Daniël De Greef

Details of human middle ear morphology based on micro-CT imaging of phosphotungstic acid stained samples

A multitude of morphological aspects of the human middle ear (ME) were studied qualitatively and/or quantitatively through the postprocessing and interpretation of micro‐CT (micro X‐ray computed tomography) data of six human temporal bones. The samples were scanned after phosphotungstic acid staining to enhance soft‐tissue contrast. The influence of this staining on ME ossicle configuration was shown to be insignificant. Through postprocessing, the image data were converted into surface models, after which the approaches diverged depending on the topics of interest. The studied topics were: the ME ligaments; morphometric and mechanical parameters of the ossicles relating to inertia and the ossicular lever arm ratio; the morphology of the distal incus; the contact surface areas of the tympanic membrane (TM) and of the stapes footplate; and the thickness of the TM, round window of the cochlea, ossicle joint spaces, and stapedial annular ligament. Some of the resulting insights are relevant in ongoing discussions concerning ME morphology and mechanical functions, while other results provide quantitative data to add to existing data. All findings are discussed in the light of other published data and many are relevant for the construction of mechanical finite element simulations of the ME. J. Morphol. 276:1025–1046, 2015.

Digital Stroboscopic Holography Setup for Deformation Measurement at Both Quasi-Static and Acoustic Frequencies

A setup for digital stroboscopic holography that combines the advantages of full-field digital holographic interferometry with a high temporal resolution is presented. The setup can be used to identify and visualize complicated vibrational patterns with nanometer amplitudes, ranging from quasi-static to high frequency vibrations. By using a high-energy pulsed laser, single-shot holograms can be recorded and stability issues are avoided. Results are presented for an acoustically stimulated rubber membrane and the technique is evaluated by means of an accuracy and a repeatability test. The presented technique offers wide application possibilities in areas such as biomechanics and industrial testing.

Effects of model definitions and parameter values in finite element modeling of human middle ear mechanics

Background: Despite continuing advances in finite element software, the realistic simulation of middle ear response under acoustic stimulation continues to be challenging. One reason for this is the wide range of possible choices that can be made during the definition of a model. Therefore, an explorative study of the relative influences of some of these choices is potentially very helpful. Method: Three finite element models of the human middle ear were constructed, based on high‐resolution micro‐computed tomography scans from three different human temporal bones. Interesting variations in modeling definitions and parameter values were selected and their influences on middle ear transmission were evaluated. The models were compared against different experimental validation criteria, both from the literature and from our own measurements. Simulation conditions were restricted to the frequency range 0.1–10 kHz. Results: Modeling the three geometries with the same modeling definitions and parameters produces stapes footplate response curves that exhibit similar shapes, but quantitative differences of 4 dB in the lower frequencies and up to 6 dB around the resonance peaks. The model properties with the largest influences on our model outcomes are the tympanic membrane (TM) damping and stiffness and the cochlear load. Model changes with a small to negligible influence include the isotropy or orthotropy of the TM, the geometry of the connection between the TM and the malleus, the microstructure of the incudostapedial joint, and the length of the tensor tympani tendon. Conclusion: The presented results provide insights into the importance of different features in middle ear finite element modeling. The application of three different individual middle ear geometries in a single study reduces the possibility that the conclusions are strongly affected by geometrical abnormalities. Some modeling variations that were hypothesized to be influential turned out to be of minor importance. Furthermore, it could be confirmed that different geometries, simulated using the same parameters and definitions, can produce significantly different responses. HighlightsMiddle ear transmission was numerically simulated for 3 different geometries.The 3 geometries with identical parameters produce strongly different outcomes.Cochlear impedance values differ between sources, but are very influential.The eardrum loss factor should not be 50% or higher.Some seemingly important features are actually of marginal influence.

