Easy 3D Measurement of the Ear Canal and Quantification of the comfort of the hearing aid shell

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12892
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90150:Medical assistive technology-related
• Research Institution: Sanjo City University (2022); Saitama Medical University (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Katoh Ayako 三条市立大学, 工学部, 教授 (30318159)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 白石 直子 (丸山直子) 埼玉医科大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (00736259) ; 若山 俊隆 埼玉医科大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (90438862)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 光スキャナ / 仮想空間 / 3DCG / 機械学習 / 補聴器シェル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A three-dimensional(3D) optical scanner for the external ear canal can determine details of surface profiles of the ear canal without using impression materials. But the measurement of the relative coordinates of the 3D optical scanner is essential. The objective of this study is to determine the shape of a curved ear canal without measuring the relative coordinates of the 3D optical scanner. Although machine learning requires a large amount of data, it is not realistic to collect such data using an actual optical scanner device, so we developed a VR experiment system. Experiments were conducted in a VR environment to study the method of 3D coordinate restoration. Assuming that the trajectory of the tip of the optical fiber is a straight line, images were taken at multiple trajectories with different entry angles, and the possibility of determining the 3D shape without measuring the relative coordinates of the 3D optical scanner by fitting multiple trajectories was demonstrated.

Free Research Field

生体医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

補聴器は聴覚障害者の生活の質を向上させるだけでなく，うつ病や認知症を食い止める重要な医療機器である．装着感の優れた外耳道挿入型の補聴器は，外耳道を型取りするとき，外耳道や鼓膜を損傷するリスクが高い．3次元光スキャナを用いると，非接触で外耳道形状を撮像できる．しかしながら，光スキャナの相対座標をあらかじめ計測しなければならないためプロセスが増えるうえ，計測中に動いてはいけないため，患者にとって負担が大きいことが問題であった．本研究の成果により，型取りのリスクを無くし，計測時間の短縮により患者の負担を軽くすることが可能である．