Implantable Hearing Aid Skin Interface Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implantable hearing aid systems face issues such as skin irritation, accidental device displacement, poor inductive link efficiency, and complications during MRI examinations due to magnetic materials, and existing attachment methods like tape or glue are not clinically acceptable.
Innovation Solution
The system features a skin interface with a detachable transmitter connector and a skin adhesive with a textured surface for secure attachment, allowing the external transmitter device to be easily snapped on and off without skin irritation, and includes an implant magnet fixedly attached to the skull bone for improved stability and MRI compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If magnetic materials are used in both external transmitter device and implanted receiver device to retain the external device on the head, then the external transmitter device is kept in position, but skin irritation or skin necrosis occurs due to constant pressure against the skin
Solution Approach 1:
A skin interface component is introduced as an intermediary between the external transmitter device and the skin. This skin interface includes a skin adhesive that bonds to the skin without requiring direct magnetic pressure, thereby mediating the interaction to eliminate skin damage while maintaining device retention
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional components: the external transmitter device, a skin interface component with adhesive, and the implanted receiver device. This segmentation allows the retention function (magnetic) to be separated from the skin contact function (adhesive), resolving the contradiction between strong retention and skin protection
2Stability of the object's composition
If magnetic materials are used in the implanted receiver device to retain the external transmitter device, then the external device is kept in position, but MRI examinations are hindered or complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic materials are extracted from the implanted receiver device and relocated to the external transmitter device only. This extraction eliminates the conflict with MRI examinations while preserving the retention function, as the external device can still use magnets to attach to the skin interface
Solution Approach 2:
The skin interface acts as a mediator that allows the external magnetic device to be retained without requiring magnets in the implant. The interface includes a non-magnetic adhesive layer that bonds to the skin, enabling retention through the interface rather than through the implant itself
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a relatively thick skin layer is maintained between the implanted receiver and external transmitter to avoid skin necrosis, then skin protection is achieved, but the efficiency of the inductive link becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The skin interface with adhesive serves as a mediator that allows the external transmitter to be positioned close to the skin without direct magnetic pressure. This enables thin skin coverage (maintaining inductive link efficiency) while the adhesive bears the retention load instead of the skin tissue
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic pressure mechanism is replaced with an adhesive bonding mechanism for skin attachment. This substitution allows the external device to be secured without compressing the skin, thereby maintaining both skin health and optimal inductive coupling through thin tissue
4Stability of the object's composition
If tape or glue is used to attach the external transmitter device to the patient's head, then the device can be retained, but clinical acceptance is reduced due to difficulties in removal or limited access
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into a reusable skin interface component with adhesive and a separate external transmitter device. This allows the adhesive to remain on the skin (maintaining retention) while the external device can be easily detached and accessed, improving both ease of operation and clinical acceptance
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 provides a secure, comfortable, and reliable attachment method that prevents skin irritation and accidental device displacement, while maintaining efficient sound transmission and allowing for easy removal and reattachment, and is compatible with MRI procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an implantable hearing aid system having an external transmitter device and an implantable receiver device, and wherein an implant communications signal with sound information is transmitted from the external transmitter device to the implantable receiver device
Implementation Method 2
A skin adhesive is located on the inner interface surface and is configured to adhesively connect to skin of the patient user
Implementation Method 3
the external transmitter device is usually kept in place with a magnetic attachment, so there are magnetic materials in both the external transmitter device and in the implanted receiver device. These two units attract each other to keep the external transmitter device in position
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable hearing aid system is disclosed. The system has an external transmitter device and an implantable receiver device, and includes a skin interface to connect the external transmitter device to the head of a user. There is a transmitter connector on the external transmitter device and an interface connector on the skin interface to form a coupling between the skin interface and the external transmitter device to enable connection and disconnection of the external transmitter device to and from the skin interface. The skin interface has an adhesive surface facing the skin so that it can be adhered to the skin on the head of the user. The implantable receiver device has an implant stimulator to stimulate a hearing organ. Sound information is transmitted from the external transmitter device to the implantable receiver device that stimulates the hearing organ of the user.