蚀导致听骨链脱离时,将提高圆窗激振低频段的听力补偿性能。因此,设计圆窗激振作动器时,应综合考虑中耳炎病变对其听力补偿性能的影响,特别是鼓膜增厚及硬化对其低频段性能的恶化,适当增大其低频段的输出增益,确保其术后的实际听力补偿性能。

In order to study the influence of tympanic membrane lesion and ossicular erosion caused by otitis media on the hearing compensation performance of round-window stimulation, a human ear finite element model including cochlear asymmetric structure was established by computed tomography(CT) technique and reverse engineering technique. The reliability of the model was verified by comparing with the published experimental data.Based on this model, the tympanic membrane lesion and ossicular erosion caused by otitis media were simulated by changing the corresponding tissue structure. Besides, these simulated diseases’ effects on the round-window stimulation were studied by comparing the corresponding basilar-membrane’s displacement at the frequency-dependent characteristic position. The results show that the thickening and the hardening of the tympanic membrane mainly deteriorated the hearing compensation performance of round-window stimulation in the low frequency;tympanic membrane perforation and the minor erosion of ossicle with ossicular chain connected slightly effected the hearing compensation performance of round-window stimulation. Whereas, different from the influence of the aforementioned lesions, the ossicular erosion involving the ossicular chain detachment increased its influence on performance of roundwindow stimulation at the low frequency. Therefore, the effect of otitis media on the hearing compensation performance of round-window stimulation should be considered comprehensively when designing its actuator, especially the lowfrequency deterioration caused by the thickening and the hardening of the tympanic membrane;the actuator’s low-frequency output should be enhanced accordingly to ensure its postoperative hearing compensation performance.