Hearing Instrument Component Placement for 3D Ear Canal Size Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately predict how new versions of hearing instrument components will affect the size of custom hearing instruments, leading to potential decisions against upgrading due to uncertainty about size changes, despite user preference for smaller, less visible devices.
Innovation Solution
A computing system uses 3D models of ear canals and components to optimize component positions within ear canals in 6-degrees of freedom, generating statistical data on the resulting hearing instrument sizes, leveraging existing databases for efficiency and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If component substitution is performed without accurate size prediction, then component upgrading may be prevented, but user preference for smaller devices cannot be satisfied
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary size predictions using 3D modeling and statistical analysis before actual component substitution decisions are made. By pre-calculating the effects of component substitutions across multiple ear impression models, the system provides advance information that enables informed decision-making without time pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual 3D copies of ear canals and hearing instrument components to simulate and predict the effects of component substitutions. These digital models allow accurate size predictions without requiring physical prototypes or trial-and-error testing.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive evaluation of component substitution effects is performed, then accurate size prediction is achieved, but computing resources and time are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs evaluations on a representative subset of ear impression models rather than exhaustively analyzing every possible scenario. By selecting diverse representative cases from the database, the system achieves statistically significant results with reduced computational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs the evaluation process without requiring manual intervention. The automated workflow includes loading 3D models, performing component optimization, calculating sizes, and generating statistical reports, eliminating the need for manual measurement and analysis.
3Measurement precision
If component position optimization is performed in 6-degrees of freedom, then accurate size prediction is achieved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The 6-degree of freedom optimization is divided into separate rotational and translational components. The system first optimizes rotational positions (three degrees) and then translational positions (three degrees), breaking down the complex problem into manageable segments that can be processed sequentially.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method comprises obtaining, by one or more processors, a component model, the component model being a 3-dimensional (3D) model of a component of a hearing instrument; obtaining, by the one or more processors, a plurality of ear impression models, each respective ear impression model of the plurality of ear impression models being a 3D model of an ear canal of a user corresponding to the respective ear impression model; for each respective ear impression model, performing, by the one or more processors, a component optimization process that optimizes a position of the component model within the respective ear impression model in 6-degrees of freedom based on one or more optimization criteria; generating, by the one or more processors, statistical data based on the positions of the components model within the ear impression models; outputting, by the one or more processors, the statistical data.