Development of Bionic Semicircular Canals and the Sensation of Angular Acceleration

Zhi Wang; Shien Lu; Xianjin Wang; Yuhang Chen; Junjie Gong; Yani Jiang; Yixiang Bian

doi:10.3390/bioengineering9050180

Bioengineering (Apr 2022)

Development of Bionic Semicircular Canals and the Sensation of Angular Acceleration

Zhi Wang,
Shien Lu,
Xianjin Wang,
Yuhang Chen,
Junjie Gong,
Yani Jiang,
Yixiang Bian

Affiliations

Zhi Wang: Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225012, China
Shien Lu: Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225012, China
Xianjin Wang: Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225012, China
Yuhang Chen: Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225012, China
Junjie Gong: Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225012, China
Yani Jiang: Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225012, China
Yixiang Bian: Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225012, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9050180
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 5
p. 180

Abstract

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To study the sensing process of the human semicircular canals (HSCs) during head rotation, which is difficult to directly measure due to physiological reasons. A 1-BSC (one-dimensional bionic semicircular canal) and 3-BSC were prepared with soft SMPFs (symmetric electrode metal core polyvinylidene difluoride fibers), which could sense deformations similar to human sensory cells. Based on these models, experiments were carried out to study the principle of the HSCs. Deformations of the bionic ampulla (BA) depended on the angular acceleration. Gravity had a strong influence on the deformation of the BA in the vertical plane. When the 3-BSC was subjected to angular acceleration around one of its centerlines, the three BAs all deformed. The deformation of the BAs was linearly related to the angular acceleration. The deformation of the BA in the main semicircular canal was exactly three times that of the other two BAs.

Published in Bioengineering

ISSN: 2306-5354 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology; Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/bioengineering

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