Hearing Device Biofluid Absorption and Electrode Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hearing devices with electrodes in the ear canal face issues with cerumen buildup and biofouling, leading to unreliable data for determining biological attributes.

Innovation Solution

A hearing device with a housing configured to be worn at the ear, featuring an absorbing member and an electrode assembly positioned to interact with biofluid secreted by outer ear tissue, applying an electric potential to measure properties of the biofluid, thereby reducing biofouling and improving data reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If electrodes are placed in the ear canal to determine biological attributes, then data collection capability is improved, but reliability of data deteriorates due to cerumen buildup and biofouling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection capabilityVSAvoiddata reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode assembly is extracted from the ear canal environment and relocated to the housing that contacts outer ear tissue. This removes the electrodes from the harmful cerumen-filled environment while maintaining their ability to collect biological data through sweat secretion analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

An absorbing member is introduced as an intermediary between the electrode assembly and the biofluid (sweat). The absorbing member collects sweat secreted by outer ear tissue and delivers it to the electrode assembly, enabling reliable measurement without direct electrode exposure to cerumen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If electrodes contact tissue in the ear canal to measure biological attributes, then measurement function is improved, but device lifespan deteriorates due to biofouling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiological attribute measurementVSAvoiddevice lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement function is extracted from the ear canal environment and relocated to the housing on outer ear tissue. This preserves the measurement capability while eliminating the biofouling problem that limited device lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

An absorbing member with porous structure is used to collect and manage sweat biofluid. The porous material allows controlled interaction with biofluid while protecting the electrode assembly from direct exposure and fouling, extending device operational life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Productivity

If electrodes are positioned in the ear canal to collect biofluid data, then data acquisition is improved, but device performance deteriorates due to cerumen clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata acquisition rateVSAvoiddevice performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The data acquisition function is extracted from the cerumen-filled ear canal and relocated to the housing on outer ear tissue. This maintains productivity by continuing to collect biological data through sweat analysis while eliminating cerumen clogging that degraded device performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The absorbing member serves as an intermediary that selectively collects sweat biofluid and delivers it to the electrode assembly. This intermediary system ensures continuous data acquisition while protecting the electrodes from cerumen contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 more reliable and meaningful analysis of biofluid properties, reducing biofouling and extending the lifespan of the device by leveraging gravity to manage biofluid accumulation.

Implementation Method 1

an absorbing member positioned on the housing and configured to absorb a biofluid secreted by outer ear tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

apply, by way of the electrode assembly, an electric potential on the biofluid absorbed by the absorbing member of the hearing device, measure a current that flows through the biofluid based on the electric potential

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

leveraging gravity to manage biofluid accumulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20230110170A1Hearing Device and Method for Analyzing Biofluid Secreted by Outer Ear Tissue

Publication Date: 2023.04.13 SONOVA AG

AI summary

An exemplary hearing device may comprise a housing configured to be worn at an ear of a user and an absorbing member positioned on the housing and configured to absorb a biofluid secreted by outer ear tissue of the user while the housing is worn by the user. The hearing device may further comprise an electrode assembly positioned with respect to the absorbing member such that the electrode assembly is in fluidic contact with the biofluid when the biofluid is absorbed by the absorbing member.