• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.183-187
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• 2018

In this paper, we investigated the efficiency according to the output transmission method of the round window driving type AMEIs (active middle ear implants) through the cadaveric experiment. For the experiment, we fabricated DRT (direct rod transducer) and FMT (floating mass transducer) type vibrational transducers based on our previous studies and conducted their output characteristics were measured. TCBT (tri-coil bellows transducer) and DFMT (differential floating mass transducer) were implemented with the same driving force and electrical characteristics as one of DRT and FMT, respectively. In the experiment using three human temporal bone, normal stapes vibration was measured with 1 Pa in front of tympanic membrane, and then was compared with each output of transducers. From the comparison, the DRT type vibration transducer was superior in overall energy transfer efficiency, especially in the low frequency range. There was no difference in implantation difficulty between the two transducers. The results of this study suggest that the DRT type vibrational transducer is more efficient and needs further study to overcome the low frequency degradation in round window approaching with FMT.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.640-648
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• 2020

Objective : This study aimed to assess the relationship between increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and mastoid effusions (ME). Methods : Between January 2015 and October 2018, patients who underwent intracranial surgery and had ICP monitoring catheters placed were enrolled. ICP was recorded hourly for at least 3 days. ME was determined by the emergence of opacification in mastoid air cells on follow-up brain imaging. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, presence of endotracheal tube (ETT) and nasogastric tube (NGT), duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, duration of mechanical ventilator application, diagnosis, surgical modalities, and presence of sinusitis were recorded. Each factor's effect on the occurrence of ME was analyzed by binary logistic regression analyses. To analyze the independent effects of ICP as a predictor of ME a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Results : Total of 61 (53%) out of 115 patients had ME. Among the patients who had unilateral brain lesions, 94% of subject (43/50) revealed the ipsilateral development of ME. ME developed at a mean of 11.1±6.2 days. The variables including mean ICP, peak ICP, age, trauma, CRP, ICU stays, application of mechanical ventilators and presence of ETT and NGT showed statistically significant difference between ME groups and non-ME groups in univariate analysis. Sex and the occurrence of sinusitis did not differ between two groups. Adding the ICP variables significantly improved the prediction of ME in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : While multiple factors affect ME, this study demonstrates that ICP and ME are probably related. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanistic relationship between ICP and middle ear pressure.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2011

In this paper, the lumped element model parameter estimation method and its implemented estimation software for fabricated floating mass transducers of IMEHDs have been presented so that the estimated parameter values could be compared with the designed ones and applied to predict the output performance when the transducers were implanted into human ears. The presented method is based on the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) for estimating parameters in the transducer's lumped model and has been implemented by the use of LabVIEW graphical language. Using the implemented estimation software, the accuracy of parameter estimation has been verified and our implemented estimation method has been evaluated by the comparison of the estimated transducer parameter values with the designed ones for a practically fabricated floating mass transducer for IMEHDs.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.139-144
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• 2005

An implantable microphone that can be utilized as part of a totally implantable hearing aid is designed and implemented. The proposed microphone is implanted in the center of the pinna, and designed to ensure the speech frequency range and the appropriate sensitivity. The characteristics of the proposed microphone are evaluated using a finite element analysis (FEA). The microphone is composed of a small electric condenser microphone, titanium case 6.2mm in diameter and 3mm high, and $10{\mu}m$ SUS316L vibrating membrane in contact with hypodermic tissue to maintain the sensitivity of the microphone. The microphone components are all made of biocompatible materials, then the assembled microphone is hermetically sealed using a polymer and ceramic. Experiments with the fabricated microphone confirm an operational bandwidth of up to 5kHz without any decline of sensitivity in 6mm of hypodermic tissue.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2013

Recently, various hearing aids are developed to overcome hearing loss. There are available hearing aids, such as air conduction hearing aid, implantable middle ear hearing aid and so on. But air conduction hearing aid is inconvenience caused by howling, and ossicle chain driving type implantable middle ear hearing aid has some week point due to problem of possible nercobiosis of coupling spot along incus long process. In recent years, in order to improve these shortcomings round window (RW) driving hearing aid has been paying attention. In this paper, the physical cochlear model is proposed for a performance evaluation of the RW driving hearing aids of a transducer. In order to verify an experiment proposed on a performance of physical cochlear model, the transducer which has ossicles characteristics is used. By measuring and comparing the frequency characteristics of transducer with ossicles and human temporal bone, performance of physical cochlear model was verified. As from the result of experiment, it is expected that an implemented cochlear model is useful for evaluating characteristics of RW transducer.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1972.03a
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• pp.1.2-1
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• 1972

