Hearing Aid Test Member with Adhesive Sound Tube Seal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for connecting a behind-the-ear hearing aid's sound output to a test microphone in a test box are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and pose health risks due to the reuse of adhesive materials like Blu Tack, which can contaminate and alter transmission properties, necessitating a more efficient and sterile testing process.
Innovation Solution
A member with a fastener for removable fixation of the hearing aid housing and a hole for soundproof insertion of the sound tube, utilizing a reusable pressure-sensitive adhesive and flexible materials to ensure a secure, contamination-free connection without the need for Blu Tack, allowing for quick and repeatable testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reusable adhesive material (Blu Tack) is used to connect the sound tube to the adaptor, then the connection can be established, but the process becomes labor-intensive, time-consuming, and the adhesive becomes contaminated upon reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adhesive material from the reusable adaptor component and makes it disposable instead. The sound tube is pre-coated with adhesive material that is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need to clean and reuse adhesive on the adaptor. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable soundproof connection while eliminating time loss associated with cleaning and contamination concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive material is pre-applied to the sound tube before insertion into the adaptor. This preliminary action ensures that the adhesive is already in position to create the soundproof seal, eliminating the need for manual application during the testing process and reducing the time required while ensuring consistent connection quality.
2Reliability
If reusable adhesive material is used for connection, then the connection can be established, but health risks arise due to contamination from multiple usages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disposable adhesive coating on the sound tube that is discarded after single use. This eliminates the health risk from contamination while maintaining connection stability, as each new sound tube brings fresh adhesive material that has not been contaminated by previous uses.
3Measurement precision
If reusable adhesive material is used, then the connection can be made, but the transmission properties of the adhesive change upon reuse affecting reproducibility
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is extracted from the permanent adaptor structure and transferred to disposable sound tubes. This ensures that each testing operation uses fresh adhesive material with consistent transmission properties, eliminating variability introduced by reuse while maintaining reliable connections.
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 solution enables a fast, reproducible, and sterile soundproof connection between the hearing aid and the test microphone, reducing testing time and eliminating health risks associated with reused adhesives, while maintaining the integrity of the testing process.
Implementation Method 1
The fastener comprises an adhesive used for forming an adhesive surface of the member, such as a planar adhesive surface, suitable for removably mounting the hearing aid housing to the adhesive surface
Implementation Method 2
at least a part of the member accommodating the hole is made of a flexible and resilient material, such as thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, silicone, rubber, etc, so that the hole is flexible and may expand and automatically fit to the output end of the sound tube
Data Source
AI summary
A member includes a fastener for removable fixation of a housing of a hearing aid, and a hole for removable insertion of a sound tube of the hearing aid in sound proof engagement with the member.