Dental Bone-Conduction Aligner for Non-Invasive 360° Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone-anchored hearing aids require invasive surgical procedures and are limited to transmitting sound from a specific side of the head, making them impractical for individuals with single-sided deafness or hearing impairments, and there is a need for discreet, non-invasive audio transmission and reception in noisy environments.
Innovation Solution
A bone-conduction device using a dental aligner apparatus with an actuator, transceiver, and power source that transmits vibrations through the teeth and jaw bones, enabling 360-degree audio reception and transmission without external attachments, utilizing Bluetooth and cellular technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bone-anchored hearing aids use surgical implants to transmit sound through cranial bones, then sound transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bone anchoring component from the hearing aid system, eliminating the need for surgical implants while maintaining bone conduction functionality. The device uses a removable dental aligner that interfaces with existing teeth rather than requiring surgical integration with cranial bones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces teeth as an intermediary structure for sound transmission. Instead of directly implanting into cranial bones, the dental aligner acts as a mediator that transmits vibrations through teeth to the jaw bones and inner ear, achieving bone conduction without surgical implants.
2Reliability
If bone-anchored hearing aids transmit sound from a specific side of the head, then sound transmission effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to different listening directions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the hearing device universal by enabling it to transmit sound from all directions around the user. The dental aligner can receive audio signals from any direction and transmit them through the teeth and jaw bones to the inner ear, providing 360-degree audio reception capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from unidirectional sound transmission to omnidirectional transmission by utilizing the three-dimensional structure of the dental aligner and jaw bones. The system can capture and transmit sound waves from all spatial directions through the bone conduction pathway.
3Reliability
If conventional hearing aids are used in noisy environments, then hearing assistance is provided, but communication clarity deteriorates due to background noise interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces air conduction through the ear canal with bone conduction through the jaw bones. This mechanical substitution allows sound vibrations to be transmitted directly to the inner ear via bone vibrations, providing a pathway that is less susceptible to background noise interference and improving communication clarity in noisy environments.
4Reliability
If surgical implants are used for bone conduction, then hearing capability is improved, but ease of operation and discretion deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the surgical implant component entirely, replacing it with a removable dental aligner that interfaces with existing teeth. This extraction of the invasive element maintains hearing capability while significantly improving ease of operation and user discretion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a removable dental aligner that can be easily inserted and removed, replacing permanent surgical implants. This disposable or removable component provides the necessary bone conduction function without the long-term commitment and complexity of surgical integration, enhancing user convenience and discretion.
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 device provides clear, intelligible communication in noisy environments and allows for 360-degree audio reception and transmission without the need for surgical implants, enhancing hearing capabilities and communication quality for individuals with hearing impairments.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission
Implementation Method 2
an electromechanical transducer converts electric signals into mechanical vibrations
Implementation Method 3
utilizing Bluetooth and cellular technology
Implementation Method 4
A bone-conduction device using a dental aligner apparatus with an actuator, transceiver, and power source that transmits vibrations through the teeth and jaw bones
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to methods for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a user or wearer's tooth, teeth, jaw, and/or other bones. The disclosure is further directed to a system for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a user or wearer's tooth, teeth, jaw and/or other bones. The disclosure is further directed to an oral apparatus for implementation of methods and systems described herein.