Ear canal insert acoustic genetic hearing aid

Abstract

The application discloses an ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid, which comprises a hearing aid body, a sound control unit encapsulated in the hearing aid body and a plurality of ultrasonic emitters, all of which are connected with the sound control unit, and the sound control unit is used for collecting external sound and converting and processing the external sound into an electric stimulation signal to control the ultrasonic emitters to emit ultrasonic waves outward. The acoustic genetic hearing aid provided by the application can convert external sound information into ultrasonic waves through a method combining medicine and equipment and deliver the ultrasonic waves to auditory nerves, so that precise control of transmission signals and response nerve cells can be realized, hearing impairment can be repaired, the quality of sound heard by a patient is enhanced, and the stimulation precision and penetrability are obviously improved, and the acoustic genetic hearing aid does not need to be implanted through surgery.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of medical devices, in particular to an ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid. BACKGROUND

[0002] An artificial cochlea directly stimulates auditory neurons by implanting a multi-channel electrode in the cochlea to achieve the purpose of helping patients to restore hearing. When we convert electrical stimulation into optical stimulation, we use optical genetic technology. By expressing light-sensitive proteins on cochlear auditory neurons and giving light stimulation through a multi-channel photoelectric electrode implanted in the cochlea, we can also achieve the purpose of restoring hearing. In addition to light-sensitive proteins, there are also mechanically sensitive proteins that can be activated by ultrasonic waves of specific intensity and waveband. See documents [1] Wang T G. Research Progress of Acoustic Genetic Technology [J]. Chemical and Biological Engineering, 2020, 37(9): 9-12. [2] Hong F, Li Y Z. Mechanically sensitive ion channels in ultrasonic genetic technology [J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Medical Science), 2019, 48(1): 34-38. Ultrasonic waves are a kind of physical medium widely recognized in the medical field, such as low-intensity ultrasonic waves for medical imaging and diagnosis and high-intensity ultrasonic waves for crushing stones and tumor tissues disclosed in document [1]. The energy and precision of ultrasonic manipulation have been proven in multiple fields. Mechanically sensitive proteins can be expressed on target auditory neuron cells through injection, microtube delivery or drug-loaded microsphere delivery.

[0003] Traditional cochlear electrical stimulation is not accurate enough, optical stimulation has low penetration, and a light genetic cochlea needs to be implanted in the cochlea. Acoustic genetics has the advantages of non-invasiveness, precise regulation, high safety, etc., and is expected to make up for the defects of existing technologies.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid that can precisely regulate stimulation signals and respond to nerve cells, is highly safe, and does not need to be implanted in the cochlea. SUMMARY

[0005] The purpose of the present application is to provide an ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid that can precisely regulate stimulation signals and respond to nerve cells, and is highly safe without the need for invasive implantation of devices into the cochlea.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application provides an ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid, which comprises a hearing aid body and a sound control unit and a plurality of ultrasonic emitters packaged in the hearing aid body. All the ultrasonic emitters are connected with the sound control unit, and the sound control unit is used for collecting external sound and converting and processing it into an electrical stimulation signal to control the ultrasonic emitters to emit ultrasonic waves outward.

[0007] Preferably, at least one ultrasonic receiver is further included, which is connected to the sound control unit, for collecting ultrasonic signals reflected by the cochlea and feeding back the ultrasonic signals to the sound control unit.

[0008] Preferably, the sound control unit includes a sound receiver and a processor, the sound receiver is arranged at the end side of the hearing aid body, for collecting external sound, the sound receiver is signal connected to the processor, the processor is for converting the sound signal into the electric stimulation signal, the processor is signal connected to the ultrasonic transmitter, and the ultrasonic receiver is signal connected to the processor.

[0009] Preferably, the number of the ultrasonic transmitters is the same as the number of the ultrasonic receivers, and the positions are one-to-one corresponding.

[0010] Preferably, the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters are arranged in one or more rows along the direction of embedding the hearing aid into the ear canal.

[0011] Preferably, the sound receiver is a microphone.

[0012] Preferably, the ultrasonic transmitter is a piezoelectric ceramic piece or a magnetostrictive piece.

