title: Biomechanical modeling and design optimization of cartilage myringoplasty using finite element analysis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the acoustic transfer characteristics of cartilage for optimal cartilage myringoplasty. In order to do so, we developed a cartilage plate/tympanic membrane-coupled model using finite element analysis. Cartilage specimens of the tragus were obtained from fresh human cadavers, and the parameters of the tragus were determined by curve fitting and cross-calibration. A cartilage plate was used to repair an eardrum perforation, and the new coupled tympanic membrane-cartilage complex was loaded into our 3-dimensional biomechanical model of the middle ear for analysis. Our results show that first the beta-damping value of the cartilage plate depends on frequency. The value of beta damping was close to 3 x 10(-4) s at lower frequencies and 5 x 10(-6) s at higher frequencies. Secondly, reducing cartilage thickness leads to an improvement of its acoustic transfer qualities. From an acoustics point of view, the 0.1- to 0.2-mm cartilage plate seems to be most preferable with regard to tympanic membrane vibration. Furthermore, thicknesses of 0.2 mm at lower frequencies and 0.1 mm at higher frequencies were regarded as good compromises between sufficient mechanical stability and low acoustic transfer loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chia-Fone
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Lee-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Peir-Rong
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuan-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Jyh-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tien-Chen
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D002356:Cartilage / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009225:Myringoplasty; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000601:surgery