In this study, an apparatus that quasi-statically measures the relationship between the load applied to the ossicles and the displacement of the ossicles was developed, and the ossicular mobility in human temporal bones was measured before and after the ossicles were artificially fixed. Results were compared with estimates of vibration amplitude of the ossicles obtained with a laser Doppler velocimeter in the same temporal bones when sound stimulus was applied to the tympanic membrane. When the fixed bone was measured with our apparatus, a correlation was seen between the ossicular mobility measured with our apparatus and the vibration amplitude of the ossicles. This result suggests that our apparatus is able to detect the difference in mobility between fixed and normal ears, and indicates that our apparatus is a potentially useful tool for the estimation of ossicular disorders.
