Probe Microphone Calibration for Accurate Ear Canal Sound Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hearing systems face challenges in delivering acoustic stimulation at precisely controlled sound pressure levels, particularly during surgical procedures or clinical fitting sessions, due to unpredictable factors such as tubing kinks, blockages, and fluid discharge, which can interfere with the intended sound delivery and evoke involuntary responses.

Innovation Solution

A sound calibration system using real-time measurements and feedback loops to adjust and compensate for sound pressure levels, incorporating a probe microphone to detect actual levels and a loudspeaker to deliver sound through an ear tip, ensuring accurate delivery by identifying and mitigating discrepancies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If acoustic stimulation is delivered through tubing and ear tips during surgical procedures or clinical fitting sessions, then sound can be presented to the recipient, but unpredictable factors such as tubing kinks, blockages, and fluid discharge can interfere with the intended sound pressure level delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound pressure level delivery reliabilityVSAvoidtubing kinks, blockages, and fluid discharge

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a probe microphone that continuously monitors the actual sound pressure level at the ear canal and provides real-time feedback to the processing unit. This feedback loop enables the system to detect deviations from the target sound pressure level caused by tubing kinks, blockages, or fluid discharge, and automatically adjust the loudspeaker output to compensate for these harmful factors, thereby maintaining reliable sound pressure level delivery throughout the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the sound pressure level is increased to ensure adequate stimulation, then hearing system configuration can be performed, but involuntary responses may be evoked and clinical accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing threshold measurement accuracyVSAvoidinvoluntary responses

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sound pressure level in real-time based on continuous feedback from the probe microphone and the recipient's physiological responses. The processing unit monitors for signs of involuntary responses and automatically modulates the loudspeaker output to maintain the sound pressure level within the optimal range for accurate hearing threshold measurement, preventing both under-stimulation and over-stimulation that could evoke involuntary responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If manual monitoring and adjustment of sound pressure levels is performed, then some control can be maintained, but the complexity of the procedure increases and precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound pressure level control precisionVSAvoidmanual monitoring and adjustment procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment of sound pressure levels through the integrated probe microphone and processing unit. The probe microphone continuously measures the actual sound pressure level at the ear canal, and the processing unit automatically calculates and applies the necessary adjustments to the loudspeaker output, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and adjustment by the clinician. This automation maintains high precision while reducing procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The system effectively maintains target sound pressure levels at the ear canal, dynamically addressing unanticipated issues during system configuration sessions, ensuring reliable and predictable sound delivery for hearing system recipients.

Implementation Method 1

obtain, by way of a probe microphone, a detected sound pressure level of the sound as the sound is presented at the ear canal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrophone transduction:

Implementation Method 2

direct, based on the identified discrepancy, the loudspeaker to adjust a sound pressure level at which the sound is presented to the ear canal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLoudspeaker transduction:

Data Source

PatentUS12471830B2Systems and methods for calibrating sound delivery to a hearing system recipient

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 ADVANCED BIONICS AG

AI summary

An illustrative electroacoustic hearing system includes a loudspeaker and a processor configured to: direct the loudspeaker to present a sound to a recipient by way of a length of tubing extending from the loudspeaker to an ear tip disposed at an ear canal of the recipient, the directing configured to cause the sound to have a target sound pressure level at the ear canal; obtain a detected sound pressure level of the sound as the sound is presented at the ear canal, the detected sound pressure level obtained from a probe microphone disposed within the ear tip; identify a discrepancy between the detected and target sound pressure levels of the sound as the sound is presented at the ear canal; and direct, based on the identified discrepancy, a remedial action to be performed to compensate for the discrepancy.