Department of Signals and Systems, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden.
IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2012 Nov;59(11):3050-9. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2012.2213252. Epub 2012 Aug 15.
This paper presents analysis and design of a radio frequency power and data link for a novel Bone Conduction Implant (BCI) system. Patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss and single-sided deafness can be rehabilitated by bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA). Whereas the conventional hearing aids transmit sound to the tympanic membrane via air conduction, the BAHA transmits sound via vibrations through the skull directly to the cochlea. It uses a titanium screw that penetrates the skin and needs life-long daily care; it may cause skin infection and redness. The BCI is developed as an alternative to the percutaneous BAHA since it leaves the skin intact. The BCI comprises an external audio processor with a transmitter coil and an implanted unit called the bridging bone conductor with a receiver coil. Using amplitude modulation of the Class-E power amplifier that drives the inductive link, the sound signal is transmitted to the implant through the intact skin. It was found that the BCI can generate enough output force level for candidate patients. Maximum power output of the BCI was designed to occur at 5-mm skin thickness and the variability was within 1.5 dB for 1-8-mm skin thickness variations.
本文提出了一种新型骨导植入（BCI）系统的射频功率和数据链路的分析与设计。传导性和混合性听力损失以及单侧耳聋的患者可以通过骨锚式助听器（BAHA）得到康复。传统的助听器通过空气传导将声音传输到鼓膜，而 BAHA 通过颅骨振动直接将声音传输到耳蜗。它使用钛螺钉穿透皮肤，需要终身日常护理；它可能会引起皮肤感染和发红。BCI 的开发是作为经皮 BAHA 的替代方案，因为它保持皮肤完整。BCI 由一个带有发射线圈的外部音频处理器和一个称为桥接骨导体的植入单元组成，带有接收线圈。通过驱动感应链路的 Class-E 功率放大器的振幅调制，声音信号通过完整的皮肤传输到植入物。结果发现，BCI 可以为候选患者产生足够的输出力水平。BCI 的最大功率输出设计在 5 毫米皮肤厚度下发生，并且在 1-8 毫米皮肤厚度变化范围内，其变化幅度在 1.5dB 以内。
