Mechanical impedance of human headbones (forehead and mastoid portion of the temporal bone) measured under ISO/IEC conditions

Abstract

Mechanical impedances of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone and of the forehead are presented for 60 human subjects of both sexes and of ages between 9 and 71 years. Measurements were carried out using a plane circular surface of 1.75 cm2 and a static force of 5.4 N (ISO/IEC conditions). Impedance is found to vary with age and to a lesser extent with sex. Results are consistent with earlier measurements carried out under somewhat different conditions, but deviate rather substantially at most frequencies from the recommended ISO/IEC mechanical impedance for an artificial headbone. A study of the influence of variations in the mechanical headbone impedance upon bone vibrator performance by means of an analogous electrical network is reported. Subject Classification: [43]65.64; [43]85.20.