A Synchronized Stroboscopic Holography Setup for Traveling Wave Analysis on Biomechanical Structures

Digital holography is a powerful and versatile full-field measuring technique that is able to measure nanometer scale displacements of surfaces. Despite some disadvantages, the technique has become increasingly useful with the rise of commercially available high-resolution, high-bit-depth cameras. Middle ear biomechanics is one example of a research field that can benefit from digital holography [1,2]. In the past, the motion of the eardrum or tympanic membrane (TM) has been measured using a wide variety of techniques, ranging from time-averaged classic holography [3] and single point laser vibrometry [4] to X-ray stereoscopy [5]. More recently, stroboscopic digital holography was introduced in this domain, since it allows measuring the full-field time-resolved motion of the TM in a wide frequency range with a nanometer resolution [1,2]. Therefore it allows us to study traveling waves on the TM. In this work, we present a new setup for digital stroboscopic holography, including a high-energy pulsed Nd:YAG laser and synchronization electronics which makes it possible to record holograms at well-defined time instants in the vibration period at high and low vibration frequencies. As a proof-of-concept, results on a circular piece of stretched rubber are shown, as well as results on rabbit and human TM’s, together with a discussion of the challenges that arise with these samples.

Effect of Malleus Handle Fracture on Middle Ear Sound Transmission: Laser Doppler Vibrometry Measurements and Finite Element Simulations

Malleus handle fractures are rare but can cause tremendous hearing loss. Due to the small number of known clinical malleus fracture cases, little is known about the mechanics of middle ears with a malleus fracture. Laser Doppler vibrometry and finite element simulations are used to gain more knowledge about malleus fractures. The experimental measurements show remarkably that at low frequencies an increase in sound transmission can occur and minimal hearing loss occurs below the intact middle ear resonance frequency due to a resonance shift. The simulations do not show these observations when only a fracture is introduced. The addition of other features possibly related to malleus fractures to the models such as the post-fracture eardrum prestress release improve the simulation results. However, features such as post-fracture eardrum deformation could play an important role too.

Digital stroboscopic holographic interferometry for power flow measurements in acoustically driven membranes

Despite the importance of the eardrum and the ossicles in the hearing chain, it remains an open question how acoustical energy is transmitted between them. Identifying the transmission path at different frequencies could lead to valuable information for the domain of middle ear surgery. In this work a setup for stroboscopic holography is combined with an algorithm for power flow calculations. With our method we were able to accurately locate the power sources and sinks in a membrane. The setup enabled us to make amplitude maps of the out-of-plane displacement of a vibrating rubber membrane at subsequent instances of time within the vibration period. From these, the amplitude maps of the moments of force and velocities are calculated. The magnitude and phase maps are extracted from this amplitude data, and form the input for the power flow calculations. We present the algorithm used for the measurements and for the power flow calculations. Finite element models of a circular plate with a local energy sourc...

Laser vibrometry for measurement of nonlinear distortions in the vibration of weakly nonlinear slowly time-varying systems

Recently, a new signal analysis method was developed to detect small non-linear distortions in weakly non-linear systems using specially designed broadband excitation signals, i.e. odd random phase multisines. The method allows the detection and quantification of the system response, noise level and both odd and even degree nonlinear distortions over an extensive frequency range from one single short-term measurement. Here, this method is implemented in an opto-acoustical set-up to detect small non-linearities in the response of vibrating structures. Because of the highly linear response achievable with heterodyne vibrometry, it is possible to detect non-linearities in the system under test with extremely high sensitivity. Non-linear behaviour is very common in biomechanical systems, but their dynamics and thus response might change over time. This leads to measurement artifacts that cause an overestimation of the noise level. A correction algorithm can be applied to remove the effect of these time variations, so that heterodyne vibrometry also allows the detection and quantification of non-linearities in unstable biomechanical systems. In this paper the technique is demonstrated with a measurement of the non-linear distortions in the vibration of the gerbil middle ear, where the use of a non-contact optical detection method is essential to not disturb the tiny vibrating structures.