The influence of the mechanical behaviour of the middle ear ligaments: a finite element analysis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Fernanda Gentil (Author) Other; Marco Parente (Author) FEUP; Pedro Martins (Author) Other; Carolina Garbe (Author) Other; Renato Natal Jorge (Author) FEUP; António Ferreira (Author) FEUP; João Manuel R. S. Tavares (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine

Vol. 225 No. 1

Pages: 68-76

ISSN: 0954-4119

Publisher: SAGE

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 43 Citations

Scopus - 47 Citations

INSPEC

COMPENDEX

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental biotechnology

CORDIS: Technological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-ZCT

DOI: 10.1243/09544119jeim783

Abstract (EN): The interest in computer modelling of biomechanical systems, mainly by using the finite element method (FEM), has been increasing, in particular for analysis of the mechanical behaviour of the human ear. In this work, a finite element model of the middle ear was developed to study the dynamic structural response to harmonic vibrations for distinct sound pressure levels applied on the eardrum. The model includes different ligaments and muscle tendons with elastic and hyperelastic behaviour for these supportive structures. Additionally, the nonlinear behaviour of the ligaments and muscle tendons was investigated, as they are the connection between ossicles by contact formulation. Harmonic responses of the umbo and stapes footplate displacements, between 100 Hz and 10 kHz, were obtained and compared with previously published work. The stress state of ligaments (superior, lateral, and anterior of malleus and superior and posterior of incus) was analysed, with the focus on balance of the supportive structures of the middle ear, as ligaments make the link between the ossicular chain and the walls of the tympanic cavity. The results obtained in this work highlight the importance of using hyperelastic models to simulate the mechanical behaviour for the ligaments and tendons.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9