Tympanic Membrane Actuation for Compact Hearing Aids
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing aids are bulky, cosmetically unappealing, and invasive, causing ear canal blockage, infections, and poor sound quality due to their external mounting, and lack noise suppression and frequency selectivity features.
Innovation Solution
Compact hearing aids with a microphone, actuation mass, energy source, and processor enclosed in a housing designed for minimally-invasive insertion through the tympanic membrane, using a tympanic membrane actuation assembly to modulate the tympanic membrane's velocity or position, enabling noise suppression and frequency selectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hearing aids are mounted externally around the outer ear, then accessibility to change batteries and adjust volume is improved, but the device becomes bulky and cosmetically unappealing
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid is divided into two separate components: an externally mounted receiver (containing battery and volume controls) and an internally mounted transmitter (containing the microphone and processing electronics). This segmentation allows the external portion to be small and cosmetically appealing while maintaining accessibility for battery changes and adjustments, resolving the contradiction between device bulk and ease of operation.
2Shape
If hearing aids are mounted internally in the ear canal, then cosmetic appearance is improved, but the ear canal becomes blocked causing excessive ear wax production and infections
Solution Approach 1:
The battery compartment and control mechanisms are extracted from the internal ear canal component and placed in the external receiver. This allows the internal transmitter to be extremely compact and minimally invasive, reducing ear canal blockage while maintaining good cosmetic appearance. The external receiver can be removed for cleaning and maintenance without affecting the internal component.
3Device complexity
If hearing aids block the ear canal, then internal mounting is achieved, but natural sound wave transmission through the ear canal is obstructed reducing hearing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic sound transmission by offering two modes: natural sound waves can pass through the ear canal unobstructed when the internal transmitter is not blocking the path, while the actuator can dynamically modulate the tympanic membrane to amplify specific frequencies when needed. This dynamic capability maintains both internal mounting benefits and natural hearing quality.
4Power
If traditional transducers and magnets are mounted at or near the tympanic membrane, then vibration transduction is achieved, but invasive surgical procedures are required causing pain and complications
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical magnetic actuators requiring bone drilling and surgical implantation with a non-invasive or minimally invasive actuator that modulates the tympanic membrane from the ear canal side. This substitution eliminates the need for invasive surgical procedures while maintaining the vibration transduction capability needed for hearing amplification.
5Reliability
If conventional hearing aids are used, then sound amplification is provided, but noise suppression and frequency selectivity features are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid system is designed with multi-functionality, combining sound amplification with noise suppression and frequency selectivity features in a single integrated device. The actuator that modulates the tympanic membrane can be controlled to provide selective frequency amplification while suppressing background noise, making the device adaptable to different listening environments and needs.
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 solution provides improved sound quality, reduced bulk and cosmetic visibility, minimally-invasive procedures, and enhanced noise suppression and frequency selectivity, addressing the limitations of conventional hearing aids.
Implementation Method 1
Some hearing systems deliver audio information to the ear through electromagnetic transducers. A microphone and amplifier transmit an electronic signal to a transducer that converts the electronic signal into vibrations.
Implementation Method 2
The microphone receives a sound wave and converts the wave into an electrical signal
Implementation Method 3
The actuator converts the electrical signals into mechanical motion, which actuates the actuation mass to create inertia internal to the housing, and the housing is configured to modulate the velocity or the position of the tympanic membrane.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to compact hearing aids, components thereof, and support systems therefor, as well as methods of insertion and removal thereof. The compact hearing aids generally include a sensor, such as a microphone, an actuation mass, an energy source for providing power to the compact hearing aid, a processor, and an actuator enclosed in a housing that is designed to be inserted through the tympanic membrane during a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure. In operation, the microphone receives sound waves and converts the sound waves into electrical signals. A processor then modifies the electrical signals and provides the electrical signals to the actuator. The actuator converts the electrical signals into mechanical motion, which actuates the actuation mass to modulate the velocity or the position of the tympanic membrane.