Flexible Ear Mould for Hearing Aid Positioning Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hearing aids experience significant gain loss and discomfort due to the distance between the sound receiver and eardrum, along with issues of sound leakage and occlusion, especially in the open in-ear receiver design, where the positioning is unstable and prone to cerumen blockage, leading to reduced effectiveness and user discomfort.

Innovation Solution

An ear mould with a flexible sound transmission device integrated into its head, designed to securely position the hearing aid receiver deep within the ear canal, featuring a drum-shaped head with air communication and releasing holes to prevent occlusion and ensure airflow, made from elastic materials to accommodate various ear canal shapes and sizes, and a protection component to prevent cerumen entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the speaker is extended much depth into the inside of ear to reduce gain loss, then the sound transmission efficiency is improved, but the positioning stability and user comfort are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegain lossVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The earplug is divided into multiple sections with different functions: a first section for sound transmission deep into the ear canal, a second section for positioning stability, and a third section for comfort and air flow. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its specific function without compromising the others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the earplug have different structural characteristics: the first section has a smaller outer diameter for deep insertion, the second section has a larger outer diameter for stability, and the third section has air flow holes for comfort. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying appropriate properties to specific locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the conventional earplug is used for positioning, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the sound leakage and occlusion effect are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidsound leakage and occlusion effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The third section of the earplug includes air flow holes that allow air and cerumen to pass through. This porous structure eliminates the occlusion effect by allowing low frequency sound to escape while still providing positioning function, and prevents sound leakage by maintaining proper seal in the first section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If the ear canal muscle moves during talking, eating, or physical movement, then the adaptability to natural ear movement is improved, but the positioning stability of the in-ear receiving device is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to ear movementVSAvoidpositioning stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The earplug is designed with flexible material and a multi-section structure that can dynamically adapt to ear canal movements. The first section can move with the ear canal muscle while the second section maintains positioning stability, and the overall structure remains stable during natural ear movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Loss of energy

If the in-ear receiving device is positioned deep in the ear canal, then the sound transmission efficiency is improved, but the risk of cerumen blockage is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound transmission efficiencyVSAvoidcerumen blockage

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The third section of the earplug includes air flow holes that allow cerumen to pass through freely. This prevents cerumen accumulation and blockage while the first section maintains deep positioning for efficient sound transmission to the eardrum.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 ear mould enhances the stability and comfort of the hearing aid positioning, reduces sound loss, and prevents occlusion, allowing for effective sound transmission and easy sweat discharge, thereby improving the usability and range of hearing aids for severe hearing-impaired patients.

Implementation Method 1

the end of sound transmission device which is connected with the hearing aid being elastic

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8755548B2Ear mould and hearing aid with open in-ear receiving device

Publication Date: 2014.06.17 JIANGSU BETTERLIFE MEDICAL

AI summary

An ear mold, in cooperation with a receiving device which is placed in an ear canal. The ear mold includes a head of the ear mold and a sound transmission device which is connected with the head. The sound transmission device is used for connection with the speaker of the hearing aid. The head of the ear mold is integrated with the sound transmission device. An end of sound transmission device which is connected with the hearing aid is elastic. The part of the sound transmission device which is connected with the head of the ear mold is flexible.