It is the most important to know the causative organisms and the most effective antibiotics in the cases of chronic suppurative otitis media not only for the treatment of the cases of O.M.P.C. but also for postoperative control of middle ear surgery. In the authors' opinion, there are various organisms in the middle ear depending on the country, hygine, and area, etc., and many new antibiotics have recently been developed. To the otologists, it is helpful to know the causative organisms of O.M.P.C. and to compare with other authors' results about the sensitivity of antibiotics to the organisms. Thus the authors have performed bacteriological studies and its sensitivity test to the causative organisms in the cases of O.M.P.C. and obtained the following results. According to the our studies, in the gram-negative species, Proteus species (16.9%) was the most sensitive to Ampicillin 81.8% and Pseudomonas(18.5%) was the most sensitive to Colimycin 91.7%, and in the gram positive group, Staphylococcus Aureus (29.2%) was sensitive to Erythromycin 100% and Orbenin 94.7%.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.449-455
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• 2010

Implantable middle ear hearing devices(IMEHDs) have being actively studied to overcome the problems of conventional hearing aids. Vibration transducer, an output devices of IMEHDs, is attached on the ossicular chain and transmits mechanical vibration to cochlea. This approach allows us to hear more clear sound because mechanical vibration is effective to transfer high frequency acoustics, but occurs some problems such as fatigue accumulation to ossicular chian and reduction of vibration displacement caused by mass loading effect. Recently, many studies for the round window stimulation are announced, because it does not cause such problems. It have been studied by older transducers designed for attaching on ossicular chain. In this paper, we proposed a new electromagnetic transducer which consists of two magnets, three coils and a vibration membrane. The magnet assembly, magnet coupled in opposite direction, were placed in the center of three coils, and the optimum length of each coil generating maximum vibrational force was calculated by finite element analysis(FEA). The transducer was implemented as the calculated length of each coil, and measured vibration displacement. From the results, it is verified the vibration displacement can be improved by optimizing the length of coils.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1976.06a
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• pp.85.2-85
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• 1976

Harford has pointed out that the application of impedance audiometry in the Eustachian tube function is of special value. As you know, with excessive negative pressure in the middle ear cavity with intact eardrum tympanograms reveal indirect evidence of Eustachian tube insufficiency. With normal Eustachian tube function eardrum should be pushed laterally by Valsalva maneuver, resulting in a temporary decrease in the compliance of the system, indicated by a swing of the balance meter needle. Therefore the authors measured the swing of the balance meter needle by the Valsalva maneuver in persons with intact eardrums, intact middle ear cavities, and intact Eustachian tube function. The results are as follows; The swing of the eardrum by Valsalva maneuver is 1.0 to 4.0 (mean $1.6{\pm}0.06$) and we conclude that the persons under 1.0 of the swing is suggestive of some disfunctions of the Eustachian tube.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1982

Serous otitis media is closely related with auditory tube function, but its etiology and pathogenesis are not clearly defined yet. So we tried to prove the theory of hydrops ex vacuo via the experimental study with cats by means of obstructing the pharyngeal orfice of the auditory tube and observe the serial changes in tympanic mucosa through light and electron microscopy. The results are as follows; 1. We confirmed the production of serous otitis media with auditory tube obstruction and have a new understanding of auditory tube function in middle ear aeration. 2. The effusion in serous otitis media was produced from the next day of experiment and increased till the fourteenth day, but decreased after the spontaneous perforation of ear drum. 3. Through the light microscopy, we observed the increasement of the sercretory cells including goblet cells, epithelial hyperplasia, capillary proliferation and invasion of inflammatory cells. 4. Through the elctron microscopy, we observed the protrusion of secretory cells, blobs in cilia, loss of cilia, increasement of vesicles, vacuoles and dense bodies in ciliated cells and Invasion of inflammatory cells. With above results, we concluded that aeration through auditory tube is the most important factor in serous otitis media and presumed the effusion was secreted by secretory cells.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effect of auricular acupressure therapy on reducing the ocular symptoms and signs for dry eye syndrome. Methods: The participants who were aged ≥ 40 years old and met the inclusion criteria of the ocular surface disease index score ≥ 13 and a tear film break-up time ≤ 10 seconds were enrolled into the two groups: experimental group (n=29) and control group (n=27). Experimental group received auricular acupressure therapy for 8 weeks. Seed stickers were applied to the eye, liver and tubercle point of each ear once a week. Data were collected at pre and 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment and analysed the efficacy of intervention by repeated measures ANOVA. Results: There were significant differences in the ocular surface disease index, standard patient evaluation of eye dryness and a tear film break-up time in both eyes at 8 weeks after the treatment between the two groups. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the auricular acupressure therapy may be helpful for relieving symptoms of dry eye as a nursing intervention. In addition, it could also be utilized as a self-care practice using proper education and training.