Mechanical model of round window membrane under reverse excitation

Abstract

According to the vibration characteristics of the round window, a mechanical model of a round window membrane is established. The Euler equation of the round window and the complementary boundary conditions are derived by the variational principle. Combined with the Bessel function, an analytical solution of the round window displacement is obtained by MATHEMATICA. Combined with clinical characteristics of round window membrane lesion, the effect of sound transmission due to thickening of the round window membrane caused by the otitis media, shrinkage of the round window membrane area caused by otosclerosis, and hardening of the round window membrane itself is analyzed. The results show that with thickening of the round window membrane, the displacement of the round window membrane is decreased. In the meantime, with hardening of the round window membrane and shrinkage of the membrane area, the maximum displacement of the round window membrane is gradually reduced, leading to a decrease in sound transmission. Thus, the analytical analysis can avoid interference of environment and the technical level of personnel, and it can evaluate transmission performance of the round window membrane efficiently, providing a theoretical basis for the reverse excitation of artificial prosthesis.