Flexible mechanosensors with a high sensitivity and fast response speed may advance the wearable and implantable applications of healthcare devices, such as real-time heart rate, pulse, and respiration monitoring. In ...Flexible mechanosensors with a high sensitivity and fast response speed may advance the wearable and implantable applications of healthcare devices, such as real-time heart rate, pulse, and respiration monitoring. In this paper, we introduce a novel flexible electronic eardrum （EE） based on single-walled carbon nanotubes, polyethylene, and polydimethylsiloxane with micro-structured pyramid arrays. The EE device shows a high sensitivity, high signal-to-noise ratio （approximately 55 dB）, and fast response time （76.9 μs） in detecting and recording sound within a frequency domain of 20-13,000 Hz. The mechanism for sound detection is investigated and the sensitivity is determined using the micro-structure, thickness, and strain state. We also demonstrated that the device is able to distinguish human voices. This unprecedented performance of the flexible electronic eardrum has implications for many applications such as implantable acoustical bioelectronics and personal voice recognition.展开更多
Twelve volunteers with normal hearing (9 males and 3 females) participated in this work The sound transfer functions (STFS) from diffuse sound field to the subject's eardrums were measured and correlated...Twelve volunteers with normal hearing (9 males and 3 females) participated in this work The sound transfer functions (STFS) from diffuse sound field to the subject's eardrums were measured and correlated to the temporary threshold shift (TTS) due to fiffuse-exposure.A probe tube with a miniature microphone was used for STF measurements in which successive 1/3 oct bandwidth random noise with central frequency from 0.25 kKz to 8 kHz were used. The subjects were divided into two groups, with the STF maxima at 2 kHz and 4 kHz respectively Pre- and post- exposure sweep Bekesy audiograms were recorded and the temporary thresh old shift calctilated as the difference between the two. Frequency of the maximum TTS was correlated to that of the maximum STF. The average TTS was very small or zero at frequen cies below the band noise exposure , but was noticeable even at the highest measured frequency (8 kHz) for beyond the noise band. Also individual differences in STF were found at frequencies between 2 kHz and 4 kHz展开更多
In land warfare,trenches serve as vital defensive fortifications,offering protection to soldiers while engaging in combat.However,despite their protective function,soldiers often sustain injuries within these trenches...In land warfare,trenches serve as vital defensive fortifications,offering protection to soldiers while engaging in combat.However,despite their protective function,soldiers often sustain injuries within these trenches.The lack of corresponding blast data alongside empirical injury reports presents a significant knowledge gap,particularly concerning the blast pressures propagating within trench spaces following nearby explosions.This absence hinders the correlation between blast parameters,trench geometry,and reported injury cases,limiting our understanding of blast-related risks within trenches.This paper addresses the critical aspect of blast propagation within trench systems,essential for evaluating potential blast injury risks to individuals within these structures.Through advanced computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulations,the study comprehensively investigates blast injury risks resulting from explosions near military trenches.Employing a sophisticated computational model,the research analyzes the dynamic blast effects within trenches,considering both geometrical parameters and blast characteristics influenced by explosive weight and scaled distance.The numerical simulations yield valuable insights into the impact of these parameters on blast injury risks,particularly focusing on eardrum rupture,lung injury,and traumatic brain injury levels within the trench.The findings elucidate distinct patterns of high-risk zones,highlighting unique characteristics of internal explosions due to confinement and venting dynamics along the trench.This study underscores the significance of detailed numerical modeling in assessing blast injury risks and provides a novel knowledge base for understanding risks associated with explosives detonating near military trenches.The insights gained contribute to enhancing safety measures in both military and civilian contexts exposed to blast events near trench structures.展开更多
Whereas for smaller animals the eardrums are well-characterized as excitable membranes or drums, some animals such as several archosaurs feature, as a first approximation, a rather stiff elastic shell supported by an ...Whereas for smaller animals the eardrums are well-characterized as excitable membranes or drums, some animals such as several archosaurs feature, as a first approximation, a rather stiff elastic shell supported by an elastic ring. Mathematically, the theory of plates and shells is applicable but its governing equations overly complicate the modeling. Here the notion of tympanic structure is introduced as a generalization of “ordinary” tympanic membranes so as to account for sound perception as it occurs in archosaurs, such as birds and crocodilians. A mathematical model for the tympanic structure in many archosaurs called two-spring model implements this notion. The model is exactly soluble and solutions are presented in closed form and as a series expansion. Special emphasis is put onto offering an easy-to-apply model for describing experiments and performing numerical studies. The analytic treatment is supplemented by a discussion of the applicability of the two-spring model in auditory research. An elasticity-theoretic perspective of the two-spring model is given in the Appendix.展开更多
A human middle ear consists of an eardrum and three ossicles which are linked by each other, and connect with the eardrum and an inner ear. The inner ear consists of a cochlea and a vestibular system. An abnormality o...A human middle ear consists of an eardrum and three ossicles which are linked by each other, and connect with the eardrum and an inner ear. The inner ear consists of a cochlea and a vestibular system. An abnormality of the human middle ear such as ossicular dislocation may cause conductive hearing loss. The conductive hearing loss is generally treated by surgery using artificial ossicles. The treatments of conductive hearing loss require a better understanding of characteristics and dynamic behaviors of the human middle ear when the sounds transmit from outer inner to inner ear. The purpose of this research is to simulate the dynamic behaviors of a human ear system comprising the middle ear and the cochlea in the inner ear using the finite element method (FEM). Firstly, the eigen-value analysis was performed to obtain the natural frequencies and vibration modes of the total ear system. Secondly, the frequency response analysis was carried out. Thirdly, the time history response analyses were performed using human voices as the external forces. In the time history response analyses, the sounds created as input sound pressures were used. Human voices, for example vowels “I”, “u” and “e” as input sound pressures were created by using the sound pressures downloaded from the opening samples of human voices as wav files in a website. Then it was clarified that the high frequency components of sounds are reduced by the middle ear system.展开更多
基金We acknowledge the funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 61574163）, the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation （No. 2015M571837） and the Foundation Research Project of Jiangsu Province （No. BK20150364）.
