Tinnitus Control Instrument Pure Tone Frequency Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tinnitus control instruments rely on white or natural noise, which often require higher volumes and provide a monotonous acoustic experience, failing to effectively reduce tinnitus symptoms.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that generate a mix of pure tones within specific frequency ranges, with a higher proportion of tones in a first frequency area (100-12000 Hz) and a second area, providing a more dynamic and musical acoustic experience, allowing for reduced tinnitus symptom relief at lower volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If white noise or natural noise is used to mask tinnitus, then tinnitus symptoms can be reduced, but the volume must be increased and the acoustic experience becomes monotonous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into multiple distinct frequency bands (e.g., 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz, 4kHz, 8kHz) and assigns different pure tones to each band. This segmentation allows the system to provide a diverse, non-monotonous acoustic experience while effectively covering the tinnitus frequency range, resolving the contradiction between symptom reduction and acoustic quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of sound type from broadband noise to multiple pure tones with specific frequency characteristics. By using pure tones at carefully selected frequencies rather than white noise, the system maintains effective tinnitus masking while significantly improving the acoustic experience and allowing lower volume operation.
2Reliability
If white noise or natural noise is used to mask tinnitus, then tinnitus symptoms can be reduced, but the volume must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tinnitus frequency into specific bands and targeting each band with appropriate pure tones, the system achieves more efficient masking. This targeted approach requires lower overall volume levels compared to broadband white noise, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective symptom relief.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sound parameter from broadband noise to pure tones with specific frequency characteristics that match the tinnitus frequency. This parameter change improves the efficiency of sound energy utilization, allowing effective tinnitus masking at lower volume levels and thus reducing the energy required.
3Ease of operation
If pure tones are used instead of white noise, then the acoustic experience is enhanced, but the effectiveness in reducing tinnitus symptoms may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency range into multiple bands and places pure tones in each segment, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the tinnitus frequency spectrum. This segmentation strategy maintains the effectiveness of tinnitus symptom reduction while using pure tones to provide a superior acoustic experience compared to broadband noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sound parameter from broadband noise to pure tones with specifically selected frequencies that target the tinnitus frequency range. This parameter change demonstrates that pure tones can be just as effective as white noise for symptom reduction while providing a more pleasant acoustic experience.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of generating sounds for reducing an effect of tinnitus is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: acquiring a sound frequency of a tinnitus sound of a user, and playing a plurality of pure tones within a frequency range during a playback time, wherein the plurality of pure tones include a plurality of first pure tones and a plurality of second pure tones; the plurality of first pure tones and the sound frequency are located at a first frequency area, and the plurality of second pure tones are located at a second frequency area; the first frequency area covers X Hz, where 100≤X≤12000, the second frequency area covers the remaining portion of the frequency range excluding the first frequency area, and the plurality of first pure tones accounts for M % of the plurality of pure tones, where 50<M≤90.