Optimal Ossicular Site for Maximal Vibration Transmissions to Coupled Transducers.

In this study, vibrational responses at seven locations on the middle-ear ossicles (i.e., the malleus head, 4 different points on the incus body, middle of the incus long process, tip of the incus long process) in human temporal bones (n=6) were measured using a laser Doppler vibrometer. The measurements were repeated after separating the incudostapedial joint (ISJ). Measured displacement at each location was normalized with the sound pressure level near the tympanic membrane (TM) for representation in the form of a displacement transfer function (DTF). The normalized squared sum of the DTFs (NSSDTF) was then calculated as a measure of vibration motion through a specific frequency range at the considered sites. The relatively large NSSDTF was observed at the sites on the superior part of the malleus head (MH), on the lateral part of the incus body (IBL), and on the superior part of the incus body near the incudomalleal joint (IBS1) for the frequency ranges of 1-4 kHz and 1-9 kHz, regardless of the condition of the ISJ. This indicates that maximum vibrational motion of the middle-ear is deliverable to the piezoelectric transducer of totally implantable devices through these sites. PMID: 23337694 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Hearing Research - Category: Audiology Authors: Tags: Hear Res Source Type: research
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