Hearing Prosthesis Protective Sleeve Sealing Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing prostheses, particularly behind-the-ear sound processors, face challenges in protection against water, dust, and contaminants, leading to potential damage and safety issues when used in wet or humid environments, as traditional protective methods either require removal of the device or do not provide complete ingress protection.
Innovation Solution
A protective sleeve made from flexible material with integrated rigid members that form a seal around the sound processor, allowing it to remain operational while preventing contaminants from entering, using a combination of flexible and rigid components to create a waterproof and dustproof seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective sleeve is provided for the hearing prosthesis sound processor, then protection against water and dust ingress is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is divided into multiple functional components: a flexible main body for basic protection, a rigid base ring for structural support and sealing, and a removable base plug for accessing the sound processor. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall protection against water and dust ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound processor is nested within the protective sleeve, which itself is nested within the packaging or storage case. The base plug contains a rigid plug ring that nests within the main body's base opening. This nested structure provides multiple levels of protection while maintaining a compact form factor.
2Reliability
If the protective sleeve uses a combination of flexible and rigid materials, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve employs composite construction combining flexible material (such as silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer) for the main body with rigid material (such as medical-grade plastic or metal) for the base ring and plug ring. This composite approach leverages the flexibility and conformability of soft materials for sealing surfaces while using rigid materials for structural support and dimensional stability, achieving effective sealing against water and dust.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the protective sleeve have different material properties optimized for their specific functions: the main body uses flexible material to conform to the sound processor contours and provide cushioning, while the base ring and plug ring use rigid material to maintain precise sealing geometry and resist deformation during assembly and wear.
3Ease of operation
If the protective sleeve allows the sound processor to remain operational, then ease of operation is improved, but protection reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt during operation. The flexible main body can deform slightly to accommodate the sound processor's electronic components and wiring, while the rigid base ring maintains its sealing geometry. The removable base plug allows dynamic access when needed while maintaining sealed protection during normal operation.
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 protective sleeve effectively prevents water and dust ingress, ensuring the hearing prosthesis remains functional in adverse conditions without the need for removal, enhancing user safety and device longevity.
Implementation Method 1
When a plug is inserted into the plug port, the port ring operates with the plug to deform the portion of the substantially flexible material surrounding the plug port to seal the plug in the shell
Implementation Method 2
the rigid plug ring operates with the rigid base ring to compress one or more of the main body or base plug to seal the sound processor in the protective sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to a protective sleeve for an external component of a hearing prosthesis.