[0013] Preferably, the sound control unit controls the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters to emit ultrasonic waves of different frequencies.

[0014] Preferably, the number of the ultrasonic transmitters and the number of the ultrasonic receivers are both 8-32.

[0015] The ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid provided by the application has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art: the ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid provided by the application collects external sound through a sound control unit and converts and processes the external sound into an electric stimulation signal, so as to control an ultrasonic emitter to emit ultrasonic waves outward, and the ultrasonic emitter is non-invasively inserted into an external ear canal of a patient, a mechanical sensitivity protein is delivered into a cochlea by a medicine injection or a drug-loaded microsphere delivery and the like in a medicine-device combination mode, the mechanical sensitivity protein is expressed on auditory neurons in the cochlea, different-position ultrasonic emitters in the ear canal activate different-position mechanical sensitivity proteins to activate corresponding expressed auditory neurons, and thus the hearing of the patient is repaired; in particular, an ultrasonic receiver is arranged to receive ultrasonic information returned from a stimulation point in the cochlea and feed back to the processor, so as to feedback parameterize the stimulation signal and form a closed-loop control, thereby optimizing the quality of the stimulation signal. Compared with a traditional cochlear implant, the ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid provided by the application converts external sound information into ultrasonic information by the medicine-device combination mode and delivers the ultrasonic information to auditory nerves, so that precise manipulation of a delivery signal and a responding nerve cell can be realized, hearing impairment is repaired, the quality of sound heard by the patient is enhanced, and the stimulation precision and the penetration are significantly improved, and the ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid does not need to be implanted in the cochlea and does not need to be operated by surgery, so that the ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid is safe and reliable. The ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid can be used for treating severe neurogenic deafness and adult postlingual deafness. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid in an embodiment of the application;

[0017] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a logic block diagram of the acoustic genetic hearing aid in the embodiment of the application;

[0018] Figure 3a FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the acoustic genetic hearing aid in the embodiment of the application emitting ultrasonic waves to stimulate auditory neurons expressing a mechanical sensitivity protein; Figure 3b FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the acoustic genetic hearing aid in the embodiment of the application emitting ultrasonic waves to stimulate auditory neurons expressing a mechanical sensitivity protein.

[0019] In the drawings:

[0020] 1-hearing aid, 2-external ear canal, 3-cochlea, 11-hearing aid body, 12-sound receiver, 13-processor, 111-ultrasonic emitter, 112-ultrasonic receiver, 4-first ultrasonic wave, 5-auditory neuron, 6-neural impulse, 7-auditory neuron expressing a mechanical sensitivity protein, 71-stacking position, 8-second ultrasonic wave. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The application will be further described below in combination with the drawings and embodiments.

[0022] Figure 1A structural schematic diagram of an ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 A logic block diagram of an acoustic genetic hearing aid in an embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The ear canal embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid provided in the embodiment comprises a hearing aid body 11, a sound control unit 10 and a plurality of ultrasonic emitters 111, all of which are connected to the sound control unit 10. The sound control unit 10 is used to collect external sound and convert and process it into an electric stimulation signal to control the ultrasonic emitters 111 to emit ultrasonic waves. Further, at least one ultrasonic receiver 112 is connected to the sound control unit 10, which is used to collect ultrasonic signals reflected in the cochlea and feed them back to the sound control unit 10. After processing, the sound control unit 10 feeds back adjusted stimulation parameters and stimulation strategies to the ultrasonic emitters 111 to form a closed-loop control.

[0024] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In a specific embodiment, the sound control unit 10 comprises a sound receiver 12 and a processor 13. The sound receiver 12 is arranged in a horn shape at the end side of the hearing aid body 11 and is used to collect external sound, which can be a microphone, etc. The sound receiver 12 is signal connected to the processor 13, and the processor 13 is signal connected to the ultrasonic emitters 111. The processor 13 can be a sound processor available for a conventional cochlear implant, which is used to convert a sound signal into an electric stimulation signal and make the ultrasonic emitters 111 emit ultrasonic waves.

