Transcutaneous Hearing Prosthesis Power Tuning via Implant Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing prostheses face inefficiencies in power transmission due to changes in user conditions, such as body composition and alignment, leading to suboptimal power usage and potential malfunction.
Innovation Solution
The external portion of the hearing prosthesis adjusts transmission parameters, including power level and frame length, based on feedback from the internal portion to optimize power usage and ensure efficient energy transfer, using iterative methods to determine a preferred set of parameters that minimize external power usage while maintaining adequate implant power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the external portion transmits power wirelessly to the internal portion using fixed transmission parameters, then the device is simple to operate, but power usage is inefficient due to changes in user conditions such as body composition and alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the internal portion transmits power to the external portion, and the external portion measures the actual power received. Based on this feedback, the system iteratively adjusts transmission parameters (power level, frame length, duty cycle) to optimize power transfer efficiency. This closed-loop control ensures efficient power usage while adapting to changing user conditions without requiring complex manual configuration.
2Reliability
If the external portion uses high power transmission to ensure adequate implant power, then the implant operates reliably, but the external battery drains faster
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters based on real-time feedback about actual power transfer efficiency. Rather than using fixed high power transmission, the system iteratively modifies power level, frame length, and duty cycle to achieve the minimum necessary power transfer for reliable implant operation. This dynamic optimization extends battery life while maintaining adequate implant power delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple transmission parameters simultaneously (power level, frame length, duty cycle) to optimize the balance between implant power delivery and external battery consumption. By iteratively adjusting these parameters based on feedback, the system finds the optimal operating point that ensures reliable implant operation while minimizing external power consumption and extending battery life.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the system iteratively adjusts transmission parameters to optimize power usage, then power efficiency improves, but the initialization process takes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary iterative optimization of transmission parameters during the initialization phase when the device is first activated or after a power interruption. By completing the parameter optimization process beforehand, the system establishes efficient transmission settings before normal operation begins. During actual use, the pre-optimized parameters are maintained, avoiding the need for continuous iterative adjustments and thus minimizing time loss while ensuring power efficiency.
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
This approach optimizes power usage, ensuring reliable operation by adjusting transmission parameters to match changing user conditions, thereby extending battery life and maintaining device functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The external portion may couple power wirelessly to the internal portion to charge its power source
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses designed to reduce the power usage of a hearing prosthesis. To reduce the power usage of the prosthesis, an external portion may transmit a signal having a plurality of transmission parameters to an internal component. The external portion receives an indication of an implant power parameter associated with the plurality of transmission parameters. After receiving the indication, the external portion adjusts at least one transmission parameter. After adjusting at least one parameter, the external portion transmits a signal to the internal component based on the adjusted parameters and responsively receives an indication of an implant power parameter associated with the adjusted parameters. Based on the received indication of the implant power parameter for a plurality of transmissions, the external portion determines a preferred set of transmission parameters. Finally, the external portion is operated based on the preferred set of transmission parameters.