• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.22-27
• /
• 2020

Auditory stimuli are commonly used in various electroencephalogram experiments, also in EEG-based brain-computer interface systems. However, using conventional earphones that blocks the ear canal attenuates or even blocks external environmental sound which might cause loss of crucial information from surroundings. Instead, bone-conductive earphones are able to deliver sound through vibration without blocking the ear canal. To investigate the feasibility of the bone-conductive earphones for auditory-stimuli based experiments, we compared N100 event-related potential features as well the event-related spectral perturbation and inter-trial coherence of auditory steady-state response between conventional and bone-conductive earphones. The results showed no significant differences between bone conduction and conventional earphones regardless of distinct sound pressures. This result shows that bone conductive earphones can be used for auditory experiments when the environmental sound is crucial to the user.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.197-200
• /
• 2021

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection that can be diagnosed through clinical symptoms with or without imaging evaluations. The typical features of RHS on imaging evaluation include signal changes and enhancement in the internal auditory canal (IAC) nerves, and the labyrinthine segment of cranial nerve VII (CN VII) and cranial nerve VIII (CN VIII). In some patients, inner ear structure (cochlear and vestibular apparatus) is involved in RHS. Neurologic complications, such as encephalitis and meningitis, are rare in RHS, but are known to occur. Therefore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary to detect both abnormal signal intensity in the IAC, CN VII, CN VIII, inner and ear structure, and CNS complications. We report an RHS patient with CN VII, VIII, and leptomeningeal enhancement within the cerebellar folia on 10-min delayed, contrast-enhanced (CE), three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) imaging.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.114-121
• /
• 2010

Purpose : To examine the effect of unilateral otitis media and unilateral cerumen occlusion of the ear canal on thermometers. Methods : One hundred eighty six children with unilateral otitis media, fifty children with unilateral cerumen occlusion, and fifty children with neither otitis media nor cerumen were enrolled. Temperature was measured in both ear canals using thermometers. After 15 minutes, second temperature was measured again in both ears. Unilateral otitis media was graded by video otoscope for 7 grades. Differences in temperatures between affected ears and unaffected ears were analyzed. Results : No temperature difference between the normal and cerumen groups was observed. The mean temperature of the otitis media ear canal was $0.13{\pm}0.20^{\circ}C$ higher than that of the intact ear canal ($36.99{\pm}0.54^{\circ}C$ vs $36.86{\pm}0.52^{\circ}C$; P<0.001). There was no statistically significant temperature difference between grades. Conclusion : Unilateral otits media can affect estimation of body temperature measured by thermometers.

• Journal of Mycology and Infection
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.105-110
• /
• 2018

Background: Otomycosis is a fungal infection that comprises 7~10% of outer ear infections. Although the occurrence is higher in humid climates, relatively few studies have investigated otomycosis occurrences in humid environments. While recurrent chronic otitis media discharge in the ear creates a milieu in which otomycosis is likely to occur, investigations of otomycosis co-occurring with chronic otitis media have been rare. Objective: To examine the characteristics of patients with otomycosis co-occurring with chronic otitis media and identify causative fungi. Methods: The study included 60 patients with chronic otitis media who presented typical otomycosis findings in the outer ear canal and the presence of fungi. Patients were treated in the department of otolaryngology, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, between July 2011 and June 2018. Results: The mean patient age was 57.77 years, and our study included 20 men and 40 women (p=0.010). The lesion was on the right in 39 patients and on the left in 21 (p=0.020). Ear discharge was the most common chief complaint at diagnosis. Of the 54 patients over age 19, 10 had diabetes (18.5%). Aspergillus was causative in 29 patients and Candida in 31. Aspergillus niger was identified in 15 patients, Aspergillus sp. in 14, Candida parapsilosis in 12, Candida sp. in six, and Candida albicans in five. Conclusion: Otomycosis and chronic otitis media co-occurrences increase with age. The Aspergillus and Candida genera were similar in proportion. A. niger was the most common Aspergillus species, while C. parapsilosis was the most common Candida.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.525-534
• /
• 2019

