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The Cochlea

The Cochlea

The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.

Anatomy of the Ear

Anatomy of the Ear

Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...

Auditory Pathway

Auditory Pathway

Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...

Hair Cells

Hair Cells

Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.

Hearing

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.

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The EarLens system: new sound transduction methods.

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Hearing Research

|February 2, 2010

Summary

A novel open-canal hearing device with a tympanic membrane transducer offers wide bandwidth amplification without acoustic feedback. This innovative hearing solution is well-tolerated and provides significant audibility for individuals with moderate hearing loss.

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Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Audiology
Acoustics

Background:

Traditional hearing aids can cause acoustic feedback and limited bandwidth.
Open-canal hearing devices aim to overcome these limitations by placing components near the tympanic membrane.
Understanding the performance and tolerance of such devices is crucial for hearing loss rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

To test the hypothesis that an open-canal hearing device with a tympanic membrane transducer can achieve wide bandwidth amplification without acoustic feedback.
To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and functional characteristics of this novel hearing device.

Main Methods:

A tympanic membrane transducer was designed and placed on the eardrum of 16 subjects with hearing loss.
Key functional characteristics measured included maximum equivalent pressure output (MEPO), feedback gain margin (GM), and tympanic membrane damping effect (D(TM)).
Subjects were monitored for adverse reactions over a 10-month period.

Main Results:

The tympanic membrane transducer was well-tolerated and remained in place.
The device provided sufficient output for hearing impairments up to 60 dBHL up to 8 kHz (86% population) and 11.2 kHz (50% population).
Average feedback gain margin was 30 dB, with reductions at ear-canal resonance frequencies; tympanic membrane damping was minimal except between 2-4 kHz.

Conclusions:

The open-canal hearing device with a tympanic membrane transducer is a viable option for wide bandwidth amplification without acoustic feedback.
The system demonstrates good audibility and tolerance for individuals with moderate hearing loss.
An alternative photonic-based system was also described, suggesting future advancements in hearing device technology.