Cantilevered Cochlear Drive Stalk for Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional auditory prosthetic systems face challenges in efficiently delivering acoustic stimulation directly to the cochlea, particularly in cases of sensorineural hearing loss where the ossicles are damaged, and existing solutions often require complex ossicle contact or electromagnetic transducers that may not provide high-frequency sound delivery efficiently.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic drive unit with a positioning stalk and electromagnetic transducer design is placed adjacent to the cochlea, using a cantilevered structure with a titanium window coupler and magnetic driver to convert electrical signals into mechanical stimulation, directly engaging the round or oval window membranes for effective sound delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electromagnetic transducers are used to deliver acoustic stimulation to the cochlea, then the device can provide acoustic-mechanical stimulation, but the structure becomes complex and high-frequency sound delivery efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of acoustic stimulation delivery by using a simplified magnetic driver that directly interacts with the round window membrane, eliminating the need for complex electromagnetic transducer assemblies while maintaining effective high-frequency sound delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electromagnetic transducer mechanisms with a magnetic driver system that uses magnetic field interactions to directly vibrate the round window membrane, simplifying the overall device structure while improving high-frequency delivery efficiency
2Volume of moving object
If ossicle contact type transducers are used, then the structure can be compact, but the device cannot efficiently deliver high-frequency sounds and requires damaged ossicle contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the round window membrane as an intermediary target for the magnetic driver, allowing direct acoustic stimulation of the cochlea without requiring contact with damaged ossicles, thereby enabling efficient high-frequency sound delivery while maintaining a compact structure
3Ease of operation
If conventional hearing aids or middle ear implants are used, then acoustic-mechanical stimulation can be provided, but the system cannot directly stimulate the cochlea in sensorineural hearing loss
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to stimulate the cochlea through the traditional ossicular chain (which fails in sensorineural hearing loss), the patent inverts the approach by directly stimulating the round window membrane to bypass the damaged ossicles, enabling effective cochlear stimulation in sensorineural hearing loss patients
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
This solution enables efficient and high-frequency sound delivery to the cochlea, minimizing complications associated with traditional methods, and allows for easy fabrication and surgical installation, providing effective hearing loss compensation without the need for ossicle contact.
Implementation Method 1
An acoustic drive unit with a positioning stalk and electromagnetic transducer design is placed adjacent to the cochlea, using a cantilevered structure with a titanium window coupler and magnetic driver to convert electrical signals into mechanical stimulation
Implementation Method 2
using a cantilevered structure with a titanium window coupler and magnetic driver to convert electrical signals into mechanical stimulation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
An acoustic drive device for an implantable hearing prosthesis is described. A cantilevered positioning stalk has a base end fixedly coupled to an implantable signal processor, an elongated center beam supported by the base end, and an unsupported free end of the positioning stalk. An acoustic drive unit is located at the free end of the positioning stalk and adapted to convert an electrical stimulation signal from the signal processor into an acoustic mechanical stimulation signal directed to an outer surface of a patient cochlea.