Filtering Mechanical Feedback in Hard-Coupled Hearing Prostheses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conductive hearing loss patients often face challenges with traditional hearing aids due to chronic inflammation, ear malformations, or single-sided deafness, and these devices can cause discomfort and acoustic feedback issues, limiting their effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A hard-coupled vibrating transducer and sound input device system with a signal processor to filter mechanical feedback, providing a two-part feedback management system that reduces well-defined mechanical feedback, suitable for bone conduction hearing prostheses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a hard-coupled vibrating transducer is used in hearing prostheses, then mechanical feedback becomes well-defined and can be accurately filtered, but the system complexity increases due to the need for signal processing to manage feedback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback definition accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the sound input device captures mechanical feedback from the transducer, and the signal processor uses this feedback information to generate correction signals that are fed back to the transducer. This closed-loop feedback system enables accurate filtering of mechanical feedback while maintaining system stability and improving sound perception for patients with conductive hearing loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If traditional hearing aids are used for conductive hearing loss patients, then acoustic energy can be delivered to the cochlea, but discomfort and acoustic feedback issues arise limiting effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing aid effectivenessVSAvoidacoustic feedback and discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional acoustic hearing aid system with a bone conduction hearing prosthesis that uses a vibrating transducer to deliver mechanical energy directly to the cochlea through bone conduction. This substitution eliminates the ear canal plug requirement and reduces acoustic feedback issues, improving reliability for patients with conductive hearing loss while maintaining comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a bone conduction pathway as an intermediary between the transducer and the cochlea, replacing the direct acoustic pathway through the ear canal. This intermediary bone conduction mechanism allows mechanical energy transmission without requiring ear canal occlusion, thereby eliminating acoustic feedback problems and improving overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the ear canal is plugged to prevent acoustic feedback, then feedback problems are reduced, but unnecessary pressure and discomfort occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic feedback controlVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the acoustic feedback control method (ear canal plugging) with a bone conduction-based mechanical transmission system. The vibrating transducer delivers mechanical energy directly through the bone to the cochlea, eliminating the need for ear canal occlusion and thereby removing the source of unnecessary pressure and discomfort while still effectively controlling feedback through signal processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enhances the effectiveness of hearing prostheses by providing well-defined mechanical feedback that can be accurately filtered, reducing discomfort and improving sound perception for patients with conductive hearing loss, including those with single-sided deafness.

Implementation Method 1

a transducer configured to generate a vibration based on the sound signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic transduction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

at least one sound input device configured to sense a sound signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Implementation Method 3

a signal processor connected to the sound input device and configured to filter well-defined mechanical feedback from the vibration received by the sound input device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration filtering: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS10812919B2Filtering well-defined feedback from a hard-coupled vibrating transducer

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 COCHLEAR LIMITED

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for a hearing prosthesis, and more particularly to a hearing prosthesis with a rigidly coupled vibrating transducer. In embodiments, the mechanical stimulating hearing prosthesis comprises, for example, at least one sound input device configured to sense a sound signal, and a transducer configured to generate a vibration based on the sound, wherein the sound input device is rigidly coupled to the transducer. Systems and methods are also described for reducing a well-defined mechanical feedback generated by a transducer in a hearing prosthesis.