# Improving Restoration of Middle-Ear Function Following Blast Related Injuries

> **NIH VA I01** · VA LOMA LINDA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Conductive hearing loss in military personnel is commonly caused by blast-related middle ear injuries, which
can include tympanic membrane rupture and dislocation of the middle-ear ossicles. The current proposal seeks
to evaluate methods and devices for restoring hearing not only for active-duty military personnel and Veterans
who suffer from a blast-induced conductive hearing loss, but also for others who experience conductive
hearing loss for various reasons (e.g., ruptured eardrum, birth defects, stiffening of middle ear bones). While
these injuries are clinically treatable, the effects of middle-ear pathology on hearing are not well quantified, and
clinical outcomes often fail to completely restore normal hearing for those suffering from a conductive hearing
loss. The current proposal seeks to precisely measure the complex vibrational patterns along the ossicular
chain and related pressures at the ends of the middle ear system; the umbo attached to the tympanic
membrane and stapes attached to the cochlea, under both normal and particularly under various pathological
conditions (damaged/repaired/reconstructed using prosthesis). These studies will use Laser Doppler
Vibrometry, unique micro-pressure sensors and direct measures of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). Aim 1 will
evaluate the effects of systematically varied tympanic membrane perforations on middle ear sound
transmission in an animal model. The role of the tympanic membrane in sound transmission will be explored
and its influence on the motion of the ossicles will be characterized under varied perforation and naturally
healed conditions. Measurement of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) following stimulation
with paired tones will be used to quantify the effect of varying degrees of damage to the tympanic membrane.
In Aim 2 we will measure sound transmission in an animal model with simulated ossicular chain pathologies. In
addition, the effect of an abnormal ossicular chain on the production and acoustic characteristics of DPOAEs
will be systematically explored in order to develop quantitative tools for diagnosing hearing loss and for use in
the design and implementation of improved methods of treatment. Aim 3 evaluates middle ear sound
transmission in human cadaver temporal bone models of clinically repaired human ears. Using direct pressure
and velocity measurements, the functional differences between normal middle ear structures and two currently
employed methods of repairing disarticulation of the middle ear ossicular chain, incus/stapes fixation or
partial/total ossicular chain replacement using prostheses, will be quantified in detail. The proposed research
will provide important information that will serve to improve our ability to specifically diagnose the causes of
conductive hearing loss, direct the development of improved methods of treatment, and assist in the rational
design of advanced prosthetics that more effectively restore hearing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11173549
- **Project number:** 5I01RX002296-07
- **Recipient organization:** VA LOMA LINDA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Wei Dong
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-10-01 → 2024-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11173549

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11173549, Improving Restoration of Middle-Ear Function Following Blast Related Injuries (5I01RX002296-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11173549. Licensed CC0.

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