Optical Cochlear Stimulation via Eardrum Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cochlear implants are invasive, with large circuitry and magnetic components that complicate MRI procedures and provide less-than-ideal sound quality and speech recognition, often requiring additional surgeries for magnet removal and longer recovery times.
Innovation Solution
The use of optical tissue stimulation methods that transmit a multiplexed light signal through the eardrum to stimulate the cochlea with improved spatial selectivity, reducing the need for invasive mastoid bone surgery and incorporating non-magnetic materials for MRI compatibility, while preserving sound quality and speech recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrical current is used to stimulate tissue, then tissue stimulation is achieved, but spatial selectivity is reduced and sound quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical current stimulation with optical stimulation using light. The optical stimulation system uses light sources (such as LEDs or lasers) to stimulate cochlear tissue directly, eliminating the need for electrical electrodes and current pulses. This substitution provides superior spatial selectivity because light can be focused to specific locations within the cochlea, and improves sound quality by enabling more precise control over which neural elements are stimulated, thereby preserving natural sound perception including localization cues.
2Ease of operation
If magnets are implanted to align RF coils, then coil alignment is achieved, but MRI compatibility is lost and additional surgeries are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes magnets from the cochlear implant system entirely. Instead of using magnets for alignment, the system relies on the natural anatomical structure of the ear canal and eardrum to position the light sources. The optical components are designed to be inherently aligned with the cochlea through the eardrum opening, eliminating the need for magnetic alignment mechanisms and making the device MRI-compatible without requiring magnet removal surgeries.
3Ease of manufacture
If mastoid bone surgery is performed for implantation, then device insertion is achieved, but invasiveness increases and recovery time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the eardrum (tympanic membrane) as an intermediary access route to deliver optical stimulation to the cochlea. Instead of surgically opening the mastoid bone and inserting electrodes into the cochlear shell, the system transmits light through the eardrum which is already a natural opening in the ear. This intermediary approach allows the optical components to stimulate cochlear tissue without requiring invasive bone surgery, significantly reducing procedural complexity and recovery time while maintaining effective stimulation delivery.
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 allows for less invasive implantation, shorter recovery times, improved sound quality, and enhanced sound localization cues, making it suitable for both children and adults, including those needing MRI scans.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber is configured to transmit light energy to the cochlea so that the user hears sound in response to the light energy
Implementation Method 2
A high frequency pulse width modulated signal for each channel is determined so as to preserve the amplitude and phase of the base band audio signal. With high frequencies stimulation above about 10 kHz, for example above about 20 kHz, the cochlea can low pass filter and demodulate the high frequency pulse width modulated signal into the base band audio sound signal
Data Source
AI summary
An output assembly is sized for placement in the middle and inner ear, such that removal of bone can be decreased. The output assembly may comprise at least one photo detector, a demultiplexer and an optical array sized to pass through an incision in the eardrum. An input transducer assembly is configured to transmit a multiplexed optical signal to the output assembly. The input assembly can be configured to transmit the multiplexed optical signal through the eardrum, such that tissue removal can be decreased and the device can be placed without removal of bone, for example. The multiplexed optical signal may comprise a pulse width modulated signal so as to decrease the effect of non-linearities of the light source and light detector and provide quality sound to the user.