Abstract:
A complete finite element model of the human ear canprovide better understanding of sound transmission. In this paper, athree-dimensional finite element model of the human ear is established,including the external ear canal, tympanic membrane, ossicular bones, middleear suspensory ligaments/muscles, and inner ear fluid. This model isconstructed based on a complete set of computerized tomography sectionimages of a healthy volunteer (right ear) to describe the complicatedstructures and boundary conditions. The validity of this model is confirmedby comparing the model-predicted motion of the tympanic membrane and stapesfootplate with published experimental data. The acoustic-structural coupledfinite element analysis among the ear canal, middle ear ossicles and innerear fluid is conducted and employed to predict the effects of ear canal,incudostapeblial joint andcochlear fluid on sound transmission mechanics. The results revealed thatthe final model is reasonable in predicting the ear acoustic mechanicalproperties.