Bone Conduction Mounting Assembly with Adjustable Plate Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone conduction hearing aid systems face issues with securing the external component to the head, leading to skin irritation, infection, and discomfort due to inadequate or excessive force distribution, and require surgical intervention for implantation.
Innovation Solution
A mounting assembly for bone conduction hearing aids that includes a plate member with a conformable material for comfortable wear, removably attached mounting structures, and adjustable components to ensure reliable and comfortable contact with the skull, allowing for easy adjustment and positioning of the sound processor and vibrator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If headband-worn bone vibrators are used for external bone conduction hearing devices, then the device can be worn without surgical intervention, but long-term use may cause skin ulceration and physical depression at the contact point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible headband structure that distributes contact pressure across multiple points on the skull rather than concentrating force at a single location. The headband includes cushioning elements and conformable materials that adapt to the user's head shape, reducing localized stress and preventing skin ulceration while maintaining secure device attachment without surgical intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly is divided into multiple functional components including a headband portion, a mounting structure with plate member, and a vibrator assembly. This segmentation allows the force distribution function to be separated from the vibration transmission function, enabling the headband to optimize comfort and pressure distribution while the plate member focuses on reliable vibrator attachment to the skull
2Ease of manufacture
If various securing devices such as headband, spectacles, or double stick tape are used, then surgical intervention is avoided, but they either do not provide adequate force, provide too much force, or are obtrusive and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a plate member as an intermediary component between the headband and the vibrator assembly. This plate member acts as a force distribution mediator that receives securing forces from the headband and translates them into appropriate contact pressure on the skull at the vibrator attachment point. The plate member includes features such as recesses and engagement structures that ensure reliable force transmission while distributing pressure to prevent skin damage
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure incorporates adjustable parameters including the position of the plate member on the headband, the orientation of the vibrator assembly, and the compression force applied by the headband. These adjustable parameters allow optimization of both the securing force and comfort level for different users and wearing conditions, enabling reliable attachment without excessive force
3Reliability
If existing securing methods are used, then device attachment is achieved, but the position of the sound processor and vibrator cannot be adjusted to desired locations on the user's head
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities allowing the user to modify the position of the plate member along the headband and adjust the orientation of the vibrator assembly relative to the plate member. The engagement structures include movable components such as sliding mechanisms or adjustable clamps that maintain secure attachment while enabling position changes to optimize comfort and effectiveness for different users and skull shapes
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 solution provides a secure, comfortable, and adjustable mounting system that reduces skin irritation and the need for surgical intervention, enhancing wearability and durability of bone conduction hearing aids by ensuring consistent and appropriate force distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The mounting assembly reliably and comfortably typically applies a normally-directed contact force against the skull of the user... ensures consistent and appropriate force distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting assembly for arranging a bone conducting hearing device to a skin surface over the skull of a user is disclosed. The mounting assembly comprises an attachment element configured to be attached to a corresponding vibrator attachment element of a vibrator assembly, the attachment element and the vibrator attachment element being adapted to operationally couple with each other; a plate member configured to be arranged over the skin surface; one or more removably arranged mounting structures arranged outside the skull for attaching the mounting assembly to the skin surface over the skull.