Background In microtia patients with bilateral hearing impairment, hearing improvement is crucial for language development and performance. External auditory canal reconstruction (EACR) has been performed to improve hearing, but often results in complications. We performed transcutaneous bone conduction implant (TBCI) surgery in these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TBCI surgery. Methods A retrospective review was performed of five patients who underwent auricular reconstruction and TBCI surgery and 12 patients who underwent EACR between March 2007 and August 2018. Hearing improvement was measured based on the air-bone gap values using pure-tone audiometry over a 6-week postoperative period. We reviewed other studies on hearing improvement using EACR and compared the findings with our results. The surgical techniques for TBCI were reviewed through case analyses. Results Postoperative hearing outcomes showed a significant improvement, with a mean gain of 34.1 dB in the TBCI cohort and 14.1 dB in the EACR cohort. Both gains were statistically significant; however, the TBCI cohort showed much larger gains. Only three of the 12 patients who underwent EACR achieved hearing gains of more than 20 dB, which is consistent with previous studies. All patients who underwent TBCI surgery demonstrated hearing gains of more than 20 dB and experienced no device-related complications. Conclusions TBCI is a safe and effective method of promoting hearing gains in microtia patients with bilateral hearing impairment. TBCI surgery provided better hearing outcomes than EACR and could be performed along with various auricular reconstruction techniques using virgin mastoid skin.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.479-487
• /
• 2004

The prevention of noise induced hearing loss is very important, because there is no treatment for it. There are some kinds of devices for hearing protection, and those are effective in preventing a noise induced hearing loss. However, people often resist the use of hearing protection devices because it is difficult to have a conversation. Therefore, a hearing protection device is must effective not only in hearing protection but also in preserving communication ability. In this paper, we proposed a small acoustic filter for ITE type noise protector to solving the problem about the difficulties of conversation. That is applied a principle of acoustic filters that have been used for a muffler of automobiles, guns, and etc. To find out the sound transmission characteristic at the eardrum, we regarded an acoustic filter and external ear canal as a coupled system. So, we simulated the coupled system with OrCad, and experimented with a designed acoustic filter and a 2 cc coupler which has the same transmission characteristic as the external ear canal has. We confirmed that it is possible to adjustment acoustic transmission characteristics through simulation of electrical model for acoustic filter and external ear and experiments using designed small acoustic filters.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.487-495
• /
• 1998

In this paper, a new type of implantable middle ear hearing aid, which consists of external loop coil, a small magnet and a simple external device, is proposed. The internal device of proposed type consists of only a small magnet and the external device does not need to be positioned behind the ear or in the ear canal. The proposed type is excellent in cosmetic sides and very convenient to use, because the external device can be hidden in upper garment and collar of clothes. Also, purposely this type doesn't need to be small on the size of battery, which means it has longer battery life. Therefore, the battery is not necessary to be charged frequently. It also can solve the difficulty of gap calibration at surgical operation which conventional Implantable middle. Therefore, the battery is not necessary to be charged frequently. It also can solve the difficulty of gap calibration at surgical operation which conventional implantable middle ear hearing aid has. We investigate the performance of proposed implantable middle ear bearing aid and we analyze that proposed type is appropriate for mild and severe hearing impaired person and the result of experiment showed the accuracy of our analysis. For the validation of our analysis we used the temporal bone at the experiment and confirm that ossicles can be vibrated when the proposed system In startled in the body.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.301-304
• /
• 2013

Otic mass removal was performed in a 19-month-old, castrated domestic shorthair cat. The patient had 1- year history of recurrent otitis externa, and then otic mass in the right ear canal was found. Under general anesthesia, 2.7 mm rigid endoscope was inserted to the right ear canal with the irrigation system. The ovoid-shaped, 4.9 mm in diameter red otic mass located in the right ear canal was removed via traction-avulsion. Then, rupture of the tympanic membrane was revealed and otic flushing was performed with sterile isotonic (0.9%) saline to remove exudates. Histologically, the removed polyp was diagnosed as granulation tissue with severe ulceration. The patient didn't reveal any remarkable abnormality after surgery, and no recurrence were found after 5 months follow up. The video otoscopy seems to offer a useful option for treatment of a feline inflammatory polyp.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• autumn
• /
• pp.505-506
• /
• 2004

이어폰과 헤드폰의 성능 향상을 위해서는 특성에 대한 정확한 측정과 평가가 요구된다. 이어폰과 헤드폰은 room 과 같은 acoustic channel 을 거치지 않고 청취자의 귀에 직접 소리가 전달되며 ear canal 특성이 포함되기 때문에 스피커와는 다른 기준이 필요하다. 그러나 사람 귀의 canal 특성은 개인에 따른 편차가 심하여 정확한 측정 및 성능 평가에 어려움이 따른다. 본 논문에서는 이어폰과 헤드폰의 특성을 측정하는 적절한 방법을 고찰하고 측정된 데이터를 이용하여 음질 성능을 평가할 수 있는 객관적인 방법을 제시하고자 한다.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.13-18
• /
• 2004

In most patients with facial palsy after temporal bone injury, temporal bone High Resolution CT revealed direct or indirect facial nerve canal involvement, and in complete palsy severe degeneration groups, there were direct findings in most cases. Author believe that meticulous analysis and symptom correlation of the fracture patterns seen in facial canal injury in patients with traumatic facial nerve palsy is helpful for treatment planning and prognosis.