Finite Element Modeling of the Ear
- Excellent tool for simulating sound and blast wave transmission
- Constructed based on accurate anatomy of the ears
- Coupling of the fluid and solid systems
- Simulating 3-dimensional mechanical responses in frequency and time domains
- Validated by experimental results obtained from biomechanical and physiological measurements
Ear Biomechanics
- Static and dynamic properties of ear tissues are critical for hearing
- Laser Doppler vibrometry measured the vibration of ear tissues at high frequencies
- 3D Printing technology reconstructed the human ear following the experimentally measured mechanical properties
Blast Biomechanics
- Investigating the mechanism of blast-induced auditory injuries
- Characterize the nonlinear response of the ear under blast conditions
- Provide data to validate the finite element models
Development of Hearing Protection Devices
- Evaluating the protective function of hearing protection devices under normal and blast conditions
- Multiple platforms used for function assessment: Blast tests, FE simulation, and acoustic testing fixture
- Improve the protective function by adjusting the geometry of the earplugs
- Development of new generation earplugs made of nano aerogel material
Therapeutic Solutions to Blast-induced Auditory Injuries
- Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist for diabetes treatment
- Preliminary studies on chinchillas indicated the liraglutide treatment mitigated the blast-induced hearing loss
- The mechanisms of the liraglutide treatment are under investigation
Implantable Hearing Devices
- The totally implantable hearing system (TIHS) was initiated by Dr. Rong Z. Gan after joining OU in 1999
- The components of TIHS such as the implantable coil and implant magnet are designed using our 3-D FE computer model of the human ear and tested in human cadaver ears.
- SOUNDTEC Direct System is an FDA-approved middle ear partially implantable electromagnetic device
- Dr. Rong Gan was the leading researcher to accomplish the design and in vitro testing of the SOUNDTEC Direct System
