Measurement of stapes vibration in Human temporal bones by round window stimulation using a 3-coil transducer

Issue title: Frontiers in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology – Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, 11–13 October 2013, Wuhan, China

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Shin, Dong Ho | Kim, Dong Wook | Lim, Hyung Gyu^; | Jung, Eui Sung | Seong, Ki Woong | Lee, Jyung Hyun | Kim, Myoung Nam | Cho, Jin Ho^{; ;}

Affiliations: Graduate School of Electronics Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Sangyuk-dong, Buk-Gu, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea | Institute of Biomedical Engineering Research, Kyungpook National University, Dongin2-Ga, Jung-Gu, Daegu, 700-422, Republic of Korea | Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Dongin2-Ga, Jung-Gu, Daegu, 700-422, Republic of Korea | School of Electronics Engineering, College of IT Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Sangyuk-dong, Buk-Gu, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea

Note: [] E-mail: jhcho@ee.knu.ac.kr

Abstract: Round window placement of a 3-coil transducer offers a new approach for coupling an implantable hearing aid to the inner ear. The transducer exhibits high performance at low-frequencies. One remarkable feature of the 3-coil transducer is that it minimizes leakage flux. Thus, the transducer, which consists of two permanent magnets and three coils, can enhance vibrational displacement. In human temporal bones, stapes vibration was observed by laser Doppler vibrometer in response to round window stimulation using the 3-coil transducer. Coupling between the 3-coil transducer and the round window was connected by a wire-rod. The stimulation created stapes velocity when the round window stimulated. Performance evaluation was conducted by measuring stapes velocity. To verify the performance of the 3-coil transducer, stapes velocity for round window and tympanic membrane stimulation were compared, respectively. Stapes velocity by round window stimulation using the 3-coil transducer was approximately 14 dB higher than that achieved by tympanic membrane stimulation. The study shows that 3-coil transducer is suitable for implantable hearing aids.

Keywords: Round window, temporal bone, stapes velocity, 3-coil transducer

DOI: 10.3233/BME-130825

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 405-411, 2014