Bone Conduction Implant Abutment Shape for Low-Profile Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional bone conduction hearing prostheses have visibility and stability issues due to the size and shape of the abutment, which can lead to discomfort and increased risk of microbial entrapment.
Innovation Solution
A bone conduction implant design featuring a bone fixture with a male screw section and an abutment with a diameter equal to or less than the maximum thread diameter, and a narrowing hourglass shape to enhance aesthetics and stability, along with magnetic or snap coupling for easy attachment and detachment of removable components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the abutment has a larger diameter for stability, then the stability is improved, but the visibility and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment employs an asymmetric hourglass shape with a narrowed midsection rather than a uniform cylindrical form. This asymmetric geometry reduces the overall visibility and discomfort while maintaining stability through the expanded base and top sections that provide adequate surface area for support.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment features varying diameters at different locations along its length, with larger diameters at the base and top for stability and coupling, and a narrowed midsection for reduced visibility. This local variation in geometry optimizes both stability and aesthetic properties simultaneously.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the abutment has a larger diameter for stability, then the stability is improved, but the risk of microbial entrapment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hourglass shape with its narrowed midsection creates a geometry that reduces surface area and eliminates flat surfaces where microbes could easily accumulate, while the asymmetric contours facilitate better drainage and cleaning access.
Solution Approach 2:
The design extracts or removes the problematic large-diameter cylindrical section that creates microbial entrapment zones, replacing it with a narrowed hourglass configuration that maintains stability while eliminating the harmful entrapment effect.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the abutment diameter is reduced for aesthetics, then the visibility is reduced, but the stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment features varying diameters at different locations along its length, with larger diameters at the base and top for stability and coupling, and a narrowed midsection for reduced visibility. This local variation in geometry optimizes both stability and aesthetic properties simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly reducing the diameter in one dimension, the design uses dimensional variation along the length of the abutment, creating an hourglass profile that narrows in the middle while maintaining adequate diameter at critical locations for stability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the abutment is made fixed for stability, then the stability is improved, but the ease of operation for component removal decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bone conduction device is segmented into a permanently implanted stable bone fixture and a removably coupled operational component. The abutment serves as the stable anchor while the sound processor or other components can be detached for cleaning or replacement, achieving both stability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment acts as an intermediary element that provides stable anchorage in the bone while also serving as a coupling interface for removable components. This mediator allows the permanent implant to remain stable while enabling easy attachment and detachment of operational components through magnetic or mechanical coupling mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design reduces visibility and discomfort while maintaining stability, minimizing microbial entrapment, and facilitating easy attachment and removal of operationally removable components.
Implementation Method 1
a bone fixture including a male screw section configured to screw into a skull
Implementation Method 2
an abutment screw extending through the through bore of the abutment, the abutment screw being configured to screw into the at least one interior bore to rigidly attach the abutment to the bone fixture
Implementation Method 3
the end portion forms a coupling component configured to couple to a coupling adapter of an operationally removable component of a bone conduction device
Data Source
AI summary
A bone conduction implant, including a bone fixture including a male screw section configured to screw into a skull and an abutment configured to be rigidly attached to the bone fixture, wherein the abutment includes an exterior surface diameter lying on a first plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the bone conduction implant that is less than or substantially equal to the maximum thread diameter of the male screw section of the bone fixture.