Deflectable Seal Design for Cochlear Implant Battery Compartment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional body-worn sound processor units for implantable cochlear stimulation systems have issues with battery compartment seals, making it difficult to secure the battery compartment cover, particularly for infants and toddlers, while being cumbersome for adults to remove.
Innovation Solution
A sound processor housing design featuring a power supply receptacle with a deflectable seal and material-free regions that allow for radial compression, creating an air gap and reducing the force required for sealing, along with a connector mechanism that secures the power supply receptacle cover, making it difficult for infants or toddlers to remove but easy for adults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional solid o-ring seals are used in the battery compartment cover, then the seal provides adequate compartment sealing, but it requires excessive compressive force that is difficult for infants and toddlers to overcome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a seal with a deflectable portion made of flexible material that can bend and deform under radial force. The seal includes a material-free region that allows the deflectable portion to flex inward when the cover is applied, reducing the compressive force needed while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the seal by introducing a material-free region and a deflectable portion with different structural properties. This allows the seal to deform radially inward under applied force, changing from a rigid sealing structure to one that can flex and adapt, thereby reducing the force required for cover installation and removal.
2Reliability
If the battery compartment cover is made secure to prevent removal by infants and toddlers, then it provides child-resistant protection, but it becomes cumbersome and difficult for adults to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a seal that can change its sealing characteristics based on applied force. During normal use, the seal maintains strong sealing to prevent accidental removal by children. During intentional removal by an adult, the seal can be compressed radially inward, allowing the cover to be easily removed when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the seal into a deflectable portion and a material-free region, allowing different parts of the seal to serve different functions. The deflectable portion provides sealing during normal operation, while the material-free region allows for easy removal when radial force is applied.
3Force
If the seal is compressed radially inward to create an air gap, then less compressive force is required for sealing, but the seal structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts material from the seal structure to create a material-free region. This removal of material allows the deflectable portion to flex inward radially when force is applied, creating an air gap that reduces the compressive force needed for sealing while maintaining a relatively simple overall seal structure.
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 achieves equal or better compartment sealing with less compressive force than conventional solid o-ring seals, providing a secure and user-friendly solution for both children and adults, with enhanced waterproofing and child-resistant features.
Implementation Method 1
a seal with a deflectable portion and a material-free region into which the deflectable portion deflects in response to the application of radial force
Data Source
AI summary
Sound processor housings, sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed. The housings include a main portion with a power supply receptacle, a seal and power supply receptacle cover. The seal may include a deflectable portion and define a material-free region into which the deflectable portion deflects in response to the application of radial force by the power supply receptacle cover.