A 3D Printed Human Ear Model for Standardized Testing of Hearing Protection Devices to Blast Exposure.

ABSTRACT:

Hypothesis

A 3D printed human temporal bone (TB) that is anatomically accurate would cost-effectively reproduce the responses observed in blast testing of human cadaveric TBs with and without passive hearing protection devices (HPDs).

Background

HPDs have become critical personal protection equipment against auditory damage for service members. Acoustic test fixtures and human TBs have been used to test and develop HPDs; however, the lack of a cost-effective, standardized model impedes the improvement of HPDs.

Methods

In this study, the 3D printed TB model was printed with flexible and rigid polymers and consisted of the ear canal, tympanic membrane (TM), ossicular chain, middle ear suspensory ligaments/muscle tendons, and middle ear cavity. The TM movement under acou

SUBMITTER: Brown MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10950174 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature