Konrad Kamieniecki, ZA, MEiL, PW, FSI modelling of the inner ear operation using 3D and 1D models

According to World Health Organization, around 360 million people in the world (5% of the population) suffer from a hearing loss. Hearing loss may result from genetic causes, complications at birth, certain infectious diseases, chronic ear infections, the use of particular drugs, exposure to excessive noise, and ageing. Some of the causes may damage the ear mechanically. In those cases, often it is possible to partially recovery the hearing using implants. To design high quality implants it is necessary to well understand the physiology of the ear.
In the work we present 3D and 1D, FSI numerical models of the human inner ear calculated in a time domain. The presented results allow on direct observation of the pressure wave generated in the inner ear ducts correlated with the basilar membrane vibrations. The results seem to be consistent with the Helmholtz hearing theory.