Tomographic Imaging of Cochlear Micromechanical Motions

耳蜗微机械运动的断层扫描成像

• 批准号: 6985366
• 负责人: Dennis M Freeman
• 金额: $ 18.33万
• 依托单位: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-12-01 至 2007-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6985366
• 关键词: animal tissue; auditory stimulus; biomechanics; cochlea; computer program /software; ear hair cell; guinea pigs; image processing; measurement; neuroimaging; optical tomography; organ of Corti; retina; technology /technique development; three dimensional imaging /topography; vibration; video microscopy

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The cochlea is a remarkable sensor: a living cochlea can reliably detect sounds that cause motions of the stapes on the order of picometers, is capable of high-quality frequency analysis (Q10dB > 600), and compresses the large dynamic range (120 dB) of hearing into the considerably smaller dynamic range (20- 50 dB) of neurons. It is now widely accepted that an active mechanical amplification process underlies these remarkable properties. However, there is considerable debate about the nature of the amplifier. While information on the cellular and molecular basis of hearing is increasing rapidly, there is still little understanding of how the components interoperate to generate the remarkable properties of hearing. To date, the most successful experimental studies of cellular motions in living cochleae have used optical methods. However, current methods, such as laser Doppler vibrometry and video microscopy are limited by the low reflectivities of cochlear structures and the limited optical access provided by the intact cochea. The objective of this grant is to develop and apply a new tomographic imaging and motion measurement technique capable of determining the three-dimensional motions of all structures in a living, intact cochlea. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) will be used to obtain high-resolution images of the cochlea. Images will be acquired through a narrow opening similar to that used in laser Doppler vibrometry methods, or possibly directly through bone. Sequences of stroboscopic images will be generated with synchronous demodulation of the OCT detector signal during acoustic stimulation. Computer vision algorithms (similar to those used in video microscopy methods) will be used to determine motions with nanometer resolution. This technique will be applied to image and measure three-dimensional motions of the internal microstructure of an intact cochlea, including the basilar membrane, reticular lamina, tectorial membrane, and outer hair cells.

描述（由申请人提供）：耳蜗是一个了不起的传感器：活着的耳蜗可以可靠地检测出在皮仪上引起stap的声音，能够进行高质量的频率分析（Q10DB> 600），并压缩大型动态范围（120 dB）听证会进入神经元的动态范围（20-50 dB）。现在广泛认为，一个主动的机械放大过程是这些出色的特性的基础。但是，关于放大器的性质存在很大的争论。虽然关于听力的细胞和分子基础的信息正在迅速增加，但对组件如何相互键入以产生听力的显着特性仍然几乎没有理解。 迄今为止，对活耳蜗中细胞运动的最成功的实验研究使用了光学方法。但是，当前方法（例如激光多普勒振动法和视频显微镜）受到人工耳蜗的低反射率以及完整的Cochea提供的有限的光学访问的限制。该赠款的目的是开发和应用一种新的层析成像和运动测量技术，能够确定活着的完整耳蜗中所有结构的三维运动。光学相干断层扫描（OCT）将用于获得耳蜗的高分辨率图像。图像将通过类似于激光多普勒振动法中或可能直接通过骨骼的狭窄开口获取。在声刺激过程中，将通过对OCT检测器信号的同步解调而生成频镜图像的序列。计算机视觉算法（类似于视频显微镜方法中使用的算法）将用于确定纳米分辨率的运动。该技术将应用于图像和测量完整耳蜗内部微观结构的三维运动，包括基底膜，网状层，tecorial膜和外毛细胞。