Minimally invasive laser vibrometry (MIVIB) with a floating mass transducer - A new method for objective evaluation of the middle ear demonstrated on stapes fixation.

Minimally invasive laser vibrometry (MIVIB) with a floating mass transducer - A new method for objective evaluation of the middle ear demonstrated on stapes fixation. Hear Res. 2017 Nov 20;357:46-53 Authors: Wales J, Gladiné K, Van de Heyning P, Topsakal V, von Unge M, Dirckx J Abstract Ossicular fixation through otosclerosis, chronic otitis media and other pathologies, especially tympanosclerosis, are treated by surgery if hearing aids fail as an alternative. However, the best hearing outcome is often based on knowledge of the degree and location of the fixation. Objective methods to quantify the degree and position of the fixation are largely lacking. Laser vibrometry is a known method to detect ossicular fixation but clinical applicability remains limited. A new method, minimally invasive laser vibrometry (MIVIB), is presented to quantify ossicle mobility using laser vibrometry measurement through the ear canal after elevating the tympanic membrane, thus making the method feasible in minimally invasive explorative surgery. A floating mass transducer provides a clinically relevant transducer to drive ossicular vibration. This device was attached to the manubrium and drove vibrations at the same angle as the longitudinal axis of the stapes and was therefore used to assess ossicular chain mobility in a fresh-frozen temporal bone model with and without stapes fixation. The ratio between the umbo and incus long process was shown to be...
Source: Hearing Research - Category: Audiology Authors: Tags: Hear Res Source Type: research