Hearing Device Ear Canal Sensing for Core Body Temperature Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing devices struggle to accurately measure core body temperature due to external factors influencing skin temperature sensors, leading to underestimated or overestimated readings.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating multiple temperature sensors within and outside the ear canal, combined with motion and heart rate sensors, to determine core body temperature using regression models, leveraging the shared vasculature between the ear canal and the hypothalamus for accurate estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a skin temperature sensor is used to measure core body temperature, then the measurement is non-invasive and easy to implement, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to external environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the ear canal as an intermediary environment that is thermally isolated from external factors. By placing the temperature sensor within the ear canal rather than on the skin surface, the measurement is shielded from ambient temperature, humidity, and air velocity effects, thereby maintaining both non-invasiveness and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement location from skin surface to ear canal interior, fundamentally altering the thermal environment parameters. The ear canal provides a stable thermal microclimate that reflects core body temperature more accurately, transforming the measurement conditions to eliminate environmental interference
2Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors and sensors are used to improve measurement accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for hearing assistance, creates the thermal isolation environment, and houses the temperature sensor. This multi-functionality allows accurate temperature measurement without adding separate dedicated equipment, thereby improving precision while limiting complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple parameters (ear canal temperature, ambient temperature, motion status, heart rate) processed through regression models to continuously refine the core body temperature estimate. This feedback mechanism improves measurement accuracy by compensating for residual variations and validating measurements against physiological expectations
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
Provides a non-invasive method for precise core body temperature measurement, facilitating tracking of medical conditions and offering graphical user interfaces for physiological condition monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a first temperature sensor configured to detect ear canal temperature within an ear canal of a user
Implementation Method 2
a second temperature sensor configured to detect ambient temperature outside of the ear canal
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary hearing device may be configured to be inserted at least partially within an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. The hearing device may include a first temperature sensor configured to detect ear canal temperature within the ear canal, a second temperature sensor configured to detect ambient temperature outside of the ear canal, and a processor. The processor may be configured to determine a work status of the user indicative of an activity level of the user and determine a core body temperature of the user based on the ear canal temperature detected by the first temperature sensor, the ambient temperature detected by the second temperature sensor, and the work status of the user.