Open Earphone Tinnitus Device Using Segmented Acoustic Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tinnitus treatment devices that use masking sounds to suppress tinnitus are temporary and obstruct the ear canal, leading to a loss of environmental awareness, making them impractical for frequent use.
Innovation Solution
A tinnitus treatment device with an open earphone featuring a piezoelectric ring acoustic driver and a pliable retainer that allows sound to pass unobstructed into the ear canal, using materials like Poly (Gamma-Benzyl, Alpha, L-Glutamate) to generate tailored acoustic vibrations without blocking environmental sounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tinnitus treatment devices block the ear canal to deliver masking sounds, then tinnitus suppression is achieved, but environmental awareness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the ear canal into two functional zones: an occluded portion for delivering masking sounds to the tinnitus source, and an unobstructed portion for receiving environmental sounds. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of tinnitus suppression and environmental awareness preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ear canal is treated with different qualities in different regions: the first portion is occluded to create a sealed acoustic environment for masking sound delivery, while the second portion remains open to maintain environmental sound reception. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between suppression effectiveness and environmental awareness.
2Reliability
If the ear canal is blocked to deliver masking sounds, then tinnitus treatment effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation is reduced due to frequent removal needs
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the ear canal into occluded and unobstructed portions, the device enables continuous wear without frequent removal. The unobstructed second portion allows environmental sound reception, making the device practical for daily use while maintaining treatment effectiveness through the occluded first portion.
3Reliability
If masking sounds are delivered through ear canal blocking, then tinnitus suppression is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a segmented ear canal structure with a simple occluding element (such as a foam tip or soft barrier) rather than complex active control mechanisms. This segmentation approach achieves effective masking sound delivery while keeping the device structure relatively simple and manageable.
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 effective tinnitus treatment without interfering with environmental awareness, allowing the device to be worn frequently as it preserves normal hearing and can be adjusted to individual tinnitus characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
an open earphone for a tinnitus treatment device is provided. The open earphone may include an acoustic driver configured to produce acoustic vibrations based on an electrical stimulus, the acoustic driver comprising a piezoelectric ring
Data Source
AI summary
A tinnitus treatment device may include a sound generation unit configured to generate an electrical stimulus, and an open earphone operably coupled to the sound generation unit to produce acoustic vibrations based on the electrical stimulus. The open earphone may include an auditory passage and the open earphone may be insertable into an ear canal of a person such that the auditory passage enables sound to pass substantially unobstructed by the device into the ear canal of the person. The sound generation unit may be configured to be adjustable to tune the electrical stimulus based on a characteristic of tinnitus symptoms experienced by the person.