Middle ear of human and pig: a comparison of structures and mechanics.

Introduction: Animal studies are an essential method to evaluate implants for the middle ear prior to clinical studies. New Zealand rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas are, among other small mammals, well established animal models, but their auditory system is significantly smaller compared to human. Hence, the suitability of the domestic pig (sus scrofa domesticus) as a new animal model for research on the middle ear (ME), that would match the human in size, was investigated.

Parameter study on a finite element model of the middle ear.

Models of the middle ear basing on the finite element method (FEM) have contributed to a better understanding of the function of its different components. The geometry, the choice of boundary conditions and material properties have a crucial influence on the model. The influence of individual parameters was investigated.