Inflatable Membrane Ear Scanner for Custom Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for creating customized earbuds are painful and prone to complications due to the use of impression materials that harden and are difficult to extract from the ear canal.
Innovation Solution
A system using a 3D scanner with an inflatable membrane that conforms to the ear shape, emitting and detecting light of specific wavelengths to generate a digital representation of the ear shape, which is then used to fabricate customized earbuds or adapters for a snug and comfortable fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional impression materials are injected into the ear cavity to create an impression, then a physical model of the ear shape can be obtained, but the process causes pain and complications during injection, hardening, and extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical injection and extraction process of traditional impression materials with an optical scanning system. The scanner uses light to capture ear canal geometry non-contactly, eliminating the need for physical impression materials and their associated painful procedures while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an inflatable membrane as an intermediary tool that gently expands to contact the ear canal walls without injection. This membrane serves as a safe interface that allows optical scanning to occur without the harmful effects of traditional impression materials, providing both safety and measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If traditional impression materials are used to capture ear shape, then a physical impression is obtained, but the materials are difficult to extract from the ear canal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical extraction process with optical scanning technology. Instead of physically removing hardened impression materials, the system uses light to capture ear geometry data, eliminating extraction difficulty entirely while maintaining accurate ear cavity shape measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the ear canal geometry through optical scanning rather than a physical impression. This digital model can be stored, manipulated, and used for earbud design without requiring physical extraction, making the process significantly easier while preserving measurement precision.
3Reliability
If customized earbuds are produced based on actual ear shape, then comfort and sound quality are improved, but traditional impression methods cause pain and complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the harmful mechanical injection process with non-contact optical scanning. This allows customized earbuds to be produced based on accurate ear shape data without exposing patients to the pain and complications of traditional impression materials, maintaining reliability of fit quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable membrane acts as a safe intermediary that enables accurate ear shape capture without the harmful effects of traditional materials. It provides gentle contact for scanning while eliminating injection pain, ensuring reliable customized earbud fit without patient suffering.
4Measurement precision
If an inflatable membrane is inflated with medium to conform to ear canal shape, then accurate ear shape data can be captured optically, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible inflatable membrane that can be easily introduced into the ear canal. This thin film structure simplifies the overall system by providing a simple yet effective way to achieve contactless optical scanning of the ear canal interior, maintaining measurement precision without excessive complexity.
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 system allows for the creation of customized earbuds that provide a comfortable fit, improved sound quality, and reduced ambient noise by accurately capturing the ear's shape without the pain and complications of traditional impression methods.
Implementation Method 1
The medium attenuates, at first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and attenuates, at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength
Implementation Method 2
an emitter configured to generate light to illuminate the interior surface of the inflatable membrane
Implementation Method 3
a detector configured to receive light from the interior surface of the inflatable membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a first scanner having an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity. The medium attenuates, at first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and attenuates, at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength. An emitter is configured to generate light to illuminate the interior surface and a detector is configured to receive light from the interior surface. The scanner further includes a processor configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape based on the light. A design computer is configured to modify the first electronic representation into a three-dimensional shape corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape and a fabricator configured to fabricate, based at least on the modified first electronic representation, an earbud.