Under-lip Bone Conduction Device via Maxillary Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with conductive hearing loss often do not benefit from traditional acoustic hearing aids, and existing bone conduction devices may not provide effective sound transmission due to their attachment requirements or anatomical limitations.
Innovation Solution
A bone conduction system featuring a housing complementary to the maxillary alveolar process, retained in the mouth without attachment to teeth or other structures, utilizing a transducer to deliver mechanical vibrations through the gums and maxillary alveolar process for sound perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional acoustic hearing aids are used, then air conduction amplification is provided, but individuals with conductive hearing loss do not benefit sufficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acoustic air conduction system with a bone conduction system. Instead of using traditional acoustic hearing aids that amplify sound through air conduction to the eardrum, this invention uses a transducer to convert sound signals directly into mechanical vibrations that are transmitted through the bone (maxillary alveolar process) to the cochlea, bypassing the impaired middle ear ossicular chain.
2Reliability
If bone conduction devices are used, then sound transmission through bone is achieved, but attachment to teeth or other structures is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the attachment requirement from the bone conduction device system. Instead of requiring attachment to teeth or other oral structures, the device is designed to be held in position solely by the natural pressure of the lip and surrounding tissue against the gums, eliminating the need for dental attachments or surgical implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes the body's own anatomical structures (lip and tissue pressure) to secure itself in position. The housing is shaped to be retained by the natural pressure applied by the lip and tissue in the direction of the gums, allowing the device to self-secure without external attachment mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If bone conduction devices require attachment to teeth, then stable positioning is achieved, but anatomical limitations and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible, compliant housing design that conforms to the contours of the oral cavity and is retained by soft tissue pressure. The housing acts as a flexible interface between the transducer and the bone, allowing stable positioning through tissue pressure rather than rigid attachment to teeth or bone structures.
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
This solution provides effective sound transmission for individuals with conductive hearing loss by using the maxillary alveolar process to support the device and deliver vibrations directly to the cochlea, enhancing sound perception without the need for external attachments.
Implementation Method 1
a transducer disposed in the housing configured to deliver mechanical output forces to the recipient so as to evoke a hearing percept of a sound signal
Implementation Method 2
The vibrations are transferred through teeth and/or bone to the cochlea, causing generation of nerve impulses, which result in the perception of the received sound
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein are bone conduction devices having housings that are complementary to the recipient's maxillary alveolar process such that the maxillary alveolar process supports the housing within the recipient's mouth.