Piezoelectric Actuator Dual Bone Interface Hearing Prosthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices, particularly hearing prostheses, face challenges in efficiently transmitting sound vibrations to the skull without using seismic masses or airgaps, which can lead to reduced effectiveness and increased surgical complexity.
Innovation Solution
The development of an implantable bone conduction device featuring a piezoelectric actuator, a first tissue interface device, and a second tissue interface device, which applies force to two separate high impedance portions of the skull, ensuring effective sound transmission without seismic masses or airgaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hearing prostheses use seismic masses to transmit sound vibrations to the skull, then sound transmission effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and surgical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the seismic mass component from the bone conduction device, eliminating the need for heavy counterweights while maintaining effective sound transmission through direct piezoelectric actuation of the skull bone. This extraction simplifies the device structure while preserving the core functionality of transmitting vibrations to the cochlea.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical seismic mass system with a piezoelectric actuator that directly generates mechanical vibrations when electrical signals are applied. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical moving parts while achieving the same sound transmission effect through electro-mechanical conversion, thereby reducing device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional hearing prostheses use airgaps in the tissue interface, then manufacturing ease is improved, but sound transmission effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the tissue interface design to eliminate airgaps by creating a direct bone-to-device interface through controlled bone penetration or apposition. This parameter change ensures continuous mechanical contact between the piezoelectric actuator and the skull, optimizing vibration transmission while maintaining surgical feasibility through standardized implantation procedures.
3Reliability
If implantable transducers are placed deep in the skull to reach the cochlea, then sound transmission effectiveness is improved, but surgical complexity and risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the actuation function from the cochlear stimulation function by using a piezoelectric actuator placed on the external surface of the skull that transmits vibrations through the bone to the cochlea. This segmentation allows the device to remain external or minimally invasive while achieving deep cochlear stimulation, thereby reducing surgical complexity and risk.
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 efficient sound transmission to the cochlea, enhancing hearing perception by applying forces directly to the skull bones, thereby overcoming the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric actuator, a first tissue interface device and a second tissue interface device spaced away from the first tissue interface device
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including an actuator, such as a piezoelectric actuator, and a first tissue interface device and a second tissue interface device spaced away from the first tissue fixation device, wherein the apparatus is at least a partially extra-middle ear cavity dual bone interface force based implantable tissue stimulation portion of a hearing prosthesis.