Eye-mounted hearing aid

• US 10,433,078 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cahan, Amos, Sakuma, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ojo, Oyesola C
• Application Number:
  US15/814,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20180332410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 381313
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/125 with contact lenses contact lenses per se G02C7/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1602 Corrective lenses for use in addition to the natural lenses of the eyes or for pseudo-phakic eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36 for stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method of stimulating a cornea. A non-limiting example of the method includes capturing a sound with a microphone. A non-limiting example of the method also includes transducing the sound to an electric signal by a microprocessor. A non-limiting example of the method also includes stimulating a piezo-electric element adjacent to a receptor of the cornea, wherein the piezo-electric element is positioned on an eye lens with an electric signal. A non-limiting example of the method also includes mechanically stimulating a receptor of the cornea with the stimulated piezo-electric element.

Claims

1. A method of stimulating a cornea, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of piezo-electric elements positioned upon an eye lens, each of the plurality of piezo-electric elements comprising a piezoelectric structure that vibrates at a different resonant frequency;

capturing a sound with a microphone;

providing a microprocessor in electrical communication with the plurality of piezo-electric elements;

identifying, with the microprocessor, a frequency in the sound;

determining, with the microprocessor, a resonant frequency associated with the frequency;

selectively stimulating a first piezo-electric element of the plurality of piezo-electric elements based on the resonant frequency, the first piezo-electric element adjacent to a receptor of the cornea; and

mechanically stimulating the receptor of the cornea with the stimulated first piezo-electric element.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the microphone is positioned upon an external device in communication with the eye lens.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is positioned upon the eye lens.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein mechanically stimulating the receptor comprises vibrating the first piezo-electric element.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein mechanically stimulating the receptor comprises contracting the first piezo electric element.

6. A method of treating a hearing impairment, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of piezo-electric elements positioned upon an eye lens, each of the plurality of piezo-electric elements comprising a piezoelectric structure that vibrates at a different resonant frequency;

receiving to a microphone in communication with the eye lens a sound associated with a frequency;

providing a microprocessor in electrical communication with the plurality of piezo-electric elements;

identifying, with the microprocessor, the frequency in the sound;

determining, with the microprocessor, a resonant frequency associated with the frequency;

selectively activating a first piezo-electric element of the plurality of piezo-electric elements based at least in part upon the frequency of the sound and the resonant frequency;

stimulating a cornea receptor with the activated first piezo-electric element; and

transmitting a signal to a brain of a patient by the stimulated cornea receptor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein activating the first piezo-electric element comprises transducing the sound to an electrical signal, selecting the first piezo-electric element based upon the frequency, and sending the electrical signal to an electrode in contact with the first piezo-electric element.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the eye lens comprises the microphone.