文摘Flexible mechanosensors with a high sensitivity and fast response speed may advance the wearable and implantable applications of healthcare devices, such as real-time heart rate, pulse, and respiration monitoring. In this paper, we introduce a novel flexible electronic eardrum （EE） based on single-walled carbon nanotubes, polyethylene, and polydimethylsiloxane with micro-structured pyramid arrays. The EE device shows a high sensitivity, high signal-to-noise ratio （approximately 55 dB）, and fast response time （76.9 μs） in detecting and recording sound within a frequency domain of 20-13,000 Hz. The mechanism for sound detection is investigated and the sensitivity is determined using the micro-structure, thickness, and strain state. We also demonstrated that the device is able to distinguish human voices. This unprecedented performance of the flexible electronic eardrum has implications for many applications such as implantable acoustical bioelectronics and personal voice recognition.
文摘Twelve volunteers with normal hearing (9 males and 3 females) participated in this work The sound transfer functions (STFS) from diffuse sound field to the subject's eardrums were measured and correlated to the temporary threshold shift (TTS) due to fiffuse-exposure.A probe tube with a miniature microphone was used for STF measurements in which successive 1/3 oct bandwidth random noise with central frequency from 0.25 kKz to 8 kHz were used. The subjects were divided into two groups, with the STF maxima at 2 kHz and 4 kHz respectively Pre- and post- exposure sweep Bekesy audiograms were recorded and the temporary thresh old shift calctilated as the difference between the two. Frequency of the maximum TTS was correlated to that of the maximum STF. The average TTS was very small or zero at frequen cies below the band noise exposure , but was noticeable even at the highest measured frequency (8 kHz) for beyond the noise band. Also individual differences in STF were found at frequencies between 2 kHz and 4 kHz
文摘In land warfare,trenches serve as vital defensive fortifications,offering protection to soldiers while engaging in combat.However,despite their protective function,soldiers often sustain injuries within these trenches.The lack of corresponding blast data alongside empirical injury reports presents a significant knowledge gap,particularly concerning the blast pressures propagating within trench spaces following nearby explosions.This absence hinders the correlation between blast parameters,trench geometry,and reported injury cases,limiting our understanding of blast-related risks within trenches.This paper addresses the critical aspect of blast propagation within trench systems,essential for evaluating potential blast injury risks to individuals within these structures.Through advanced computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulations,the study comprehensively investigates blast injury risks resulting from explosions near military trenches.Employing a sophisticated computational model,the research analyzes the dynamic blast effects within trenches,considering both geometrical parameters and blast characteristics influenced by explosive weight and scaled distance.The numerical simulations yield valuable insights into the impact of these parameters on blast injury risks,particularly focusing on eardrum rupture,lung injury,and traumatic brain injury levels within the trench.The findings elucidate distinct patterns of high-risk zones,highlighting unique characteristics of internal explosions due to confinement and venting dynamics along the trench.This study underscores the significance of detailed numerical modeling in assessing blast injury risks and provides a novel knowledge base for understanding risks associated with explosives detonating near military trenches.The insights gained contribute to enhancing safety measures in both military and civilian contexts exposed to blast events near trench structures.
文摘Whereas for smaller animals the eardrums are well-characterized as excitable membranes or drums, some animals such as several archosaurs feature, as a first approximation, a rather stiff elastic shell supported by an elastic ring. Mathematically, the theory of plates and shells is applicable but its governing equations overly complicate the modeling. Here the notion of tympanic structure is introduced as a generalization of “ordinary” tympanic membranes so as to account for sound perception as it occurs in archosaurs, such as birds and crocodilians. A mathematical model for the tympanic structure in many archosaurs called two-spring model implements this notion. The model is exactly soluble and solutions are presented in closed form and as a series expansion. Special emphasis is put onto offering an easy-to-apply model for describing experiments and performing numerical studies. The analytic treatment is supplemented by a discussion of the applicability of the two-spring model in auditory research. An elasticity-theoretic perspective of the two-spring model is given in the Appendix.
文摘A human middle ear consists of an eardrum and three ossicles which are linked by each other, and connect with the eardrum and an inner ear. The inner ear consists of a cochlea and a vestibular system. An abnormality of the human middle ear such as ossicular dislocation may cause conductive hearing loss. The conductive hearing loss is generally treated by surgery using artificial ossicles. The treatments of conductive hearing loss require a better understanding of characteristics and dynamic behaviors of the human middle ear when the sounds transmit from outer inner to inner ear. The purpose of this research is to simulate the dynamic behaviors of a human ear system comprising the middle ear and the cochlea in the inner ear using the finite element method (FEM). Firstly, the eigen-value analysis was performed to obtain the natural frequencies and vibration modes of the total ear system. Secondly, the frequency response analysis was carried out. Thirdly, the time history response analyses were performed using human voices as the external forces. In the time history response analyses, the sounds created as input sound pressures were used. Human voices, for example vowels “I”, “u” and “e” as input sound pressures were created by using the sound pressures downloaded from the opening samples of human voices as wav files in a website. Then it was clarified that the high frequency components of sounds are reduced by the middle ear system.
