Research report 2017

Animation:

The animation of the research report shows a method for capturing the three-dimensional shape of 138 human inner ears using µCT and corrossion technology. The human inner ear is surprisingly variable in its microanatomy and does not correspond to the geometry of a logarithmic spiral, as previously assumed. The data obtained prove for the first time that the spiral shape of the inner ear is the result of efficient "packing" in the petrous bone, without acoustic function (Pietsch et al., 2017, Nat Sci Rep). MHH researchers were able to use this data to precisely mathematically model the geometry of the human inner ear. The results were used for the development of a new cochlear implant electrode from Advanced Bionics.

The recording was provided by Prof. Dr. Dr. Andrej Kral, Director of the Department of Experimental Otology at the ENT Clinical Department and Scientific Director of VIANNA. The work was carried out in collaboration with the "Advanced Bionics European Research Center", GmbH, and the Institute of Biometry at the MHH.

Until the Research Information System (FIS) is introduced, no research reports are possible due to technical challenges. However, we would like to take this opportunity to explicitly present one project as a representative.