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Finite element modelling of sound transmission from outer to inner ear

Publication . Areias, Bruno; Santos, Carla; Natal Jorge, Renato M; Gentil, Fernanda; Parente, Marco P. L.

The ear is one of the most complex organs in the human body. Sound is a sequence of pressure waves, which propagates through a compressible media such as air. The pinna concentrates the sound waves into the external auditory meatus. In this canal, the sound is conducted to the tympanic membrane. The tympanic membrane transforms the pressure variations into mechanical displacements, which are then transmitted to the ossicles. The vibration of the stapes footplate creates pressure waves in the fluid inside the cochlea; these pressure waves stimulate the hair cells, generating electrical signals which are sent to the brain through the cochlear nerve, where they are decoded. In this work, a three-dimensional finite element model of the human ear is developed. The model incorporates the tympanic membrane, ossicular bones, part of temporal bone (external auditory meatus and tympanic cavity), middle ear ligaments and tendons, cochlear fluid, skin, ear cartilage, jaw and the air in external auditory meatus and tympanic cavity. Using the finite element method, the magnitude and the phase angle of the umbo and stapes footplate displacement are calculated. Two slightly different models are used: one model takes into consideration the presence of air in the external auditory meatus while the other does not. The middle ear sound transfer function is determined for a stimulus of 60 dB SPL, applied to the outer surface of the air in the external auditory meatus. The obtained results are compared with previously published data in the literature. This study highlights the importance of external auditory meatus in the sound transmission. The pressure gain is calculated for the external auditory meatus.

2016Journal article

Open access

Multidimensional scaling locus of memristor and fractional order elements

Publication . Machado, J. A. Tenreiro; Lopes, António M.

This paper combines the synergies of three mathematical and computational generalizations. The concepts of fractional calculus, memristor and information visualization extend the classical ideas of integro-differential calculus, electrical elements and data representation, respectively. The study embeds these notions in a common framework, with the objective of organizing and describing the "continuum" of fractional order elements (FOE). Each FOE is characterized by its behavior, either in the time or in the frequency domains, and the differences between the FOE are captured by a variety of distinct indices, such as the Arccosine, Canberra, Jaccard and Sørensen distances. The dissimilarity information is processed by the multidimensional scaling (MDS) computational algorithm to unravel possible clusters and to allow a direct pattern visualization. The MDS yields 3-dimensional loci organized according to the FOE characteristics both for linear and nonlinear elements. The new representation generalizes the standard Cartesian 2-dimensional periodic table of elements.

2020-09Journal article

Open access

Effects of the fibers distribution in the human eardrum: A biomechanical study

Publication . Gentil, Fernanda; Parente, Marco; Martins, Pedro; Garbe, Carolina; Santos, Carla; Areias, Bruno; Branco, Carla; Paço, João; Jorge, Renato Natal

The eardrum separates the external ear from the middle ear and it is responsible to convert the acoustical energy into mechanical energy. It is divided by pars tensa and pars flaccida. The aim of this work is to analyze the susceptibility of the four quadrants of the pars tensa under negative pressure, to different lamina propria fibers distribution. The development of associated ear pathology, in particular the formation of retraction pockets, is also evaluated. To analyze these effects, a computational biomechanical model of the tympano-ossicular chain was constructed using computerized tomography images and based on the finite element method. Three fibers distributions in the eardrum middle layer were compared: case 1 (eardrum with a circular band of fibers surrounding all quadrants equally), case 2 (eardrum with a circular band of fibers that decreases in thickness in posterior quadrants), case 3 (eardrum without circular fibers in the posterior/superior quadrant). A static analysis was performed by applying approximately 3000Pa in the eardrum. The pars tensa of the eardrum was divided in four quadrants and the displacement of a central point of each quadrant analyzed. The largest displacements of the eardrum were obtained for the eardrum without circular fibers in the posterior/superior quadrant.

2016Journal article

Open access

Biomechanical study of the vestibular system of the inner ear using a numerical method

Publication . Santos, Carla F.; Belinha, Jorge; Gentil, Fernanda; Parente, Marco; Areias, Bruno; Jorge, Renato Natal

The inner ear has two main parts, the cochlea, dedicated to hearing, and the vestibular system, dedicated to balance. Dizziness and vertigo are the main symptoms related to vestibular disorders, which commonly affects older people. In order to eliminate these symptoms a vestibular rehabilitation is performed; this consists in a range of movements of the head, known as maneuvers, performed by a clinical professional. This procedure does not always work as expected. The aim of this work is to contribute to a better understanding on how the vestibular system works. This knowledge will help in the development of new techniques that will facilitate a more efficient rehabilitation. In order to achieve that goal, a three-dimensional numerical model of the vestibular system, containing the fluids which promote the body balance, was constructed. The vestibular components will be discretized using the finite element method and the fluid flow will be analyzed using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics The results obtained with the numerical model of the semicircular canal built to study the rehabilitation process are presented and compared with other authors. The solution achieved is similar with literature.

2017Conference object

Open access