Ear Canal Sensors for Reliable Tensor Tympani Movement Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assistive technologies for individuals with severe motor disabilities struggle to accurately detect voluntary movements due to involuntary movements or lack of muscle control, particularly in cases of neck trauma, vocal cord issues, or severe disabilities like athetoid cerebral palsy, making it difficult to control user interfaces silently and invisibly.
Innovation Solution
A sensor located in or adjacent to the ear canal detects voluntary contractions of the tensor tympani muscle and malleus bone, using imaging or laser techniques, to generate inputs for user interfaces, allowing silent and invisible control of devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If accelerometers are used to detect voluntary movements for assistive technology, then users can control devices through head movements, but users with severe disabilities who cannot generate sufficient vocal sounds or control neck movements reliably cannot use this method
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sensor system placed in the ear canal that detects subtle ear canal movements and transmissions through the skull bones, serving as a mediator between the user's voluntary neural signals and the assistive technology control interface. This intermediary approach allows detection of voluntary control signals even when traditional head or voice movements are not possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical movement detection (accelerometers detecting head movements) with a different physical detection mechanism using sensors in the ear canal that detect subtle transmissions through bone and tissue, enabling detection of extremely subtle voluntary movements that do not require visible head or voice movement.
2Ease of operation
If eye tracking technology is used to detect voluntary movements, then users can control devices through eye movements, but involuntary head movements interfere with the ability to make purposeful head movements to trigger switches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection system from the interfering movement sources by placing sensors in the ear canal, which are isolated from the involuntary head movements that interfere with eye tracking. This spatial segmentation allows the system to detect voluntary neural signals transmitted through bone while being immune to external head movement interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The ear canal sensor system acts as an intermediary that directly detects neural-controlled transmissions through the skull bones, bypassing the need for visible head movements or eye tracking that are susceptible to interference from involuntary movements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If switches triggered by cheek movements or head movements are used, then users with motor disabilities can communicate, but users with severe disabilities lack control over the muscles required to trigger these switches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection system in the ear canal that captures subtle transmissions through bone and tissue, serving as a bridge between the user's preserved voluntary neural control and the assistive technology interface, enabling control even when traditional muscle groups are affected by severe disability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes traditional mechanical switch triggering requiring visible cheek or head movements with a sensitive detection system that measures subtle transmissions through the skull bones, replacing the need for strong muscle movements with detection of extremely subtle voluntary signals.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensor which detects voluntary movements of ear structures, including the ear drum complex, which triggers user interfaces of electronic devices to enable communication and other activities by interaction with assistive technology. The method of detecting this voluntary movement may also be used trigger and control user interfaces in connected devices such as mobile telephones and incorporated into multi-function earphones.