Design and characterization of piezoelectric actuators on flexible substrate for non-invasive, conductive hearing aids

Mohammad J. Moghimi, Sandhya Chapagain, Miriam Redleaf, Meghna Adibhatla

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is the most common type of hearing impairment among infants and young children. Most conductive hearing aids, including bone-anchored aids, are invasive and require surgical procedures to be implanted into the skull. In addition, non-invasive wearable conductive hearing aids are bulky, rigid, and unstable. Neither aid is ideal for infants and pediatric patients with conductive hearing loss. Here, we implemented a unimorph piezoelectric actuator into a flexible substrate to achieve a micro-epidermal actuator for non-invasive Band-Aid-like conductive hearing aids. The flexible aid will generate vibrations on the surface of skin and transmit to the cochlea through a skin-bone path, thus bypassing obstructions and damage in the auditory canal. We used finite element analysis to study vibrations from microepidermal actuators and obtain output force level. A Laser Doppler vibrometer was also used to measure displacement of vibrations for an actuator placed on a segment of a cadaveric skull calvarium.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMicrofluidics, BioMEMS, and Medical Microsystems XX
EditorsBonnie L. Gray, Holger Becker
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510647817
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
Externally publishedYes
EventMicrofluidics, BioMEMS, and Medical Microsystems XX 2022 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Feb 20 2022Feb 24 2022

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume11955
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceMicrofluidics, BioMEMS, and Medical Microsystems XX 2022
CityVirtual, Online
Period2/20/222/24/22

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Biomaterials
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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