Effect of conservation method on ear mechanics for the same specimen.

Graf, Lukas; Arnold, Andreas; Roushan, Kourosh; Honegger, Flurin; Müller-Gerbl, Magdalena; Stieger, Christof (2021). Effect of conservation method on ear mechanics for the same specimen. Hearing research, 401, p. 108152. Elsevier 10.1016/j.heares.2020.108152

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BACKGROUND AND AIMS

As an alternative to fresh temporal bones, Thiel conserved specimens can be used in the study of ear mechanics. Conserved temporal bones do not decay, permit long-term experiments and overcome problems with limited access to fresh (frozen) temporal bones. Air conduction motion of the tympanic membrane (TM), stapes (ST) and round window (RW) in Thiel specimens is similar to that of fresh specimens according to reports in the literature. Our study compares this motion directly before and after conservation for the same specimens.

METHODS

The magnitude of motion of TM, ST and RW elicited by acoustic stimulation via the external auditory canal was measured using single point laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) accessed through a posterior tympanotomy. For the initial measurements (10 ears), fresh frozen whole heads were thawed for at least 24 h. Afterwards, the entire whole heads were embalmed according to the Thiel embalming method and measurements were repeated 3 and 12 months later.

RESULTS

The magnitudes of TM, ST and RW motion before and after Thiel conservation differed maximally 10 dB on average. A significant increase in TM motion was observed at low frequencies only after long term conservation (12 months). ST motions decreased significantly between 161 and 5300 Hz after 3 months of Thiel conservation. Over the same time period RW motions decreased significantly between 100 and 161 Hz and 489-788 Hz. The ST and RW motions across all measured frequencies were lower after 3 months by 5.7 dB and 7.1 dB, respectively, without further changes after 12 months of conservation. The mean phase shift between ST and RW motion was only 2.1° for frequencies below 450 Hz.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Thiel embalming changes motion of TM after long term conservation. ST and RW motion changed mainly after short term conservation. The phase shifts close to 180° between ST and RW motion indicates that the cochlea was still filled with liquid without air bubbles. The results show that Thiel conserved specimens can be used as an alternative model to fresh frozen preparations with some limitations when studying mechanics of the normal human ear, for example, in implant design.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders (ENT)

UniBE Contributor:

Arnold, Andreas Michael

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0378-5955

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Stefan Weder

Date Deposited:

24 Jan 2022 11:24

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 16:00

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.heares.2020.108152

PubMed ID:

33388646

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Laser Doppler vibrometry Middle ear mechanics Round window Stapes Thiel conservation

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/163455

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/163455

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