Deformable Ear Tip with Conductive Elements for Bioelectrical Signal Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earpieces with built-in electrodes for capturing bioelectrical signals or providing nerve stimulation are often uncomfortable, bulky, and not suitable for daily-life use due to their design and functionality.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ear tip with a deformable outer wall and electrically conductive elements on its surface, which can be used to capture bioelectrical signals and provide nerve stimulation by forming a frustoconical shape around a hollow passage for sound conduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing earpieces with built-in electrodes are used for capturing bioelectrical signals or providing nerve stimulation, then the required functionality is achieved, but the device becomes uncomfortable and bulky for daily-life use
Solution Approach 1:
The earpiece system is divided into separate functional components: the ear tip with conductive elements for signal capture/stimulation, and the earpiece body with acoustic driver. This segmentation allows the ear tip to be optimized for comfort while the earpiece body houses the electronic components, resolving the contradiction between functionality and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The ear tip with conductive elements is designed to be inserted into and nested within the ear canal, with the deformable outer wall conforming to the ear canal shape. This nesting approach allows the conductive elements to be positioned close to the ear canal wall for effective signal capture and stimulation while maintaining a compact, comfortable form factor suitable for daily use.
2Reliability
If a deformable outer wall with electrically conductive elements is used to capture bioelectrical signals and provide nerve stimulation, then comfort and effectiveness are improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer wall is designed to be deformable rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically conform to the unique shape of the user's ear canal. This deformability ensures reliable contact between the conductive elements and the ear canal wall for effective signal capture and nerve stimulation, while the material selection (silicone, polyurethane, polynorbornene, TPE, or fluoroelastomer) maintains structural integrity and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The ear tip combines deformable elastomeric materials (providing comfort and conformability) with electrically conductive elements (metal pads, buttons, foil, metal-salt hybrids, polymeric composites, intrinsically conductive polymers, or conductive fabric). This composite structure integrates mechanical compliance with electrical functionality, achieving reliable bioelectrical signal capture and nerve stimulation without excessive structural complexity.
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 configuration allows for comfortable and effective capture of bioelectrical signals and delivery of nerve stimulation, making it suitable for daily-life use and potentially enabling features like sleep staging, stress detection, and music-to-mood correlation.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end
Implementation Method 2
an inner wall extending between the first and second ends to define a hollow passage to conduct acoustic energy
Implementation Method 3
first and second electrically conductive elements arranged on an outer surface of the deformable outer wall
Implementation Method 4
providing stimulation of nerves through application of electricity
Data Source
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AI summary
An ear tip for an earpiece including a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends to define a hollow passage to conduct sound waves, and an outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end. The ear tip further includes first and second electrically conductive elements arranged on an outer surface of the deformable outer wall.