Finite-element analysis of middle-ear pressure effects on static and dynamic behavior of human ear

摘要

A finite-element analysis for static behavior of middle ear under variation of the middle-ear pressure was conducted in a 3D model of human ear by combining the hyperelastic Mooney-Rivlin material model and geometry nonlinearity. An empirical formula was then developed to calculate material parameters of the middle-ear soft tissues as the stress-dependent elastic modulus relative to the middle-ear pressure. Dynamic behavior of the middle ear in response to sound pressure in the ear canal was predicted under various positive and negative middle-ear pressures. The results from static analysis indicate that a positive middle ear pressure produces the static displacements of the tympanic membrane (TM) and footplate more than a negative pressure. The dynamic analysis shows that the reductions of the TM and footplate vibration magnitudes under positive middle-ear pressure are,mainly determined by stress dependence of elastic modulus. The reduction of the TM and footplate vibrations under negative pressure was caused by both the geometry changes of middle-ear structures and the stress dependence of elastic modulus. (c) 2007 Acoustical Society of America.