Hearing Device Vent Valve Actuation for Cerumen Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-the-ear hearing devices often become clogged by cerumen and skin particles, affecting their functionality and lifespan, necessitating an improved solution for monitoring and cleaning the receiver module.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device with a receiver module featuring a vent valve device that can be electrically manipulated to open and close, producing detectable sounds to indicate cleanliness and functionality, allowing for self-cleaning by moving obstacles and enhancing the device's lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vent valve device is made movable to enable cleaning function, then the device can remove cerumen and skin particles from the vent, but the device complexity increases due to additional actuation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The vent valve device is actuated by the controller to move between first and second positions, enabling the device to clean itself by removing cerumen and skin particles from the vent without requiring external manual cleaning. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by automating the cleaning function while maintaining reasonable complexity through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent valve device is designed to be movable between different positions (first and second positions) rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to perform cleaning functions. This dynamic design enables the valve to move and push obstacles from the vent, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by using controlled movement to achieve self-cleaning.
2Reliability
If the vent valve device is actuated multiple times to move obstacles from the vent, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is configured to actuate the vent valve device multiple times in a periodic manner to move obstacles from the vent. This periodic action allows the valve to oscillate between positions, effectively pushing cerumen and skin particles out of the vent. The periodic actuation resolves the contradiction by using repeated cycles to achieve thorough cleaning while managing energy consumption through controlled, intermittent operation rather than continuous actuation.
3Loss of information
If the vent valve device position is monitored using input transducers to detect sounds, then the functionality and cleanliness can be monitored, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
One or more input transducers are configured to detect sounds produced when the vent valve device moves between positions. The controller receives this feedback information to determine the position of the vent valve device and monitor its functionality. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by using acoustic signals as a simple yet effective means to obtain status information without requiring complex sensors or monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex mechanical position sensors or optical detection systems to monitor the vent valve device position, the invention uses acoustic sound detection by input transducers. This substitution of mechanical/electronic monitoring with acoustic detection simplifies the monitoring system while still providing reliable information about the vent valve device status and functionality.
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 effectively monitors and maintains the cleanliness of the receiver module, preventing clogging and extending the device's lifespan by enabling self-cleaning and providing users with timely maintenance notifications.
Implementation Method 1
the controller of the hearing device is configured to electrically manipulate the vent valve device to be in a first position or in a second position
Implementation Method 2
When the vent valve device enters/arrives in the first position a first sound is produced. When the vent valve device enters/arrives in the second position a second sound is produced. The first sound and/or the second sound are detectable by one or more input transducers.
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing device comprises a receiver module for insertion into an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. The hearing device comprises a signal processor, and a controller. The receiver module comprises an output transducer, a vent having a vent valve device configured to open and close the vent. The controller is configured to electrically manipulate the vent valve device to be in a first position or in a second position based on a first signal received from the signal processor whereby the vent valve device is configured to move between the first position and the second position in response thereto. When the vent valve device enters/arrives in the first position a first sound is produced. When the vent valve device enters/arrives in the second position a second sound is produced. The first sound and/or the second sound are detectable by one or more input transducers.