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Anatomical Exploration of the Tympanic Cavity Using Virtual and Printed 3D Models of the Human Petrous Bone
Author(s) -
Zdilla Matthew J,
Skrzat Janusz,
Walecki Piotr,
Tarasiuk Jacek
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.453.2
Subject(s) - tympanic cavity , infratemporal fossa , 3d printing , middle ear , anatomy , 3d printed , temporal fascia , computer science , biomedical engineering , materials science , skull , fascia , engineering , medicine , composite material
The tympanic cavity is, from a gross anatomical perspective, both small and complex. Scaling the anatomy of the tympanic cavity to a larger size, while maintaining accuracy with regard to detail, could improve the understanding of the anatomy. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to create an accurate 3D computer model of the tympanic cavity and materialize it, in a larger scale, via 3D printing. The 3D virtual model of the tympanic cavity was created from serial micro‐CT scans of a normal temporal bone and converted into stereolithography files dedicated for 3D printing. Micro‐CT scanning of the petrous bone was performed with aid of the Nanotom 180N device with a slice thickness of 15 μm. To obtain the 3D virtual model of the tympanic cavity, automatic image segmentation was performed with CT‐An software, which generated the mesh of triangles that approximated the geometry of the tympanic cavity. To create a polymer mass from the digital model, the Da Vinci 1.0 printer (nozzle diameter = 0.4 mm), which utilized prototyping technology based on fused filament fabrication, was employed in order to build the model with the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene at the layer height = 0.3 mm. The study demonstrated the possibility of building accurate models of the tympanic cavity that expose anatomical details including the oval window, round window, promontory, pyramidal evidence, subiculum, ponticulus, and sinus tympani— structures with dimensions in the range of only a few millimeters. Both 3D virtual and large‐scale printed models may improve the understanding of the complex anatomy of the tympanic cavity and spatial relationships between the ear components. Enlarged 3D virtual and printed models of the tympanic cavity facilitate demonstration and observation of the tympanic cavity anatomy in comparative studies. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .