Non-Uniform Diaphragm Implantable Sound Sensor for Nerve Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with sensorineural hearing loss often do not benefit from auditory prostheses that generate mechanical motion of the cochlea fluid, as they lack functional hair cells or have damaged auditory nerves, necessitating alternative stimulation methods.
Innovation Solution
An implantable sound sensor with a non-uniform diaphragm mechanically coupled to the middle or inner ear's vibrating structures, which vibrates in response to sound and generates signals detected by a vibrational sensor, converting these vibrations into electrical signals for nerve stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If auditory prostheses generate mechanical motion of the cochlea fluid, then hearing assistance is provided, but individuals with sensorineural hearing loss cannot benefit due to damaged hair cells or auditory nerves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical motion-based stimulation approach with a sensor system that detects mechanical vibrations and converts them into electrical signals for direct nerve stimulation. The sound sensor detects vibrations of the ossicles or cochlea fluid and generates electrical signals that directly stimulate the auditory nerve, bypassing the need for functional hair cells.
2Ease of manufacture
If a uniform thickness diaphragm is used in the sound sensor, then manufacturing is simplified, but vibration detection sensitivity and frequency response are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a diaphragm with non-uniform thickness distribution, where the central region has a first thickness and the peripheral region has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. This local variation in thickness optimizes the diaphragm's mechanical properties, enhancing its vibration detection sensitivity and frequency response characteristics while maintaining manufacturability through established semiconductor fabrication techniques.
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 implantable sound sensor effectively converts sound vibrations into electrical signals, providing nerve stimulation for individuals with sensorineural hearing loss, enhancing auditory perception beyond conventional mechanical motion-based prostheses.
Implementation Method 1
a non-uniform diaphragm mechanically coupled to the middle or inner ear's vibrating structures, which vibrates in response to sound
Implementation Method 2
a vibrational sensor disposed in the housing and configured to detect vibration of the non-uniform diaphragm and generate signals representative of the detected vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein are implantable sound sensors that include a non-uniform diaphragm mechanically coupled to a vibrating structure of a recipient's middle or inner ear. The non-uniform diaphragm includes a central region and a peripheral region, where the thickness of the central region is greater than the thickness of the peripheral region.