Abstract
We designed and implemented an electromagnetic transducer for implantable bone conduction hearing aids. The proposed transducer is smaller than previous bone conduction transducers for easy implantation and was designed using high permeability metals to produce large electromagnetic forces. In addition, the number of cantilever beams was changed from two to three to minimize distortion of the transducer, potentially due to twisting of the cantilever beam. The proposed transducer consists of a titanium cover with three screw holes, a metal ring, a circular plate, a vibrational membrane with a three-cantilever structure, a metal plate and cylinder, a permanent magnet, top and bottom coils, and a cylindrical titanium case. The transducer was optimally designed based on analysis of electromagnetic and mechanical vibrations, and the target resonance frequency was derived by controlling the variable elements of the vibrational membrane. The transducer was manufactured based on the results of finite element analysis, and the validity of the design was verified by comparing the results of vibration measurement experiments and a simulation. Finally, to evaluate the performance of the proposed transducer, the transducer was attached to the mastoid of participants and functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure brain activation changes of the auditory cortex due to vibration stimulation.
Highlights
Far, various types of hearing aids have been developed to treat hearing loss
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRANSDUCER The optimal design of the bone conduction transducer was established by means of electromagnetic and mechanical vibration analysis, and the bone conduction transducer was fabricated based on the analysis results
The permanent magnet was custom-made to ensure that no magnetic force was lost, even at temperatures above 200◦
Summary
Various types of hearing aids have been developed to treat hearing loss Such hearing aids can be divided into air conduction hearing aids, middle-ear implants, and cochlear implants, depending on the application position [1]–[7]. Air conduction hearing aids with sound pressure output, which are most commonly used for treatment of hearing loss, are advantageous in that surgery is not required; they have disadvantages such as acoustic feedback and occlusion of the ear canal [8], [9]. Because middle-ear implants require complicated surgery, they are not a popular choice for many patients with hearing loss. They are difficult to apply if the ossicular chain is lost due to disease or is anomalous [10]–[14]. Cochlear implantation involves complex surgery [15]–[17]
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