Bone Conduction Support with Resilient Arch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional bone conduction hearing prostheses require invasive implants and may not effectively transmit sound vibrations to the cochlea due to middle ear damage or disease, limiting their effectiveness for certain individuals.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic support system that applies a clamping force to the head, directing vibrations from a bone conduction device into the skin behind the ear canal, covering the mastoid bone, using a resiliently flexible arch structure that adjusts without tools to accommodate different head sizes and shapes, allowing for external attachment of bone conduction devices without invasive components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bone conduction devices use percutaneous implants with abutments penetrating the skin, then reliable vibration transmission to the skull is achieved, but invasive surgery and risk of infection occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the invasive percutaneous abutment component from the system. Instead of having the bone conduction device penetrate the skin with an abutment, the invention uses a fully implantable magnetically coupled system where the external magnet is replaced by an implantable magnet, eliminating the need for skin penetration and external components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical connection system (screws, abutments, and direct mechanical attachment to bone) with a magnetic coupling system. The implantable magnet provides secure attachment to the skull bone through magnetic attraction to an external magnet, eliminating mechanical penetration and reducing infection risk while maintaining reliable vibration transmission.
2Reliability
If bone conduction devices are designed for specific head sizes and shapes, then optimal vibration transmission is achieved, but adaptability to different recipients is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable elements in the support structure that allow the device to be adapted to different head sizes and shapes. The support structure includes adjustable arms or components that can be modified during fitting to optimize the position and contact of the vibration transmission elements against the recipient's skull, maintaining effective coupling across diverse anatomical variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows for adjustment of key geometric parameters of the support structure, such as arm length, angle, and position, to accommodate different head circumferences and skull contours. These parameter adjustments enable the same device design to be effectively fitted to a wide range of recipients while maintaining optimal vibration transmission geometry.
3Ease of manufacture
If bone conduction devices use fixed support structures, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adjustability for different recipients is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the support structure into separate, modular components that can be independently manufactured and then assembled during fitting. This segmentation allows each component to be produced using standard manufacturing processes while enabling field adjustment of the assembled structure to accommodate different recipient anatomies, combining manufacturing simplicity with adaptability.
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
Enables efficient transmission of sound vibrations to the cochlea, providing a hearing percept without the need for invasive implants, and can be adjusted to fit various head sizes and shapes, enhancing usability and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a support configured to apply a clamping force to a head of a recipient while extending about a back of at least one of a head or neck of the recipient
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic support, including a structure configured to apply a clamping force to a head of a recipient while extending about a back of at least one of a head or neck of the recipient such that output generated by a device supported by the structure is directed into skin of the recipient at a location behind an ear canal of the recipient that covers the mastoid bone of the recipient.