Bone Conduction Vibro-Tactile Cues for Sound Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with single-sided deafness face challenges in localizing sound due to the head-shadow effect and loss of spatial hearing, which complicates speech intelligibility in noisy environments and makes it difficult to determine the direction of sound sources.
Innovation Solution
A bone conduction device is used at the deaf ear to generate sound vibrations that transmit through the skull to the functional ear, accompanied by tactile vibrations at the deaf ear to provide vibro-tactile feedback, allowing the brain to associate sound direction with tactile sensations, without interfering with sound perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bone conduction device delivers sound vibrations to the functional ear, then hearing perception is improved, but sound localization capability remains poor due to loss of spatial hearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the auditory feedback into two distinct components: acoustic vibrations delivered to the functional ear for hearing perception, and tactile vibrations delivered to the deaf ear for spatial localization. This segmentation allows each channel to serve its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between hearing perception and sound localization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces tactile vibration as an intermediary mechanism to convey spatial hearing information to the deaf ear. Since the deaf ear cannot perceive acoustic signals, tactile vibration serves as a mediator to provide directional cues through vibro-tactile feedback, enabling sound localization without compromising hearing perception in the functional ear
2Loss of information
If tactile vibrations are delivered to the deaf ear, then sound localization is improved, but the vibrations must not interfere with sound perception at the functional ear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by delivering tactile vibrations specifically to the deaf ear where they are needed for localization, while ensuring these vibrations do not propagate to or interfere with the functional ear's acoustic perception. Each ear receives a tailored type of vibration appropriate for its functional capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a purely acoustic dimension to include a tactile dimension for delivering spatial information. By adding tactile vibration as another dimension of feedback to the deaf ear, the system provides localization cues without relying on acoustic signals that could interfere with the functional ear's hearing
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
Enhances sound localization and improves speech understanding in noisy conditions by providing directional cues through vibro-tactile feedback, enabling better sound awareness and safety in environments where sound direction is crucial.
Implementation Method 1
a bone conduction device positioned at a first ear of a recipient receives sound signals... deliver tactile vibrations to the recipient contemporaneously with the sound vibrations
Data Source
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AI summary
A bone conduction device located at the deaf ear of a recipient suffering from single-sided deafness is configured to receive sound signals within a spatial region proximate to the deaf ear of the recipient. The bone conduction device is configured to generate and deliver, based on the sound signals received within the spatial region, sound vibrations to the recipient. The sound vibrations are configured to evoke perception of the received sound signals at a cochlea of a second ear of the recipient. The bone conduction device is also configured to generate and deliver tactile vibrations to the recipient contemporaneously with the sound vibrations. The tactile vibrations generate a vibro-tactile sensation proximate to the deaf ear of the recipient, but the vibro-tactile sensation is non-perceivable (not heard) at the cochlea of the second ear of the recipient