Eyeglass-Integrated Neural Hearing Stimulation System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current neural hearing stimulation systems face challenges with implanted magnets causing MRI compatibility issues, discomfort due to bulky BTE sound processors, and power inefficiencies in wireless data transmission, along with complexity in bilateral systems.
Innovation Solution
Integrating the external subsystem components into a pair of eyeglasses, eliminating the need for implanted magnets, optimizing implant shape and location, and using wire connections for bilateral systems to improve comfort, MRI compatibility, and power efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If implanted magnets are used for coil alignment, then coil alignment is achieved, but MRI compatibility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the implanted magnet from the system entirely. Instead of using a magnet implanted in the patient's body for coil alignment, the system uses a magnet in the external headpiece that aligns with the implanted coil through magnetic attraction from the outside, eliminating the need for any magnetic material inside the patient's body and thus restoring full MRI compatibility.
2Reliability
If BTE sound processor is used, then neural stimulation is provided, but wearing comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the sound processor from the traditional behind-the-ear position to a new dimension - integrated into eyeglass frames. This spatial repositioning distributes the weight and pressure across the temple and frame structure rather than concentrating it on the pinna, significantly improving wearing comfort while maintaining all neural stimulation functions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless data transmission is used in bilateral systems, then data exchange is enabled, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a physical wire connection as an intermediary medium for data exchange between bilateral implants. This wired connection replaces wireless transmission, enabling reliable bidirectional data communication between the two implanted devices without the power consumption penalties of wireless protocols, while maintaining adaptability for various processing strategies.
4Power
If BTE housing is used, then sound processing is provided, but pressure on pinna causes discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sound processor housing with the eyeglass frame structure. By integrating these two components into a single unified device, the weight and pressure are distributed across the entire frame and temple structure rather than being concentrated on the pinna by a separate BTE housing, eliminating discomfort while preserving full sound processing capability.
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
Enhances wearing comfort, reduces MRI risks, improves beamformer performance, and simplifies surgery, while reducing power consumption and cosmetic impact, enabling more efficient and safer neural hearing stimulation.
Implementation Method 1
transcutaneous transmission of data and power is required, which typically occurs via a radio frequency link between an external coil and an implanted coil
Implementation Method 2
The required alignment of the coils typically is achieved by a pair of magnets provided at the center of each coil
Implementation Method 3
may result in intolerable pain due to torque forces created by the high magnetic field gradients in MRI scanning devices
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
There is provided a system for neural hearing stimulation, comprising an external sub-system (10) and an implantable sub-system (12), the external sub-system comprising a microphone arrangement (20) for capturing an input audio signal, a sound processor unit (24) for generating a processed signal from the input audio signal and for controlling the external subsystem, and an external coil (28) for establishing a transcutaneous link (30) for transmitting the processed signal to the implantable sub-system; the implantable sub-system comprising an implantable coil (15) for receiving the processed signal, a unit (14) for generating a neural stimulation signal from the processed signal, and a unit (16, 18, 19) for neural stimulation of the patient's hearing according to the neural stimulation signal, wherein the external sub-system comprises a pair of eyeglasses (70) which includes a user interface (82) for manual user control of the sound processor unit and a battery (84), and wherein at least one microphone (20A, 20B, 20C) of the microphone arrangement is located at the front-side of the frame (72) of the glasses, the sound processor unit is located in at least one of the arms (76, 78) of the glasses, and the external coil is located in one of the arms of the glasses.