Implantable Microphone Adjustable Suspension Counterweight
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable microphones face challenges in reducing sensitivity to vibration and acceleration, as existing solutions do not effectively mitigate the impact of tissue acceleration on the sensor membrane, leading to unwanted artifacts in sound perception.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable suspension arrangement for the microphone housing is introduced, allowing for dynamic adjustment to match the displacement of the microphone housing with the sensor membrane during tissue acceleration, ensuring net displacement due to acceleration is minimized by equating the movement of both the housing and the membrane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a hermetic housing with a membrane facing the skin surface is used, then the microphone can detect sound, but it becomes prone to accelerations perpendicular to the membrane
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight element is attached to the housing opposite to the membrane side. This counterweight generates an opposing force that compensates for the acceleration forces acting on the membrane, thereby reducing acceleration artifacts while maintaining sound detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mass of the counterweight is specifically designed to match the mass of the overlying tissue. By adjusting this parameter, the system achieves optimal compensation where the counterweight's inertial force exactly balances the acceleration forces on the membrane
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a perforated membrane is provided over the sensitive microphone area, then the mobility of the overlying tissue layer is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the membrane structure, a counterweight is attached to the housing to compensate for tissue acceleration. This approach achieves the same artifact reduction goal with a simpler implementation that does not require perforating or modifying the sensitive membrane
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a soft damping material is inserted between the microphone housing and the underlying bone, then external forces from the bone are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight element is attached to the housing opposite to the membrane side. This counterweight generates an opposing force that compensates for the acceleration forces acting on the membrane, thereby reducing acceleration artifacts while maintaining sound detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mass of the counterweight is specifically designed to match the mass of the overlying tissue. By adjusting this parameter, the system achieves optimal compensation where the counterweight's inertial force exactly balances the acceleration forces on the membrane
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 approach significantly reduces acceleration artifacts by ensuring the microphone housing moves in tandem with the tissue, effectively canceling out acceleration effects on the sensor membrane, thereby improving sound quality and reducing vibration sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
microphones are based on electromagnetic, electrostatic or piezoelectric detection of the deflection of a membrane of the microphone
Implementation Method 2
a compliant suspension arrangement 32 located opposite to the sensor membrane 28 and exposed to soft tissue 27, which is provided for supporting the housing 26 on soft tissue 27 in a manner that the housing 26 is movable relative to the soft tissue 27 upon acceleration of the housing 26 and the soft tissue 27
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an implantable microphone, comprising a rigid housing (26), a sensor membrane (28) for being exposed to surrounding soft tissue (27), the sensor membrane being arranged to seal an opening of the housing, a transducer (29) for generating an output signal corresponding to the deflection of the sensor membrane, and a compliant suspension arrangement (32) located opposite to the sensor membrane for being exposed to soft tissue and for supporting the housing on soft tissue in a manner that the housing is moveable relative to said soft tissue upon acceleration of the housing and the soft tissue, the suspension arrangement comprising means (38, 40, 46) for adjusting the spring constant of the suspension arrangement when the microphone is implanted.