Hearing Assistive Device with Bone Conduction Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cochlear implants inadequately provide low-frequency information due to limited insertion depth and spiral ganglion clustering, which limits the auditory perception of severe hearing-impaired individuals, and existing solutions are costly or require bilateral implantation.
Innovation Solution
A hearing assistive device incorporating a microphone, audio signal processing mechanism, and vibration signal processing mechanism that generates vibration stimulation signals to simulate low-frequency sound sensations, enhancing auditory perception by combining tactile and auditory cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cochlear implant electrode insertion depth is increased to provide low-frequency information, then auditory perception improves, but device complexity and surgical difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vibratory transducer as an intermediary device that converts audio signals into tactile vibrations transmitted through bone conduction to the cochlea. This mediator enables low-frequency information delivery without requiring deep electrode insertion, thus improving auditory perception while avoiding the complexity and surgical risks associated with deep implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical stimulation mechanism (electrodes) with a mechanical vibration mechanism (vibratory transducer). By substituting electrical signals with mechanical vibrations transmitted through bone conduction, the system achieves low-frequency auditory stimulation without the need for deep cochlear electrode insertion, thereby reducing device complexity and surgical difficulty.
2Reliability
If bilateral cochlear implantation is performed to improve spatial awareness and low-frequency perception, then auditory function improves, but cost and surgical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines auditory and tactile sensory modalities into a single integrated system. By merging sound processing with vibratory tactile feedback delivered through bone conduction, the device provides binaural-like spatial awareness and low-frequency perception functions using only a unilateral implant, thereby improving auditory function without the cost and complexity of bilateral implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibratory transducer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it delivers low-frequency auditory information, provides tactile feedback for sound localization, and enhances speech understanding. This multi-functionality allows a single unilateral device to perform roles that would traditionally require bilateral implantation, reducing both cost and surgical complexity.
3Device complexity
If traditional cochlear implants are used without low-frequency enhancement, then device simplicity is maintained, but speech understanding and sound localization remain limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic vibratory component that actively modulates tactile feedback in response to audio signals. The vibratory transducer dynamically adjusts its vibration characteristics based on the incoming acoustic information, enabling real-time transmission of low-frequency cues without permanently complicating the device structure. This dynamic enhancement maintains relative simplicity while recovering lost low-frequency information.
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 device improves speech understanding and sound localization for cochlear implant users by providing complementary low-frequency information, potentially increasing speech understanding scores by up to 40% and enhancing sound localization abilities without the need for bilateral implantation.
Implementation Method 1
a transducer, placed adjacent to an ear of a user, that generates auditory perception according to the first output signal
Implementation Method 2
a vibrator, placed adjacent to a skin of a user, that generates a vibration sensation on the skin of the user according to the second output signal
Implementation Method 3
vibrations to the skull bone, which may be effective in transmitting the vibrations to an inner ear of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing assistive device is provided having a microphone, at least one audio signal processing mechanism, a vibration signal processing mechanism, and a vibrator. The audio signal processing mechanism receives an input audio signal from the microphone and generates a first output signal according to the received input audio signal wherein the first output signal coupled to a transducer that generates auditory perception in an ear of a user. The vibration signal processing mechanism receives the input audio signal and generates a second output signal according to the input audio signal. The vibrator is configured to be placed adjacent to the skin of the user, and configured to generate a vibration stimulation signal on the skin of the user according to the second output signal.