In-vivo assessment of osseous versus non-osseous transmission pathways of vibratory stimuli applied to the bone and the dura in humans

We demonstrate a proof-of-concept comparison of DPOAEs and teeth acceleration levels elicited by a bone vibrator placed either against the skin-covered temporal bone, as in audiometry, or directly against the dura mater in patients undergoing a craniotomy. It was demonstrated that DPOAEs could be elicited via non-osseous pathways within the skull contents and that the required measurements could be performed intra-operatively.