Segmentation and reconstruction of the 3D geometry of the middle and inner ear

Abstract

The anatomical model of the ear is of great importance in the design of ossicular prosthesis, cochlear implant electrodes, as well as for the preoperative planning and navigation of surgery. By means of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and technology of 3D reconstruction, an anatomical model of the middle and inner ear was built. Region of interest includes the ossicular chain (malleus, incus, and stapes), cochlea (scala vestibule-ST, scala tympani-ST, basilar membrane-BM, spiral ligament-SL and osseous spiral lamina-OSL), tympanic membrane-TM, oval window membrane-OWM, round window membrane-OWM and stapedial annular ligament-SAL. The micro-CT images of a cadaver’s temporal bone were acquired by “SkyScan 1076” (Kontich, Belgium, www.skyscan.be) and then reconstructed to cross-section images by SkyScan NRecon™ (v1.6.10.4). The image processing and 3D geometry reconstruction of temporal bone were performed by software Mimics® (v14.0, Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium). The obtained structures are measured and validated against literature data and the results are in good agreement.