Hearing Prosthesis Sound Capture Focus Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals with conductive hearing loss often face challenges with existing hearing aids due to chronic inflammation, ear malformations, or single-sided deafness, and these devices are unsuitable for those with residual hearing issues, requiring multiple aids and causing discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A hearing prosthesis with a sound capture system that automatically adjusts its focus based on the orientation relative to a reference, using a plurality of sound capture devices and a determinator to ensure directional sound capture irrespective of rotational orientation, allowing for effective sound capture without the need for multiple devices or discomfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional hearing aids are used for conductive hearing loss, then sound amplification is provided, but the device causes discomfort, requires ear canal plugging, and is unsuitable for individuals with ear inflammation, malformations, or single-sided deafness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuitability for conductive hearing lossVSAvoidcomfort and usability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional acoustic hearing aid system with a bone conduction device that uses mechanical vibrations transmitted through the skull bones to reach the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear structures that cause problems in conductive hearing loss cases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces bone conduction as an intermediary mechanism to transmit sound vibrations from the external source through the skull bones directly to the cochlea, avoiding the problematic ear canal and middle ear structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If cross aids are used for single-sided deafness, then sound from the deaf side is received and presented to the opposite ear, but two hearing aids are required and acoustic feedback problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to treat single-sided deafnessVSAvoidnumber of devices and feedback issues

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sound capture and bone conduction transmission into a single integrated device worn on the head, eliminating the need for two separate hearing aids and reducing acoustic feedback problems by direct bone conduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Power

If hearing aids are used to amplify sound, then acoustic signals are transmitted to the cochlea, but the ear canal must be plugged to prevent feedback, causing pressure and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound amplificationVSAvoidcomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the acoustic amplification system that requires ear canal plugging with a bone conduction system that transmits vibrations through the skull, eliminating the need for ear canal occlusion and associated discomfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11528567B2Sound capture focus adjustment for hearing prosthesis

Publication Date: 2022.12.13 COCHLEAR LIMITED

AI summary

A hearing prosthesis, the hearing prosthesis including a plurality of sound capture devices and a determinator configured to generate a parameter indicative of an orientation of the plurality of sound capture devices relative to a reference, wherein the hearing prosthesis is configured to adjust a direction of focus of the hearing prosthesis based on at least the parameter.