Round Window Reinforcement-Induced Changes in Intracochlear Sound Pressure

Introduction: The round window membrane (RWM) acts as a pressure-relieving for incompressible cochlear fluid. reinforcement of the RWM has been used surgical intervention treatment superior semicircular canal dehiscence and hyperacusis. aim this study was to investigate how affects sound pressure variations in cochlea. Methods: intracochlear (ICSP) simultaneously measured scala tympani (ST) vestibuli (SV) cadaveric human temporal bones (HTBs) response acoustic stimulation three materials (soft tissue, cartilage, medical-grade silicone). Results: ICSP ST significantly increased after frequencies below 2 kHz. Between 400 600 Hz, all demonstrated highest median increase. higher stiffness, larger increase: silicone (7 dB) < soft tissue (10 cartilage (13 dB). SV less affected by reinforcement. increase 3 dB. experimental findings can be explained with numerical models mechanics. Discussion conclusions: increases at lower but only minor influence on pressure.