Numerical modeling of the motion of otoconia particles in the patient-specific semicircular canal

Abstract

© 2019, OWZ. The balance system is called a labyrinth and it consists of three mutually orthogonal canals, called semicircular canals (SCCs). The SCCs are filled with a fluid called endolymph, and each canal has a cupula that is deformed by the endolymph flow. One of the balance disorders is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and one of the pathological conditions that cause this disorder is canalithiasis. Canalithiasis is caused by the free-moving otoconia particles within the SCC. In this study, a numerical model is presented that enables the analysis of motion of multiple otoconia particles within the labyrinth and the change of cupular displacement due to this motion. The three-dimensional endolymph flow is modeled using the specific adaptation of the lattice Boltzmann method, called the mass-conserved volumetric lattice Boltzmann method. The cupula is considered to be linearly elastic and modeled as a set of springs. The interaction between particles is modeled using the equation introduced in the DEM method. The interaction of the particles with the wall is modeled using a lubrication force. The interaction of all considered entities is modeled by interpolating the quantities of interest over the surrounding points. Results presented in this study are obtained using the patient-specific geometry, and the endolymph flow through the entire labyrinth is simulated. The good agreement of results presented in this study with results from the literature shows that this numerical model has the potential to be successfully used for simulations of processes occurring during canalithiasis in the semicircular canals.