Hearing Aid Fitting Camera for Visual Appearance Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aid fitting systems often require individuals to focus on auditory measurements and adjustments, which can be distracting due to concerns about appearance, necessitating a system that allows wearers to evaluate their appearance while wearing the aid.
Innovation Solution
A hearing aid fitting system incorporating a computer with display software and a camera that captures and displays images of the wearer's ear with the hearing aid, enabling live video streaming, angle adjustments, and storage for comparison and selection of different colors and models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the wearer focuses on auditory measurements and adjustments during fitting, then the fitting accuracy is improved, but the wearer's appearance concerns cause distraction and reduce concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the hearing aid in the wearer's ear and displays these images on a screen. This allows the wearer to visually assess their appearance with the hearing aid without needing to physically try on multiple devices during the fitting process. The visual copy replaces the need for repeated physical trials, reducing distraction while maintaining appearance evaluation capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wearer tries on multiple hearing aids to evaluate appearance, then appearance satisfaction is improved, but the fitting process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures an image of the hearing aid in the wearer's ear using a camera and displays it on a screen. This visual copy allows the wearer to evaluate their appearance with the hearing aid immediately during the fitting process, eliminating the need to physically try on multiple devices. The image can be manipulated to show different colors and styles, providing appearance evaluation versatility without time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of physically trying on multiple hearing aids with an optical/digital system. The camera captures the actual hearing aid in the ear, and software manipulates the image to show different appearances. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming mechanical process of repeated physical trials while maintaining comprehensive appearance evaluation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hearing aid is made visible for appearance evaluation, then appearance assessment is improved, but the need for physical trial fittings increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates a camera into the existing hearing aid fitting system, allowing the same device to serve both its primary function of hearing assistance and a secondary function of appearance evaluation. The camera and display system are incorporated into the fitting equipment already present in the clinic, creating a multi-functional system that reduces overall complexity compared to separate dedicated devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing aid fitting system comprising a computer with fitting software and having a display for displaying parameter settings of a hearing aid and input means for adjustment of the parameters, characterized in that the system further comprises a camera for recording images of the wearer's head including the ear with the hearing aid, and a display for displaying at least one image received from the camera.