Sound-Induced Round Window Vibration—Experiment and Numerical Simulations of Energy Transfer Through the Cochlea of the Human Ear

Abstract

This study investigates the dynamic properties of the human middle ear and the energy transfer phenomena between the stapes footplate (SF) and the round window membrane (RWM) under sound stimulation. A series of laboratory tests were conducted, and a numerical model of the system was prepared. During the experiments, vibrations in human temporal bones were recorded using a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV), and the frequency response functions (FRFs) of the RWM and SF footplate were computed. Key resonances were identified, with notable differences in vibration amplitude depending on whether the artificial external ear canal was left open or closed. To evaluate the amplification of acoustic waves within the cochlea, the authors proposed a novel index defined as the ratio of the FRF of the RWM and SF, respectively. The performed computations showed that signal amplification is particularly noticeable in the frequency range from 1 to 2 kHz. Subsequently, a simplified computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the cochlea was developed to simulate internal pressure distribution within the scala vestibuli (SV) and scala tympani (ST) spaces. The numerical computations of acoustic signal amplification showed good agreement with the experimental data, particularly at the frequencies of 1 and 2 kHz. These findings provide new insights into cochlear acoustics and offer a potential tool for evaluating pathological disorders and designing prosthetic devices.

Keywords

• human inner ear
• round window vibration
• cochlea
• energy transfer phenomenon