• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.923-929
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• 2019

In this paper, biomimetic based physical ear model proposed for measuring the characteristics of a hybrid-acoustic sensor for fully implantable middle-ear hearing aid. The proposed physical ear model consists of the external ear, middle-ear, and cochlea. The physical ear model was implemented based on the anatomical structure and CT images of the human ear. To confirm the characteristics of the ear model, the vibrational characteristics of the stapes was measured after applying sound pressure to the tympanic membrane. The measured results were compared with the vibrational characteristics of the human temporal bone specified by ASTM F2504-05. Through the comparison results, the feasibility of the proposed ear model was confirmed. Then, after attaching the hybrid-acoustic sensor to the ear model, the output characteristics of the ECM and acceleration sensor were measured according to the sound pressure. The measured results were compared with previous studies using human temporal bone, and the usefulness of the proposed physical ear model was verified through the analysis results.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.535-544
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• 1996

In this paper, we analyzed the coil-magnet type vibrating transducer for the implantable middle ear hearing aid which is appropriate for patient's hearing level, and an experimental transducer system is designed For the objective and quantitative analysis of the transducer, a theoretical equivalent model containing coil, magneto and inner ear is developed To perform effective evaluation of the transducer, a transforming ratio Tr is introduced and its range that is suitable for practical implantable middle ear hearing device is foun4 The result of applying physical parameters of ear system to the proposed analytical model shows that frequency response of the coil magrlet type vibrator is predominantly governed by resistive impedance of the coil rather than inertia effect of the magnet and the inner parameters. In addition, we realized an experimental middle ear hearing aid system to show the theoretical validity of designed system and this will provide the basis of the development for actually implantable system.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.25-27
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• 1999

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is an inflammatory disease of the middle ear cleft. Oxygen free radicals have been implicated in a variety of inflammatory disorders. Oxygen free radicals may also be involved in the pathogenesis of OME. To evaluate the involvement of oxygen free radicals in the pathogenesis of OME, the level of malondialdehyde, which gives an index of lipid peroxidation by oxygen free radicals, was measured by the reaction with thiobarbituric acid. Malondialdehyde level in the middle ear fluid from the OME group was higher than that in the normal control group. Malondialdehyde level in the middle ear fluid from a mucoid subgroup was higher than that in the serous subgroup. Malondialdehyde levels in the middle ear fluid from the serous subgroup was significantly correlated with symptom duration. The Pearson correlation coefficient between malondialdehyde levels in the middle ear fluid from the serous subgroup and symptom duration was 0.842 (P<0.05). These results indicate that lipid peroxidation by oxygen free radicals may be involved in the pathogenesis of human OME.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.495-499
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• 2000

Auditory system is separated to Outer Ear, Middle Ear and Inner Ear, Middle Ear plays an important role as the sound transfer on amplitude. With analysing of Middle Ear, we can understand disease and compare unformal auditory systems. However, the investigation of mechanical modeling and analysis have been reported in a few paper. In this paper, a three dimensional Eardrum model of human ear was developed and analysed applying the general purpose Finite-Element program (Nastran). Vibration patterns of the eardrum obtained from FEM analysis are in agreements with the experimental results using stroboscope.

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.705-709
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• 2018

It is challenging to achieve sufficient hearing gain in patients with mixed hearing loss. In chronic middle ear diseases, conventional passive reconstructive surgeries often result in suboptimal hearing gain and additional hearing aids may have limitations due to insufficient sound amplification, occlusion effect, acoustic feedback, and skin irritation. Middle ear implantation (MEI) using Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is another option for auditory rehabilitation in mixed hearing loss as well as sensorineural hearing loss. The floating mass transducer of VSB can be placed on various middle ear structures either directly or using different types of couplers in order to deliver vibratory mechanical energy to the cochlea. We report a patient who presented with bilateral mixed hearing loss due to chronic otitis media and had limitations using conventional hearing aids in the worse hearing ear. The patient was successfully treated with MEI using the Bell coupler together with middle ear surgery in a single step.

• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2009

This paper describes the design of the ossicular replacement prosthesis for the people who have problem of hearing because of middle ear disease. Also the simulation results of the designed product for verification by finite element analysis software (ABAQUS) are presented. New model is applied to middle ear FE analysis which was generated in previous study. The full replacements of ossicular prosthesis for ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes) are made of Hydroxyapatite and Titanium. Although other existing prosthesis models consider only sound amplification effect, current type has damper system which is operating on the audible frequencies. High frequency sound transmitted to inner ear can be reduced and the prosthesis and inner ear can be prevented from damage.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1563-1571
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• 2011

In this study, we developed a finite element model of the human middle ear has been developed to calculate itsfor sound transfer characteristics calculation. We usedThe geometric data forof ossicles, obtained byfrom micro-CT scanning, was used in order to develop the middle- ear FE model. A right- side temporal bone of a Korean cadaver was used for the micro-CT scanning. The developed FE model includes three ossicles, the tympanic membrane, ligaments, and muscles. We calculated theA sound transfer function from the tympanic membrane to the stapes footplate was calculated. The sound transfer function calculated vias of the FE model shows good agreement with measured responses over the 10- kHz frequency band. To measureidentify the sensitivityies of the middle- ear function due to material property variation, we studied several parameters studies have been fulfilled using the middle ear FE model. TAs a result the stiffness property of the incudostapedial joint had the greatest influence onwas the most influential to the middle- ear sound transfer function among the parameters.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1977.06a
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• pp.4.4-5
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• 1977

The vibratory energy introduced into the external ear canal is changed by the mechanical factors of eardrum itself, the motility of ossicles, and the air cushion of tympanic cavity and the like. This study was designed to investigate the volume of middle ear cavity and mastoid air cell system as a factor of determining the accoustic impedance of middle ear system. The author studied how the increase in air volume of middle ear cavity effects on the acoustic impedance of middle ear system with dogs' ears and researched the correlation between the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones and the acoustic impedance of middle ear system by comparing the radiological findings of pneumatization (Law's and Towne's projection) with the acoustic impedance measurements with Madsen ZO 70. The result is as follows: 1 The tympanometric findings in control state revealed the curves of type A, and did not change in its configuration by the increase in the air volume of dogs middle ear system. 2. The static compliance of middle ear revealed a distinct and linear increase in proportion to the increase in air volume of middle ear system; the rate of increase was $0.05{\pm}0.02$ cc of static compliance per cc of air volume. 3. Authenticated in the above result and the tendency to increase in static compliance in proportion to the increase in the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones, there was significant regression equation between the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones (x variable) and the static compliance of middle ear system; $y=0.19x{\pm}0.16{\pm}0.05$ It is suggested that the difference in volume of middle ear system plays an important role in the change of the static compliance of middle ear, and the author concludes that the measurement of static compliance of middle ear has clinical value as diagnostic means of evaluating the degree of pneumatization of temporal bones along with some radiological examination.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.487-495
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• 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 Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.309-317
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• 2005

It is expected that fully-implantable middle-ear hearing devices (FIMEHDs) will soon be available with the advantages of complete concealment, easy surgical implantation, and low power operation to resolve the problems of semi-implantable middle-ear hearing devices (SIMEHDs) such as discomfort of wearing an external device and replacement of battery. Over the last 3 years, a Korean research team at Kyungpook National University has developed an FIMEHD called ACRHS-1 based on a differential floating mass transducer (DFMT). The main research focus was functional improvement, the establishment of easy surgical procedures for implantation, miniaturization, and a low-power operation. Accordingly, this paper reviews the overall system architecture, functions, and experimental results for ACRHS-1 and its related accessories, including a wireless battery charger and remote controller.