Percutaneous Vibration Conductor for Bone Conduction Hearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing prostheses for conductive hearing loss rely on air conduction principles and may not effectively transmit sound vibrations to the cochlea, particularly for individuals who do not benefit from traditional acoustic hearing aids.
Innovation Solution
A bone conduction prosthesis with a percutaneous vibration conductor that transfers vibrations directly beneath the skin, using an external BTE component to generate vibrations which are communicated through a skin-penetrating component that abuts the bone, bypassing traditional air conduction pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air conduction hearing aids are used to transmit sound to the cochlea, then the device structure is simple and easy to operate, but the sound transmission effectiveness is insufficient for individuals with conductive hearing loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a percutaneous vibration conductor as an intermediary component that transmits vibrations directly through the skin to the bone, bypassing the traditional air conduction pathway. This mediator enables effective sound transmission for conductive hearing loss by creating a direct mechanical connection between the external sound source and the skull bone, resolving the contradiction between transmission effectiveness and device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the acoustic air conduction mechanism with a direct mechanical vibration transmission system. The percutaneous vibration conductor transforms acoustic energy into mechanical vibrations that are transmitted through the skin and bone directly to the cochlea, substituting the air conduction pathway with a solid mechanical transmission path to improve effectiveness for conductive hearing loss.
2Reliability
If the vibration conductor extends deeply into the bone for stable vibration transmission, then the vibration transmission stability is improved, but the risk of infection and tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by extending the vibration conductor only to the necessary depth to achieve stable bone contact for effective vibration transmission, rather than extending it excessively deep into the bone. This partial extension maintains vibration transmission stability while minimizing the creation of deep pathways that could facilitate infection, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and infection risk.
3Reliability
If traditional hearing aid components are used, then the device is easy to manufacture and operate, but it cannot effectively bypass impaired air conduction pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hearing prosthesis into distinct functional components: an external sound receiving component, a percutaneous vibration conductor, and an internal bone contact component. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturing feasibility, enabling effective bypass of impaired air conduction pathways without excessive manufacturing complexity.
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 solution enables effective sound perception by transmitting vibrations directly to the bone, potentially improving hearing outcomes for individuals with conductive hearing loss who do not respond well to traditional hearing aids.
Implementation Method 1
A bone conduction prosthesis with a percutaneous vibration conductor that transfers vibrations directly beneath the skin, using an external BTE component to generate vibrations which are communicated through a skin-penetrating component that abuts the bone
Implementation Method 2
transfers vibrations directly beneath the skin... communicated through a skin-penetrating component that abuts the bone
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A device, comprising a prosthesis including an external component configured to output a signal in response to an external stimulus and a skin penetrating component configured to communicatively transfer the signal at least partially beneath skin of the recipient, wherein the skin penetrating component is configured to extend into skin of the recipient and substantially lay above a surface of bone of a recipient in abutting contact thereto.