Implantable Magnetic Assembly for Bone Conduction Hearing Aid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone conducting hearing aid systems face challenges in controlling skin contact pressure, leading to adverse skin reactions due to varying soft tissue thickness and weight changes in patients, which increases the risk of ischemia, stress concentrations, ulcers, and headaches.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic means assembly with implanted magnetic means positioned in the soft tissue between the dermis and subcutaneous fat, using a mesh structure attached to the temporal bone with a screw member, allowing for tissue ingrowth and maintaining a consistent distance from the skin surface, reducing the size and strength of magnetic means required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If larger or stronger magnetic means are used to increase retention force for heavier extracorporeal hearing aid devices, then the retention force is improved, but the pressure load on soft tissue increases causing skin problems such as ulcer or necrosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a dedicated magnetic attachment site in the soft tissue that concentrates the magnetic interaction locally rather than distributing pressure across the entire soft tissue layer. The implanted magnetic means creates a focused attraction point that secures the hearing aid without subjecting the surrounding soft tissue to excessive pressure loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary magnetic means implanted in the soft tissue that acts as a mediator between the extracorporeal hearing aid and the temporal bone. This implanted magnetic component provides a stable attachment point that reduces the direct pressure burden on the soft tissue while maintaining effective magnetic retention.
2Force
If skin thinning is performed to ensure proper attraction of external magnetic means, then the magnetic attraction is improved, but the risk of wound complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implanting the magnetic means in the soft tissue during the initial surgical procedure, establishing a stable magnetic attachment site before the external hearing aid is applied. This preliminary implantation ensures proper magnetic attraction without requiring subsequent skin thinning procedures that would compromise wound healing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the distance between magnetic means is increased to reduce pressure on soft tissue, then the pressure load is reduced, but the retention force decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the strength and configuration of the implanted magnetic means to compensate for increased distance. By adjusting magnetic parameters (strength, distribution), the system maintains adequate retention force even when the distance between magnetic components is increased, thereby reducing pressure on soft tissue.
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 solution enables controlled and reduced skin contact pressure, minimizing the risk of adverse skin reactions and accommodating weight changes without the need for complex adjustments or bone anchoring, ensuring a stable and secure attachment of the hearing aid.
Implementation Method 1
The implanted and external magnetic means are mutually attracted to one another and thereby fix the external retaining element to the skin of the user
Implementation Method 2
The vibrator transforms an electrical signal into mechanical vibrations and the skin contact pressure plate allows for transmission of the vibrations from the vibrator to the implanted unit
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A magnetic means assembly (58) for a bone conducting hearing aid (4, 8) is disclosed. The magnetic means assembly (58) is implantable and comprises one or more magnetic means (22, 22') and means for attaching the one or more magnetic means (22, 22') to the tissue (12, 14, 20) surrounding the magnetic means assembly (58) when the magnetic means assembly (58) is implanted in the body of a hearing aid user (2). The magnetic means assembly (58) comprises means (26, 26', 38, 42, 52, 52', 54, 56) for positioning at least a portion of the one or more magnetic means (22, 22') in the soft tissue between dermis (10) and the subcutaneous fat (20) or the muscle/fat layer (12).