Waterproof Silicone Boot for Auditory Prosthesis Microphone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microphones in auditory prostheses are fragile and susceptible to damage from external elements like water, dust, and sweat, with existing semi-water permeable filters unable to withstand vigorous aquatic activities or extreme conditions, leading to potential permanent degradation.
Innovation Solution
A silicone boot is designed to fit around the microphone, providing a waterproof enclosure with a flange for secure placement and reducing vibration transmission, while maintaining sound reception by forming a friction fit or using adhesive, and optionally featuring spacers, flanges, and venting to minimize interference with sound waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a semi-water permeable filter is used to protect the microphone, then resistance to substance ingress is improved, but protection against vigorous aquatic activities and extreme conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible waterproof membrane made of elastomeric material that forms a complete seal around the microphone. This membrane is stretched over a support structure to create a drum-like configuration that is both waterproof and acoustically transparent, providing reliable protection against vigorous aquatic activities while maintaining sound transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite construction combining an elastomeric waterproof membrane with a rigid or flexible support structure. This composite approach creates a system that is both waterproof and acoustically transparent, resolving the contradiction between protection and sound transmission.
2Reliability
If a waterproof membrane is stretched over the microphone to provide protection, then waterproofing is improved, but sound transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin elastomeric membrane that is stretched taut over a support structure to form a drum-like configuration. This stretched configuration minimizes material thickness and tension-induced sound attenuation while maintaining waterproof integrity, thus preserving sound transmission quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is formed with a curved, drum-like shape rather than a flat configuration. This curvature distributes tension evenly and creates an acoustically transparent structure that allows sound waves to pass through with minimal distortion while maintaining waterproof sealing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid enclosure is used to protect the microphone, then protection from contaminants is improved, but vibration transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible elastomeric membrane instead of a rigid enclosure. This flexible membrane provides contaminant protection while inherently damping vibrations through its material properties, eliminating the vibration transmission problem associated with rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the microphone. It provides the necessary protection from contaminants while its flexible nature allows it to absorb and dampen vibrations, preventing them from being transmitted to the sensitive microphone element.
Data Source
AI summary
A boot is used to cover an inlet of a microphone of an auditory prosthesis. The boot prevents water, sweat, and other debris from damaging the microphone or entering the prosthesis housing. Additionally, the boot can include structure that helps dampen vibrations within the auditory prosthesis, thus improving microphone performance.