ABSTRACT
For a better knowledge of the human middle ear functions we conducted dynamic simulations studies to obtain its real mechanical behavior. The aim of this work is to create a finite element (FE) model for the human middle ear. The analysis and evaluation of the bone structures of the middle ear is a hard task when based on images obtained from the Computed Tomography (CT). All images obtained from CT were saved in DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format.
In this study we tried to use the ANALYZE software, but as the DICOM files used in this study contained information of an entire human head, they didn’t have the necessary resolution of the structures of the human middle ear, and therefore, the results obtained for the reconstruction, using this software were not satisfactory. The human middle ear contains the smallest human bones, for example the malleus is only 9 mm length. CAD software, was used to solve this problem and the images were segmented to construct a 3D geometric model. FE models of each part were generated separately, based on the respective geometrical models obtained. For this purpose we used the software FEMAP, a commercial pre and post processing finite element program.
