Optical methods for quantitative measurement of eardrum deformation as a new tool for evaluation of Eustachian tube function and eardrum elasticity.

The human eardrum is a conically shaped thin membrane which separates the outer ear from the middle ear. It conducts sound vibrations from the external ear canal to the ossicles and protects the middle ear from infections. The 3D shape of the eardrum plays a crucial role in this process and any structural change to its topography is an important indicator for existing or impending pathology or hearing impairment. In the proposed research project, I will develop a new technique to measure 3D eardrum deformations in living patients. Using a modified clinical otoscope, structured light patterns will be projected onto the eardrum, after which the patterns are deformed by the eardrum's surface shape. When observed by a digital camera placed at a relative angle to the projection axis, fullfield depth data can be extracted from the deformation of the light patterns. By employing a highspeed camera and state-of-the-art parallel programming techniques, the digital processing pipeline will be sufficiently fast to enable real-time monitoring of eardrum surface shape deformations that are caused by (controlled) pressure changes in the middle ear cavity. Both fundamental properties of eardrum mechanics and practical applicability in the clinical setup will be investigated. The new otological device will be validated in the ENT office as a diagnostic tool in the detection of early-stage middle ear inflammation, retraction pockets, cholesteatoma and Eustachian tube (dys)functioning.

Keywords:OPTICAL TECHNIQUES

Disciplines:Applied mathematics in specific fields, Materials science and engineering