Laser Triangulation for Ear Canal Shape Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the three-dimensional shape of an auditory canal for custom hearing aid shells are uncomfortable and laborious, involving the injection of silicone material into the ear canal.
Innovation Solution
A device with a laser measuring arrangement generating a cone-shaped measuring beam for triangulation, allowing precise alignment of measurement recordings without the need for ear impressions, using blue laser light for low penetration and favorable scattering characteristics, and an illumination device for better feature recognition, combined with a cylindrical receiving device for axial movement within the canal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If silicone material is injected into the ear canal to detect shape, then three-dimensional shape data can be obtained, but the procedure becomes uncomfortable for the patient and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical injection method with an optical measurement system. A camera captures images of the ear canal while a light source illuminates it, and a computer processes these images to generate three-dimensional shape data. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact and injection, thereby improving patient comfort while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy or digital representation of the ear canal shape through image capture and computer processing. Instead of using physical silicone material to replicate the shape, the system generates a digital three-dimensional model from captured images, eliminating the need for material injection and subsequent handling.
2Measurement precision
If silicone material injection method is used, then three-dimensional shape can be determined, but the overall procedure becomes laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the multi-step mechanical process of injection, waiting for hardening, removal, and scanning with a streamlined optical system. The camera captures images directly in the ear canal, and the computer immediately processes these images to produce three-dimensional shape data, significantly reducing procedure time while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous image capture and processing throughout the measurement process. The camera can capture multiple images sequentially as it moves through the ear canal, and the computer continuously processes these images to build the three-dimensional model, eliminating the idle time required for material hardening and removal in traditional methods.
3Measurement precision
If multiple measurement recordings are taken to improve accuracy, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a computer as an intermediary that automatically handles the complex task of aligning multiple measurement recordings. The computer processes the captured images, identifies corresponding features across multiple views, and automatically aligns them to generate accurate three-dimensional shape data, eliminating the need for complex manual alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple optical copies or views of the ear canal from different positions and angles. By capturing images from multiple locations and processing them together, the system achieves precise alignment and accurate three-dimensional reconstruction without requiring a single complex measurement setup.
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
Enables precise and comfortable acquisition of three-dimensional ear canal shapes without auxiliary materials, improving the production efficiency of custom hearing aids and otoplastics by accurately combining multiple measurements using optical features.
Implementation Method 1
a laser measuring arrangement with which a measuring beam in the shape of a cone envelope can be generated. This allows a ring-shaped subsection of the ear or auditory canal to be measured by triangulation
Implementation Method 2
The wavelength of a laser beam from the laser measurement arrangement is in the blue spectral range. This results in a low penetration depth and a favorable scattering characteristic of the skin
Implementation Method 3
the recording device has an illumination device for diffusely illuminating the section to be recorded. The optical features can be recorded better thanks to the specially provided lighting device
Data Source
AI summary
The device has receiving device (1) for detecting sizes of two lower sections relative to predetermined optical characteristics of a section to be detected, where the size represents a position. An evaluation device obtains form information of the section to be detected by combination of forms of the lower sections based on detected positions or the sizes representing the position. The receiving device comprises a laser measuring arrangement such as glass fiber (2) and optical lens systems (11, 12). Cone-surface shaped measuring beam (13) is produced by the laser measuring arrangement. The receiving device contains light sources such as laser or LED. An independent claim is also included for a method for detecting form of a section of a human ear, i.e. ear canal.