Finite Element Simulation of Bone Conduction in the Human Head: The Inner Ear Component (vor Ort)
* Presenting author
Abstract:
Bone conduction describes the transmission of vibrations in the human head that lead to a hearing sensation. It can be divided into different components. For the outer and middle ear components as well as for air conduction, the sound is induced in the cochlea via a relative motion between the stapes and the inner ear. For the inner ear component, the displacement of the basilar membrane is caused by inertial movement of the inner ear fluids and a pressure change in the cochlea due to its compression.In this study, a finite element model is used to investigate the inner ear component. The model is based on the inner ear part of the BOHEAR model presented by Henning Taschke in 2005. It consists of an inner ear geometry within an osseous cuboid and includes the three scalae, the vestibulum and the semicircular ducts. The simulation parameters are discussed and the model is validated against measured results and finite element simulations described in the literature. The inner ear component is investigated by applying a measured cochlear promontory motion and by comparing the responses for translational displacement, compressional motion and excitation via the oval window.
