Piezoelectric Actuator for Hearing Prosthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing prostheses for conductive hearing loss often rely on air conduction principles and may not effectively transmit sound vibrations to the cochlea, particularly for individuals with damaged ossicular chains or ear canals, leading to inefficiencies in sound perception.
Innovation Solution
A hearing prosthesis utilizing a piezoelectric actuator made from biocompatible materials like barium titanate or strontium titanate, which is implanted without a housing to directly interface with body tissue and fluids, allowing for direct osseointegration and efficient transfer of vibrational energy to the skull or middle ear, bypassing traditional air conduction pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a housing is used to protect the piezoelectric material, then reliability is improved, but energy loss increases and acoustic coupling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the housing that traditionally protects piezoelectric actuators, exposing the piezoelectric material directly to body tissue and fluids. This extraction eliminates the energy loss and acoustic coupling issues caused by the housing while relying on the biocompatibility of the piezoelectric material itself for protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the protective parameter from external housing protection to intrinsic material biocompatibility. By selecting piezoelectric materials that are biocompatible (such as barium titanate, strontium titanate, or lead-free alternatives), the system allows direct exposure to tissue without requiring a protective housing, thereby eliminating energy loss while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If air conduction principles are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but effectiveness in transmitting sound vibrations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces air conduction (acoustic field) with direct mechanical vibration transmission through bone conduction. The piezoelectric actuator generates mechanical vibrations that are transmitted directly through the skull bone to the cochlea, bypassing the air conduction pathway that is ineffective for individuals with conductive hearing loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hearing aids are used, then adaptability to different hearing losses is improved, but effectiveness for conductive hearing loss deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hearing loss treatment approach by specifically targeting conductive hearing loss through bone conduction, separate from air conduction methods. This segmentation allows the device to address the specific mechanical pathway disruption in conductive hearing loss (ossicular chain or ear canal damage) by bypassing the outer and middle ear entirely.
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 enhances sound perception by reducing energy losses and improving acoustic coupling, providing a more efficient and effective means of transmitting sound vibrations directly to the auditory system, suitable for individuals with conductive hearing loss.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator including a material that deforms in response to an electrical signal
Implementation Method 2
a transducer, comprising a material that generates electricity when deformed
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing prosthesis including an actuator. The actuator includes a material that deforms in response to an electrical signal and that is adapted to, upon implantation in a recipient, transmit vibrations representative of a sound signal to an organ of the recipient, wherein the material is at least partially exposed to at least one of body tissue and fluid of the recipient.