Flexible In-Ear Hearing Aid Sound Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional in-the-ear hearing aids face challenges such as significant sound gain loss, occlusion effect, echo, discomfort, and poor fitting stability due to their rigid design, which fails to adapt to the complex 3D anatomy of the ear canal, leading to inadequate sound transmission and user discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A universal flexible in-the-ear hearing aid featuring a flexible sound transmission device with a soft-connection hose that can be adjusted in length and curvature to match individual ear anatomy, combined with an elastic stent and rubber ring for secure, comfortable fitting, ensuring air circulation and reduced sweating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid in-the-ear hearing aid is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the fitting stability is poor and comfort is reduced due to inability to adapt to complex 3D ear canal anatomy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to ear canal anatomyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hearing aid is divided into multiple segments including a rigid main body and a flexible sound transmission portion that can independently deform. This segmentation allows the device to combine the manufacturing simplicity of rigid structures with the adaptability of flexible portions that can conform to the ear canal's complex 3D anatomy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sound transmission device incorporates flexible materials and thin film structures that can deform and adapt to the ear canal's geometry. The flexible diaphragm and sound transmission portion are designed to conform to the curved surfaces of the ear canal, providing stable fitting while maintaining simple manufacturing processes for the rigid components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If the hearing aid is placed deeper in the ear canal, then sound transmission efficiency is improved, but occlusion effect and echo are intensified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound transmission efficiencyVSAvoidocclusion effect and echo

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sound transmission device is designed with curved surfaces that match the natural geometry of the ear canal. The flexible diaphragm and sound transmission portion follow the curved path of the ear canal, allowing deep placement for improved sound transmission while the curved design naturally reduces occlusion effect and echo by facilitating sound wave propagation along the canal's contour.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Manufacturing precision

If a customized hearing aid is manufactured manually, then fitting precision is high, but manufacturing time and cost are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefitting precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hearing aid design incorporates universal components with standardized interfaces that can be assembled quickly while maintaining precise fitting. The rigid main body and flexible sound transmission portion are designed as modular components that can be manufactured using standardized processes, reducing both manufacturing time and cost while preserving fitting precision through the flexible adaptation to individual ear canals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Volume of moving object

If the hearing aid volume is reduced for invisibility, then cosmetic appearance is improved, but power and sound gain are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing aid volumeVSAvoidsound gain power

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The hearing aid components are nested within each other to maximize space utilization in the limited volume of the ear canal. The flexible sound transmission portion is contained within the rigid main body structure, and internal components are arranged in a nested configuration, allowing sufficient power components to be housed in a compact, invisible form factor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8755549B2Universal flexible in-the-ear hearing aid

Publication Date: 2014.06.17 JIANGSU BETTERLIFE MEDICAL

AI summary

The present patent application discloses a universal flexible in-the-ear hearing aid, comprising a front portion of the hearing aid, a middle portion of the hearing aid and a rear portion of the hearing aid, the front portion of the hearing aid including a speaker, the rear portion of the hearing aid including a main body, the middle portion of the hearing aid including the sound transmission device, the sound transmission device is a flexible or soft-connection device, a end of the soft-connection device connected to the front portion of the hearing aid, another end of the soft-connection device connected to the rear portion of the hearing aid.