Hearing Aid Sampling Rate Controller for Tinnitus Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aids that treat tinnitus through acoustic coordinated reset neuromodulation face challenges in battery consumption and signal quality due to the need for higher sampling rates to process CR stimulation signals, which exceeds the typical sampling rates used for hearing aids, especially when combined with hearing loss requirements.
Innovation Solution
A hearing aid device that integrates a stimulation unit to generate CR neuromodulation signals internally, using a sampling rate controller to adjust the sampling rate based on the temporal schedule and frequency components of the signals, allowing for efficient power usage by switching between primary and secondary sampling rates during CR therapy periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a higher sampling rate (up to 40 kHz) is used to process CR stimulation signals with frequencies up to 20 kHz, then the signal quality and treatment efficacy are improved, but the computational work and processor power consumption increase, reducing battery duration
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid device dynamically adjusts the sampling rate based on the operational mode. During CR neuromodulation therapy, the sampling rate is increased to 40 kHz to maintain signal quality for high-frequency stimulation signals. During normal hearing aid operation, the sampling rate is reduced to 10-16 kHz to minimize power consumption. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between signal quality and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the sampling rate parameter according to the functional requirements. When CR therapy is active with high-frequency signals (up to 20 kHz), the sampling rate parameter is changed to 40 kHz to satisfy the Nyquist-Shannon theorem. When only conventional hearing aid functions are used, the sampling rate parameter is reduced to 10-16 kHz, significantly reducing the computational load and power consumption of the A/D and D/A converters.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication is used to stream CR neuromodulation signals to the hearing aid, then the hearing aid can provide CR therapy, but the battery consumption increases due to continuous wireless communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The CR neuromodulation signal generation functionality is extracted from external devices and integrated directly into the hearing aid device. The hearing aid includes an internal stimulation unit that generates CR stimulation signals locally, eliminating the need for wireless communication with external streamers or mobile devices. This extraction of the signal generation function to the hearing aid itself removes the continuous power drain associated with wireless communication while maintaining CR therapy capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing aid device is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a conventional hearing aid for audio amplification and as a CR neuromodulation therapy device. The integrated stimulation unit allows the same device to generate and deliver CR therapy signals without requiring separate external equipment or continuous wireless data transfer, thereby reducing overall power consumption while providing versatile functionality.
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 internal generation of CR neuromodulation signals reduces battery consumption and enhances signal quality, enabling effective treatment of tinnitus while maintaining conventional hearing aid functionality, with reduced need for wireless communication and synchronization.
Implementation Method 1
the input unit may comprise a transducer, such as a microphone, for the transformation of the acoustic signal to the electric signal
Implementation Method 2
The A/D converter may receive the analog electrical input signal and turns it into a digital electrical input signal, which has a discrete number of voltage values at given times
Implementation Method 3
the signal transforming unit may at least partially (e.g. time-wise and/or depending on a frequency and or amplitude of the original acoustic input signal) amplify the (digital) electrical input signal
Implementation Method 4
Additionally or alternatively to the amplification, other modifications of the digital electrical input signal may be performed, such as noise suppression or filtering
Implementation Method 5
the output unit may comprise at least one D/A converter for converting the digital electrical output signal into a respective analog signal and a transducer, such as a loudspeaker, for turning the analog electrical signal into an acoustic wave
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing aid device is provided. The hearing aid device comprises: an input unit configured to receive an acoustical input and transform it into an electrical input signal; a signal transforming unit coupled to the input unit and configured to process the electrical input signal to obtain an electrical output signal; a stimulation unit configured to generate a stimulation signal for acoustic coordinated reset neuromodulation therapy; an output unit configured to transform at least one of the electrical output signal and the stimulation signal into an acoustical output.