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An experimental investigation of the resolution of tympanometry for micro-perforations of the tympanic membrane

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

D. J. McFerran
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK
T. E. Mitchell
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK
D. M. Baguley
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK
D. A. Moffat
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK

Abstract

Tympanometry is well established as a useful tool in the field of otological diagnosis. There have been sporadic reports, however, of bizarre tympanograms in the presence of small perforations of the tympanic membrane. A model of the outer and middle ears was fabricated which was able to produce normal and pathological tympanograms. This model was used to investigate tympanometry in the presence of microperforations. A hypothesis for the mechanism of generation of sawtooth tympanograms in the presence of micro-perforations is postulated.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2001

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