[0025] Further, at least one ultrasonic receiver 112 is further included, and the ultrasonic receiver 112 is signal connected with the processor 13. The external sound information collected by the sound receiver 12 is processed by the processor 13, converted into an electric stimulation signal, and the electric stimulation signal is output to the ultrasonic transmitter 111, so that the ultrasonic transmitter 111 can emit ultrasonic waves outward; meanwhile, the ultrasonic receiver 112 can collect the ultrasonic signals reflected from the specific position in the cochlea, and feed back the collected ultrasonic signals to the processor 13, and the processor 13 adjusts the stimulation parameters and stimulation strategies of the ultrasonic transmitter 111 after processing, so as to realize closed-loop control. In the embodiment, the mechanical sensitivity protein is delivered into the cochlea by the medicine injection or drug-loaded microsphere delivery, and the mechanical sensitivity protein is expressed on the auditory neurons in the cochlea, and the auditory neurons are activated after receiving the superimposed ultrasonic signals, and the reflected ultrasonic signals are given to the ultrasonic receiver 112, so that the hearing aid is adjusted and parametered, and the function of the reflected ultrasonic signals is mainly positioning, so as to determine the relative position between the ultrasonic transmitter 111 and the auditory neurons, so as to adjust the signal frequency of the ultrasonic transmitter 111, and ensure that the desired stimulation signal frequency is superimposed at the auditory neurons 7. Since there is a time difference between the ultrasonic wave signals emitted by the ultrasonic transmitter 111 and the reflected signals received by the ultrasonic receiver 112, and the directions of different signals are different, the embodiment can further realize the accurate positioning of the ultrasonic wave signals by controlling the time and direction.

[0026] The shape of the hearing aid 1 matches the external auditory canal 2. All the ultrasonic transmitters 111 and at least one ultrasonic receiver 112 are embedded in the hearing aid body 11, preferably, the number of the ultrasonic transmitters 111 is the same as the number of the ultrasonic receivers 112, and the positions are one-to-one corresponding, each ultrasonic transmitter 111 is arranged into one or more columns along the embedding direction of the hearing aid 1 into the ear canal, and all the ultrasonic receivers 112 are arranged into one or more columns. Preferably, the number of the ultrasonic transmitters 111 and the number of the ultrasonic receivers 112 are both 8-32. All or part of the ultrasonic transmitters 111 can emit ultrasonic waves of different frequencies, and the ultrasonic waves of different frequencies superimposed can generate a predetermined stimulation signal to activate the auditory neurons. In other embodiments, one ultrasonic transmitter 111 can correspond to multiple ultrasonic receivers 112, or multiple ultrasonic transmitters 111 can correspond to one ultrasonic receiver 112. The ultrasonic transmitter 111 and the ultrasonic receiver 112 are common ultrasonic devices, which can be piezoelectric ceramic pieces or magnetostrictive pieces.

[0027] Figure 3a It is a use state schematic diagram of the sound gene hearing aid embedded in the external auditory canal in the embodiment of the application, Figure 3b It is a schematic diagram of the sound gene hearing aid emitting ultrasonic wave to stimulate the auditory neurons expressing the mechanical sensitivity protein in the embodiment of the application.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 3a ,Figure 3b The mechanically sensitive protein can be delivered into the cochlea 3 by drug injection or drug-loaded microsphere delivery, and the mechanically sensitive protein is expressed on the auditory neurons 5 in the cochlea 3; different ultrasonic transmitters 111 can emit ultrasonic waves of different frequencies, and then ultrasonic waves of different frequencies are superimposed in the cochlea, such as Figure 3b As shown, the first ultrasonic wave 4 and the second ultrasonic wave 8 are superimposed at a specific location in the cochlea 3, thereby activating the mechanosensitive protein at this superimposed location 71 and the corresponding auditory neuron 7. Upon ultrasonic stimulation, the auditory neuron 7 corresponding to the mechanosensitive protein generates a nerve impulse 6. Similarly, the mechanosensitive proteins on auditory neurons 5 at different locations within the cochlea 3 should have optimal responses to ultrasound waves of different frequencies. Therefore, the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic transmitters 111 of different channels in the hearing aid 1 are superimposed to generate specific stimulation signals to activate specific auditory neurons, thereby restoring the patient's hearing. Therefore, as long as the delivered mechanosensitive protein is selective for the ultrasonic response frequency, and the ultrasonic transmitter 111 and ultrasonic receiver 112 are positioned appropriately and operate stably, precise transmission of the stimulation signal can be achieved.

