Resilient Mounting for Auditory Prosthesis Vibration Dampening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Bone conduction devices face tuning difficulties due to mass dampening effects from magnets and components, leading to reduced vibration transmission and increased feedback.
Innovation Solution
Resilient mounting of magnets and electronics within the auditory prosthesis housing reduces mass-related dampening and feedback, improving vibration transmission and device performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If magnets and electronic components are rigidly mounted in the auditory prosthesis housing, then structural stability is improved, but mass-related vibration dampening increases and tuning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the housing structure into a rigid outer housing and a separate resiliently mounted platform. This platform is suspended by resilient elements (springs or elastomers) that isolate it from the main housing, creating distinct structural zones with different mechanical properties. The rigid housing provides overall structural stability while the resilient platform minimizes vibration dampening for the bone conduction transducer.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient elements (springs or elastomers) act as intermediary components between the rigid housing and the mounted components. These intermediaries transmit necessary mechanical support while filtering out harmful vibration dampening effects, allowing the system to benefit from both rigid structural support and reduced mass-related damping.
2Ease of manufacture
If magnets and electronic components are rigidly mounted, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but feedback to components increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mounting system into separate functional segments: the rigid housing structure and the resiliently mounted platform. This segmentation allows standard manufacturing techniques for the housing while using specialized resilient elements that are simpler to integrate than complex active feedback cancellation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of rigid mounting (which transmits vibrations and causes feedback) into a benefit by using resilient elements. These elements intentionally introduce controlled compliance that isolates sensitive components from harmful vibrations and feedback paths, while the magnetic components themselves provide the necessary securing force.
3Loss of energy
If mass of components is reduced, then vibration transmission is improved, but structural integrity and component support are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the structural support function from the mass-bearing function. The rigid housing provides structural integrity and support for heavy components like magnets and electronics, while the lightweight resilient platform provides minimal mass support for the bone conduction transducer, optimizing vibration transmission without compromising overall structural strength.
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 resilient mounting technique enhances the tuning of bone conduction devices by minimizing mass-induced dampening and feedback, resulting in improved vibration transmission and overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
The transmission element is suspended from the housing by resilient elements (e.g., springs or elastomers)
Implementation Method 2
Resilient mounting reduces the dampening effect that these massive components have on vibrations generated by the prosthesis
Implementation Method 3
The head-mounted processor is secured to the head with a magnet that interacts with a magnet implanted in the head of the recipient
Implementation Method 4
Processed sound signals are delivered as a vibration stimulus from the external portion to a bone anchor via the implanted magnet. The bone anchor vibrates the skull of the recipient at the appropriate frequency
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An external portion of an auditory prosthesis includes magnets, electronics, and other components. In bone conduction auditory prostheses, reducing the amount of mass subject to vibrations in an auditory prosthesis has a positive effect on tuning of the device. One way of reducing such mass is to resiliently more massive components within the auditory prosthesis housing. Such resilient mounting reduces the dampening effect that these massive components have on vibrations generated by the prosthesis. When electronic components are suspended, feedback to said components is also reduced, resulting improved performance.