title: Effect of anterior tympanomeatal angle blunting on the middle ear transfer function using a finite element ear model.
abstract: The anterior tympanomeatal angle (ATA) blunting is clinically defined as a certain degree of the ATA obliteration due to excessive fibrous tissue formation, which is a relatively common complication of external auditory canal (EAC) related operations. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of ATA blunting on the middle ear transfer function using a finite element (FE) model. Results showed that the displacements at the tympanic membrane (TM), at the manubrium and at the stapes footplate, and also the ratio of stapes footplate velocity to the sound pressure in the EAC were decreased to various degrees from ATA blunting of Grades 1-4. This was more significant with TM thickening at the frequencies below 3.2kHz, particularly in Grades 3 and 4 when analyzing the anterior region of the TM. The phase differences of TM and stapes footplate increased with the ATA blunting from Grades 1 to 4 in relation to normal ATA. It is noteworthy that the vibration mode of the malleus does not show obvious change, compared to the displacement reduction at the TM with ATA blunting Grades 1-4. These results suggest that FE analysis of ATA blunting effect appears to be effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yongxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Demin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Shusheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Shouqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D004424:Ear Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography