Detachable Bone Conduction Hearing Aid for MRI Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patients with conductive hearing loss due to impaired middle ear function face challenges in using traditional hearing aids, as these devices often contain metal components that react to magnetism, preventing the use of MRI examinations.

Innovation Solution

A bone conduction hearing-aid unit is designed to be entirely embedded under the scalp, featuring a vibration generating device and an anchor fixed to the skull. The vibration generating device is detachably fixed to the anchor, allowing for efficient vibration transmission to the skull without the need for metal components that react to magnetism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hearing-aid unit using metal that reacts to magnetism is embedded under a scalp, then vibration transmission to the skull is efficient, but MRI cannot be used

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration transmission efficiencyVSAvoidcompatibility with MRI examination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the metal components from the hearing-aid unit that are embedded under the scalp. The vibration generating device is detached and positioned externally, eliminating magnetic interference with MRI while preserving the anchor in the skull that enables bone conduction vibration transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The hearing-aid unit is divided into two separate components: an anchor that remains embedded in the skull for vibration transmission, and a vibration generating device that can be detached and positioned externally. This segmentation allows the anchor to maintain bone conduction functionality while the external vibration device can be removed for MRI examinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the vibration generating device is detachably fixed to the anchor, then MRI examination is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with MRI examinationVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 patients to undergo MRI examinations while still benefiting from bone conduction hearing aid technology, as the device is completely embedded under the scalp and does not contain any metal components that react to magnetism.

Implementation Method 1

a bone conduction hearing-aid unit that provides hearing aid by transmitting vibration to an inner ear through bone conduction of a skull

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBone conduction:

Data Source

PatentUS20250056170A1Bone conduction hearing-aid unit

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 NIHON KOHDEN CORP

AI summary

A bone conduction hearing-aid unit that is entirely embedded under a scalp. The bone conduction hearing-aid unit includes a vibration generating device configured to generate vibration, and an anchor fixed to a skull and configured to transmit the vibration to the skull. The vibration generating device is detachably fixed to the anchor.