School of Electrical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2010 Jun;11(2):145-59. doi: 10.1007/s10162-009-0195-6. Epub 2009 Dec 1.
We report a precise, simple, and accessible method of mathematically measuring and modeling the three-dimensional (3D) geometry of semicircular canals (SCCs) in living humans. Knowledge of this geometry helps understand the development and physiology of SCC stimulation. We developed a framework of robust techniques that automatically and accurately reconstruct SCC geometry from computed tomography (CT) images and are directly validated using micro-CT as ground truth. This framework measures the 3D centroid paths of the bony SCCs allowing direct comparison and analysis between ears within and between subjects. An average set of SCC morphology is calculated from 34 human ears, within which other geometrical attributes such as nonplanarity, radius of curvature, and inter-SCC angle are examined, with a focus on physiological implications. These measurements have also been used to critically evaluate plane fitting techniques that reconcile many of the discrepancies in current SCC plane studies. Finally, we mathematically model SCC geometry using Fourier series equations. This work has the potential to reinterpret physiology and pathophysiology in terms of real individual 3D morphology.
我们报告了一种精确、简单且易于使用的方法，可用于数学测量和建模活体人类半圆形半规管（SCC）的三维（3D）几何形状。了解这种几何形状有助于理解 SCC 刺激的发育和生理学。我们开发了一个强大的技术框架，可从 CT 图像自动且准确地重建 SCC 几何形状，并使用微 CT 作为地面实况进行直接验证。该框架测量骨 SCC 的 3D 质心路径，允许在个体内和个体间直接比较和分析耳朵。从 34 个人类耳朵中计算出一组平均 SCC 形态，在此基础上还检查了其他几何属性，例如非平面性、曲率半径和 SCC 之间的角度，重点是生理影响。这些测量还用于批判性地评估平面拟合技术，这些技术解决了当前 SCC 平面研究中的许多差异。最后，我们使用傅里叶级数方程对 SCC 几何形状进行数学建模。这项工作有可能根据真实的个体 3D 形态重新解释生理学和病理生理学。
