Limited-Component Implantable Vibratory Device for Bone Conduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with conductive hearing loss often do not derive sufficient benefit from conventional hearing aids and existing bone conduction devices, which either rely on air conduction or require invasive implantation of active components.
Innovation Solution
Development of a transcutaneous bone conduction device with a vibrating electromagnetic actuator located either externally or internally, utilizing magnetic induction or piezoelectric components to convert sound signals into mechanical vibrations transmitted through the skull without penetrating the skin, and using titanium or biocompatible materials for the implantable components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hearing aids using air conduction are used, then the device complexity is low, but the effectiveness for conductive hearing loss is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acoustic air conduction system with an electromagnetic system. An electromagnetic actuator converts electrical signals directly into mechanical vibrations that are transmitted through bone conduction to the cochlea, bypassing the impaired air conduction pathway. This substitution of the transmission mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing effective treatment for conductive hearing loss through a different physical modality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electromagnetic actuator as an intermediary device between the electrical signal source and the cochlea. This actuator converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations that can be transmitted through bone conduction, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap caused by impaired air conduction pathways while maintaining system effectiveness.
2Reliability
If active components are implanted internally for bone conduction, then the effectiveness improves, but the invasiveness and potential complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bone conduction system into two separate components: an external electromagnetic actuator and an internal implantable receiver. The external actuator generates vibrations that are transmitted through the skin to the internal receiver, which then transmits the vibrations to the bone. This segmentation allows the complex active components to remain external while minimizing invasiveness, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the skin and underlying tissues as an intermediary medium to transmit vibrations from the external actuator to the internal implantable receiver. This intermediary approach allows effective bone conduction to be achieved without direct penetration or implantation of active electromagnetic components into the body, thereby reducing invasiveness and potential complications while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a transcutaneous design is used, then the invasiveness is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to need for transcutaneous coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device into external and internal components that are magnetically coupled across the skin boundary. The external electromagnetic actuator generates vibrations that pass through the skin to the internal implantable receiver. This segmentation enables a transcutaneous design that reduces invasiveness while managing the complexity of transcutaneous coupling through magnetic interaction rather than direct mechanical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical transcutaneous coupling with electromagnetic coupling. The external actuator and internal receiver are coupled through magnetic fields that can penetrate the skin without requiring physical penetration or complex mechanical interfaces. This substitution reduces invasiveness while managing the complexity of transcutaneous coupling through field-based interaction.
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
Provides effective sound perception through bone conduction while minimizing invasiveness and potential complications, offering a viable alternative for conductive hearing loss by leveraging magnetic or piezoelectric transduction methods.
Implementation Method 1
a transducer configured to output a mechanical force when an electrical current is applied thereto
Implementation Method 2
utilizing magnetic induction or piezoelectric components to convert sound signals into mechanical vibrations
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A prosthesis including an implantable component including an LC circuit, wherein a piezoelectric material forms at least a part of the capacitance portion of the LC circuit, the piezoelectric material expands and/or contracts upon the application of a variable magnetic field to the inductor of the LC circuit, the LC circuit has an electrical self-resonance frequency below 20kHz, and the piezoelectric material forms part of an actuator configured to output a force to tissue of a recipient in which the implantable component is implanted.