This project sought to improve a functioning model of the middle ear, in conjunction with Dr. Ivo Dobrev and the Universitätsspital Zürich Department of Otorhinolaryngology. This model is intended to educate students about middle ear anatomy, physiology, and pathology. After improving the durability and adaptability of the model, the project team performed force-displacement and vibration testing to show the model’s capability of demonstrating how stiffening of the incudomalleolar joint affects sound transmission in the system. The model displayed meaningful trends when a load was applied, but it did not match the trends of the actual middle ear. The project team created a 3D assembly of the model in Solidworks, to allow future teams to perform virtual analysis on the design.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ciolfi, Thomas
• Haymon, Tara
• Rosales, Gabrielle
• Hawkins, Ryan

Subject

• Innovation
• Health
• Learning

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-102222-072429
• 79596

Keyword

• Pathology
• Incudostapedial Joint
• Incudomalleolar Joint
• Middle Ear
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Ossicular Chain

Advisor

• Wodin-Schwartz, Sarah Jane
• Reidinger, Zoe

Year

• 2022

Center

• Zurich, Switzerland Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• Dr. Ivo Dobrev
• Universitätsspital Zürich Department of Otorhinolaryngology

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 4 - Quality Education

Date created

• 2022-10-22

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering

Source

• E-project-102222-072429

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-03-31