FEM Simulation of Sound Transmission Based on Integrated Model of Middle Ear and Cochlea

This paper developed a 3D FEA model consisting of external canal,middle ear and life-size cochlea.The structures in middle ear and cochlea,the air in the ear canal and middle ear cavity,the fluid in the cochlea were included in this model.We applied the acoustics-structure coupled FE analysis to simulate sound transmission from external canal to cochlea.The displacements of tympanic membrane and stapes footplate,the sound pressure gain of middle ear were acquired and the frequency sensitivity of the basilar membrane motion along the length of the basilar membrane from basal turn to the apex was predicted.The satisfactory agreements between the model and experimental data in the literature indicate the middle ear functions were well simulated by the present model,and the improved cochlear model can provide sufficient information for further work on unraveling cochlear function.