This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on coupling sound to the human ear for communications devices (MP3, Bluetooth, hearing aids, headsets, earbuds) with unprecedented comfort, safety and audio quality. A chip-like device, the diaphonic valve, for harvesting energy from audio communications for the purpose of inflating a coupling device (balloon) in the user's ear has been demonstrated. This inflatable ear coupling mitigates excessive sound pressure levels that often occur within-ear listening devices, such as ear-buds and hearing aids, and which are a cause of audio fatigue and potential hearing damage. Diaphonic valve design has been dramatically improved making it smaller and more effective at pumping air. In this project, production of the critical diaphonic valve-chip component will be increased to a small scale manufacturing level. Additionally, the pressure and power utilization management hardware and algorithms to integrate the diaphonic valve and inflatable ear coupling (bubble) into commercial headsets, and hearing aids will be developed. Finally, work will be done on a non-inflatable ear couple technology, discovered during Phase I of this project, which also improves audio quality and hearing safety.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this project centers on revolutionary new person-to-audio couplings, based on an inflatable ear-piece, with applications in consumer audio, Bluetooth headsets, hearing aids, ear-buds, and headsets for professional communications (pilots, law enforcement, military, etc.). This technology has the potential to improve peoples lives by reducing listener fatigue and hearing damage in the population using in-ear devices, as well as making hearing aids more comfortable and better sounding for people who already have hearing loss. Published results from Phase I have shown how existing ear coupling approaches can produce dangerous sound pressures in the ear canal and how the technologies of this project allow ear couplings that alleviate this problem. The first embodiment of this new technology to the market will be a basic version applied to consumer headsets (ear-buds). From there, more complex applications, such as hearing aids, will be addressed. The success of this project will create engineering and business sector jobs as well as manufacturing jobs. The project also includes funding for a high school student or college undergraduate to participate in the research and development activities.
Asius Technologies is developing a suite of hearing-safe in-ear audio devices and their supporting technology. A primary element that provides Asius’ devices superior sound quality that is also hearing-safe is a flexible membrane (Ambrose Diaphonic Ear Lens; ADEL) that acoustically seals the ear canal yet damps the harmful pneumatic pressures that are coincident with sound. The ADEL can either be inflated into a bubble-shaped ear coupler or be incorporated into more traditional ear-coupling systems and act passively without inflation. The ADEL technology has the potential to improve people’s lives by reducing listener fatigue and hearing damage in the population using in-ear devices, as well as making hearing aids more comfortable for people who already have hearing loss. Asius’ published research has shown how existing ear coupling approaches can produce dangerous sound pressures in the ear canal and how Asius’ ear couplings alleviate this problem. This NSF Phase II grant funded work to find a mass production manufacturing method for the Diaphonic Pump, which inflates the in-ear bubble ADEL membrane; to determine a regulation method for the in-ear bubble internal pressure; and to develop passive ADEL-based earbud devices. Inherent to all Phase II projects is the additional goal of progressing products to market. All grant-specific objectives were fulfilled. Asius found a way to weld the Diaphonic Pump parts together such that the end product can withstand the air pressure generated by it and produce them in large quantities. By using the air within the ear canal, the internal air pressure of the inflatable ADEL is regulated. Air is taken from the ear canal and pumped into the bubble. The diaphonic pump and bubble system impedance then halts the inflation process when the ear is sealed. When the seal is broken, the process repeats itself, providing a safe and gentle inflation and pressure regulation process. Asius designed multiple devices with passive ADEL membranes including modified earbuds and in-ear monitors, a hybrid earbud/hearing aid device, and two new versions of adjustable earbuds. Asius has partnered with 1964Ears to develop four products, which are ready to go to market. The ADEL Control is an earbud with an adjustable vent for ambient sounds with a passive ADEL membrane that damps excess pneumatic pressures. The ADEL Ambient is similar to the Control but its vents are positioned in such a way as to provide the user directional information from ambient sounds. The 1964|ADEL Universal is an In-Ear-Monitor of 1964Ears’ that is modified with an adjustable vent and ADEL membrane. Like the earbuds, these elements seal acoustic sounds while relieving pneumatic pressures from the ear. The 1964|ADEL Custom is similar to the Universal but is shaped using a user’s custom earmold. In November 2014, Asius and 1964Ears will launch a Kickstarter campaign for these products with great expectations. Additional technology and products are in the queue for testing. We are currently engaged in feasibility testing for a hearing protection device, which uses the diaphonic pumps and inflatable ADEL in-ear bubble couplers with an application-specific design. Initial test results are already very promising. An NIH Phase II proposal to test the hybrid earbud/hearing aid is pending. Asius is enjoying healthy publicity for our efforts including participation in the Wall Street Startup of the Year competition (we reached the top 5) and Stephen Ambrose won AutoCad’s Inventor of the Year.
