EYE-MOUNTED HEARING AID

• US 20180332410A1
• Filed: 11/16/2017
• Published: 11/15/2018
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,433,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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:

capturing a sound with a microphone;

transducing the sound to an electric signal by a microprocessor;

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;

mechanically stimulating a receptor of the cornea with the stimulated 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 the piezo-electric element is selectively stimulated based upon a frequency of the sound.

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

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

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

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

selectively activating the piezo electric element based at least in part upon the sound;

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

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

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

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the eye lens comprises a plurality of piezo electric elements.

10. A method of treating a hearing impairment, comprising:

converting a sound comprising a plurality of frequencies to a plurality of mechanical signals;

stimulating a plurality of mechanoreceptors of a cornea with the plurality of mechanical signals in a pattern reflective of the plurality of frequencies.