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3D Finite Element Modeling of Blast Wave Transmission from the External Ear to Cochlea

Annals of Biomedical Engineering volume 49, pages 757–768 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

As an organ that is sensitive to pressure changes, the ear is often damaged when a person is subjected to blast exposures resulting in hearing loss due to tissue damage in the middle ear and cochlea. While observation of middle ear damage is non-invasive, examining the damage to the cochlea is difficult to quantify. Previous works have modeled the cochlear response often when subjected to an acoustic pressure input, but the inner ear mechanics have rarely been studied when the ear is exposed to a blast wave. In this study we aim to develop a finite element (FE) model of the entire ear, particularly the cochlea, for predicting the blast wave transmission from the ear canal to cochlea. We utilized a FE model of the ear, which includes the ear canal, middle ear, and uncoiled two-chambered cochlea, to simulate the cochlear response to blast overpressure (BOP) at the entrance of the ear canal with ANSYS Mechanical and Fluent in a fluid–structure interface coupled analysis in the time domain. This model was developed based on previous middle and inner ear models, and the cochlea was remeshed to improve BOP simulation performance. The FE model was validated using experimentally measured blast pressure transduction from the ear canal to the middle ear and cochlea in human cadaveric temporal bones. Results from the FE model showed significant displacements of the tympanic membrane, middle ear ossicles, and basilar membrane (BM). The stapes footplate displacement was observed to be as high as 60 µm, far exceeding the displacement during normal acoustic stimulation, when the 30 kPa (4.35 psi, 183 dB (SPL), Sound Pressure Level) of BOP was applied at the ear canal entrance. The large stapes movement caused pressures in the cochlea to exceed the physiological pressure level [< 10 Pa, 120 dB (SPL)] at a peak of 49.9 kPa, and the BM displacement was on the order of microns with a maximum displacement of 26.4 µm. The FE model of the entire human ear developed in this study provides a computational tool for prediction of blast wave transmission from the ear canal to cochlea and the future applications for assisting the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of blast-induced hearing loss.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Kegan Leckness for his early input into the development of the FE model. The study was supported by the Department of Defense (DOD) grant W81XWH-14-1-0228.

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Affiliations

  1. School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

    Marcus A. Brown, Xiao D. Ji & Rong Z. Gan

  2. School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Avenue, Room 200, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    Rong Z. Gan

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  1. Marcus A. Brown
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  2. Xiao D. Ji
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Correspondence to Rong Z. Gan.

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Brown, M.A., Ji, X.D. & Gan, R.Z. 3D Finite Element Modeling of Blast Wave Transmission from the External Ear to Cochlea. Ann Biomed Eng 49, 757–768 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-020-02612-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-020-02612-y

Keywords

  • Finite element model
  • Ear
  • Blast overpressure
  • Cochlear pressure
  • Basilar membrane