Segmented Canal Hearing Device Sizer for Independent Seal Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The sizing process for extended wear hearing devices is prone to improper sizing due to the clinician's inability to observe the medial portion of the sizer, leading to discomfort, potential injury, and inadequate acoustic feedback suppression, as the lateral portion of the sizer obscures the medial portion during evaluation.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device sizer system comprising a medial sizer with a medial core and seal, and a lateral sizer with a lateral core and seal, configured to be releasably engaged, allowing for separate evaluation of each seal without obstruction, ensuring proper sizing and alignment by preventing movement and rotation in certain directions, and using a tool for insertion and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single sizer with both lateral and medial portions is used, then the sizer can be inserted into the ear canal, but the lateral portion obscures the medial portion making it impossible to observe the seal fit at the tympanic membrane
Solution Approach 1:
The sizer is divided into two separate components: a lateral sizer with lateral seal and a medial sizer with medial seal. These components can be inserted independently or together, allowing the clinician to observe the medial seal fit at the tympanic membrane without obstruction from lateral structures. The segmentation enables independent evaluation of each seal's performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If the sizer is made as a single integrated unit, then manufacturing is simpler, but the clinician cannot properly evaluate the medial seal because the lateral portion blocks the view
Solution Approach 1:
The sizer system is segmented into lateral and medial components that can be manufactured separately and then assembled or used independently. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling precise evaluation of the medial seal fit, as the medial sizer can be positioned and observed without interference from lateral structures.
3Ease of operation
If a single sizer is used, then the device is simpler to handle, but improper sizing occurs due to inability to observe medial portion
Solution Approach 1:
The sizer is segmented into lateral and medial portions that can be inserted and evaluated separately. This allows the clinician to properly assess the medial seal fit at the tympanic membrane without obstruction, ensuring accurate sizing while maintaining ease of operation through modular assembly and independent evaluation.
4Measurement precision
If the lateral sizer is removed after insertion, then the medial sizer can be evaluated, but the sizer must be re-inserted which is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sizer components are designed to be independently insertable and removable. The lateral sizer can be inserted first to establish positioning, then the medial sizer is inserted to evaluate the seal fit. After evaluation, the medial sizer can be removed independently without requiring removal of the lateral sizer, saving time while maintaining measurement precision.
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
Enables accurate sizing by allowing independent evaluation of medial and lateral seals, reducing discomfort and injury risks, and improving acoustic feedback suppression by ensuring proper fit and seal conformity to the ear canal geometry.
Implementation Method 1
the seals 54 and 56 are frequently formed from a highly porous and highly compliant foam material (e.g., hydrophilic polyurethane foam), which conforms to the ear canal geometry by deflection and compression
Implementation Method 2
the seals 54 and 56 are frequently formed from a highly porous and highly compliant foam material (e.g., hydrophilic polyurethane foam), which conforms to the ear canal geometry by deflection and compression
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing device sizer apparatus including a medial sizer, with a medial core portion and a medial seal secured to the medial core portion, and a lateral sizer, with a lateral core portion and a lateral seal secured to the lateral core portion, that are configured to be releasably engaged with one another.