The Correlation of Human Ear Canal Shape and Gain by Canal Resonance (II/III)

This project is to analyze the correction of human ear canal shape and gain by canal resonance within three years. The model of the ear auditory canal (EAC) of the subjects for this analysis will be reconstructed based on computed tomography (CT) non-invasively. The geometry of TM then reconstructed as a 3D mode of the EAC. The geometry of the EAC will include surface area, volume and 3D curvature obtained by sine law and cosine law. The curvature of the first bend and second bend were also calculated by the equation of curvature. Further, we will use water to irrigate and fill the EAC invasively. The ear impression will be also obtained. Then calculate the curvature and geometry of the EAC. Finally, the subjects will be tested by pure-tone audiometry, middle ear tympanometry and real ear measurement to measure the resonance of the EAC. The specific aims include: (1) 2D curvature of ear canal will be obtained by HRCT image and ear impression.Then we can obtain the real geometry of EAC to develop an imaging procedure of CT image for the optimal quality of 2D image of patients’EAC. The resonace affected by the curvature of ear canal will be studied. (2) Real ear measure will be used to obtain the resonance of the EAC of the subjects invasively. For non-invasive measurement of resonance, the sound field in human ear canal will be stimulated by finite element method.

Project ID:PB9907-10773
External Project ID:NSC99-2628-E182-001