Eardrum Implantable Hearing Device Feedback Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing devices face issues with feedback, occlusion, and distortion, particularly in open canal hearing aids, which limit sound amplification and natural sound quality, and may require invasive surgery for placement on the ossicles or cochlea.
Innovation Solution
An implantable device configured for placement in the eardrum that transmits audio signals using electromagnetic energy, either through light or magnetic fields, to stimulate the cochlea, reducing occlusion and feedback while maintaining natural sound quality and spatial cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a magnet is positioned on the eardrum with a support and coupling liquid, then feedback is decreased and hearing transduction is improved, but the support may decouple from the eardrum requiring user intervention with drops in the ear
Solution Approach 1:
The eardrum implantable device is designed to self-retain through direct anchoring to the eardrum tissue, eliminating the need for external coupling liquids and user intervention. The device integrates retention features that secure it to the eardrum without requiring periodic re-coupling by the user.
2Reliability
If the microphone is placed outside the ear canal to minimize feedback, then feedback is reduced, but spatial location information cues are lost resulting in unnatural sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acoustic microphone system with an eardrum-mounted transducer that directly mechanically couples to the hearing transduction pathway. This substitution allows the device to capture sound vibrations at the eardrum location (maintaining spatial cues) while eliminating the feedback problem associated with acoustic microphones placed in the ear canal.
3Reliability
If surgery is performed to place a hearing device on the ossicles or cochlea, then feedback is decreased and hearing transduction is improved, but the surgery is invasive involving cutting and drilling of bone delaying healing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the transducer locally on the eardrum (tympanic membrane) rather than requiring deep insertion into the middle ear or inner ear. This localized approach achieves effective hearing transduction by directly stimulating the ossicular chain through the eardrum, while avoiding the invasive bone cutting and drilling required for ossicle or cochlea implantation.
4Ease of operation
If open canal hearing aids are used to improve comfort and cosmetic appearance, then comfort and appearance are improved, but occlusion of the ear canal occurs resulting in unnatural tunnel-like hearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transducer from the ear canal environment and relocates it to the eardrum. This extraction eliminates the occlusion problem by removing the blocking component from the ear canal, while maintaining effective sound transmission through direct eardrum coupling. The open canal configuration is preserved, providing both comfort and natural sound quality.
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 effectively transmits sound with reduced occlusion and feedback, providing natural sound quality and spatial cues without the need for invasive surgery, improving comfort and sound perception for users.
Implementation Method 1
An implantable device is configured for placement in the eardrum to transmit an audio signal to a user. The device may be configured to improve transmission of an electromagnetic signal comprising light energy from an input assembly on a lateral side of eardrum to an output assembly positioned on a medial side of the eardrum
Implementation Method 2
At least one photodetector is sensitive to the light energy and configured for placement in the middle ear
Implementation Method 3
The magnet may be positioned on the eardrum with a support and a coupling liquid such as an oil, and work in relation to embodiments of the present invention suggests that in at least some instances the user may need to place drops in the ear for the magnet and support to remain coupled to the eardrum
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable device is configured for placement in the eardrum to transmit an audio signal to a user. The device may be configured to improve transmission of an electromagnetic signal from an input assembly on a lateral side of an eardrum to an output assembly positioned on a medial side of the eardrum, for example, at least partially in the middle ear of the user. The output assembly may comprise a transducer or at least two electrodes configured to stimulate the cochlea, for example. The device may include an opening to transmit the light signal or an optic to transmit the light signal. Alternatively, the device may be configured to support a transducer of the output assembly with the eardrum when the device is implanted in the eardrum, such that the eardrum vibrates in response to the electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic signal may include light energy.