3D Modeling and Printing of a Middle Ear Surgery Simulator: A Case Study on Cholesteatoma
摘要
The middle ear plays a crucial role in the hearing process, as it links the external auditory meatus with the inner ear. The middle ear is bounded laterally by the tympanic membrane and contains the ossicular chain (malleus, incus, and stapes) and an air-filled cavity that facilitates sound transmission and pressure equalization. This delicate structure can be damaged by cholesteatoma, which is an abnormal growth of keratinizing squamous epithelium that erodes the ossicles and surrounding structures. This slow, progressive process impairs sound conduction, making surgical restoration of hearing more complex. It therefore requires detailed anatomical knowledge and surgical expertise. To enhance surgical preparation and training, we developed a middle ear surgical simulator based on anatomical structures and cholesteatoma lesions using 3D modeling techniques. The aim is to enable customizable, precise, and realistic representation of these structures. These advanced techniques improve training, enhance surgical precision and outcomes, and reduce postoperative recurrence and complications by offering a rich, anatomically accurate simulation environment for surgical education.