Amoako-Tuffour Yaw, Jufas Nicholas, Quach Jack, Le Lisa, Earle Guy, Kotiya Akhilesh A, Bance Manohar
*Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada †Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada ‡Discipline of Surgery, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia §Sensory Encoding and Neuro-Sensory Encoding (SENSE) Laboratory, Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada ||Ear and Auditory Research (EAR) Laboratory, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Otol Neurotol. 2016 Sep;37(8):1055-8. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000001130.
To assess the acoustic transmission characteristics of the Eustachian tube (ET) in living subjects in verified patent and closed ET states to facilitate the detection and quantification of ET function using acoustic measures such as sonotubometry.
The two subjects in this study had no history of ear disease nor previous ear surgery and were capable of volitionally opening and closing their ET.
Tympanometry and otologic examinations were used to confirm ET patent and closed states by observing tympanic membrane movement with respiration and by acoustic immitance measurements during forced respiration. A series of 500-ms long chirps containing frequencies from 100 Hz to 10 kHz were introduced into the nasal cavity during both ET states and recorded by microphones in both the contralateral naris and external auditory canal.
Acoustic energy transmission through the ET across the 0.1 to 10 kHz frequency range in the closed state versus the patent state.
An increase in acoustic energy transmission occurs across the frequencies of 1 to 4 kHz between the closed and patent ET states, particularly in frequencies below 2.5 kHz.
Results support sonotubometry as a potential diagnostic tool for ET dysfunction. Acoustic differences between the ET states manifest as a general increase in transmitted signal amplitude. Characterizing the acoustic properties in the verified patent and closed ET states allows investigators to more reliably interpret sonotubometric tests of ET function.
评估咽鼓管（ET）在活体受试者中处于通畅和闭合状态时的声传输特性，以便利用诸如声导抗测管法等声学测量方法来检测和量化ET功能。
本研究中的两名受试者无耳部疾病史，也未曾接受过耳部手术，且能够自主打开和闭合其ET。
通过观察呼吸时鼓膜的运动以及在用力呼吸期间进行声导抗测量，使用鼓室图和耳科检查来确认ET的通畅和闭合状态。在ET的两种状态下，将一系列时长500毫秒、频率范围为100赫兹至10千赫兹的啁啾声引入鼻腔，并由对侧鼻孔和外耳道中的麦克风进行记录。
在闭合状态与通畅状态下，ET在0.1至10千赫兹频率范围内的声能传输情况。
在ET的闭合状态与通畅状态之间，1至4千赫兹频率范围内的声能传输增加，尤其是在2.5千赫兹以下的频率。
结果支持声导抗测管法作为ET功能障碍的一种潜在诊断工具。ET两种状态之间的声学差异表现为传输信号幅度的总体增加。确定ET在已证实的通畅和闭合状态下的声学特性，可使研究人员更可靠地解释ET功能的声导抗测管测试结果。