[0029] In summary, drugs are delivered into the cochlea 3 to cause auditory neurons at different locations to express mechanically sensitive proteins that respond to ultrasound of a specific frequency; the ultrasonic transmitter 111 of the acoustic genetic hearing aid 1 provided in this embodiment generates different stimulation signals by superimposing ultrasound of different frequencies at different locations of the cochlea 3 to activate auditory neurons 7 expressing mechanically sensitive proteins, thereby restoring hearing; the ultrasonic receiver 112 can receive ultrasonic signals returned from specific locations in the cochlea 3, provide feedback and adjust parameters of the ultrasonic transmitter 111, realize closed-loop control, and further optimize the quality of the stimulation signal.

[0030] In summary, the acoustic genetic hearing aid provided by the present invention adopts a drug-device combination method, including intra-cochlear acoustic genetic drug delivery (drug part) and a hearing aid inserted into the external auditory canal (device part). The processor can convert sound information into an electrical stimulation signal and output it to the ultrasonic transmitter. The ultrasonic transmitter emits ultrasonic waves outward. The ultrasonic transmitters at different positions in the ear canal emit different frequencies, activating mechanical sensitive proteins at different positions to activate auditory neurons, thereby repairing the patient's hearing; and the ultrasonic receiver is used to detect the ultrasound returned from the stimulation point in the cochlea, so as to feedback and adjust the stimulation signal, and further optimize the quality of the stimulation signal. Compared with traditional cochlear implants, the acoustic genetic hearing aid provided by the present invention has higher accuracy, stronger stimulation penetration, and does not require surgical operation. In addition, the acoustic genetic hearing aid provided by the present invention has a simple structure and clear module classification.

[0031] Although the present application has been disclosed in its preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the application, and it is intended to cover in the claims any such modifications and improvements that fall within the scope of the application.

Claims

1. An ear canal-embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid, characterized in that: It includes a hearing aid body, a sound control unit encapsulated in the hearing aid body, and multiple ultrasonic transmitters. All the ultrasonic transmitters are connected to the sound control unit. The sound control unit is used to collect external sounds and convert them into electrical stimulation signals to control the ultrasonic transmitters to emit ultrasonic waves outward. The device further comprises at least one ultrasonic receiver, which is connected to the sound control unit and is used to collect ultrasonic signals reflected from the cochlea and feed the ultrasonic signals back to the sound control unit; The plurality of ultrasonic transmitters are arranged in one or more rows at equal intervals along the direction in which the hearing aid is inserted into the ear canal; The sound control unit controls the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters to transmit ultrasonic waves of different frequencies; After receiving the superimposed ultrasonic signal, the auditory neuron is specifically activated and reflects the ultrasonic signal to the ultrasonic receiver, allowing the hearing aid to perform feedback adjustment. The auditory neuron reflects the ultrasonic signal for positioning, determines the relative position between the ultrasonic transmitter and the auditory neuron, and adjusts the signal frequency of the ultrasonic transmitter to ensure that the desired stimulation signal frequency is superimposed at the auditory neuron.

2. The ear canal-embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sound control unit includes a sound receiver and a processor. The sound receiver is arranged on the end side of the hearing aid body. The sound receiver is used to collect external sounds. The sound receiver is connected to the processor signal. The processor is used to convert the sound signal into the electrical stimulation signal. The processor is connected to the ultrasonic transmitter signal, and the ultrasonic receiver is connected to the processor signal.

3. The ear canal-embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the number of the ultrasonic transmitters is the same as the number of the ultrasonic receivers, and the positions thereof correspond one to one.

4. The ear canal-embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sound receiver is a microphone.

5. The ear canal-embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasonic transmitter is a piezoelectric ceramic component or a magnetostrictive component.

6. The ear canal-embedded acoustic genetic hearing aid according to claim 3, characterized in that: The number of the ultrasonic transmitters and the number of the ultrasonic receivers are both 8-32.

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