Влияние параметров крепления бионического уха на характеристики звукового сигнала
Authors: Арутюнов С.Д. , Южаков А.А. , Безукладников И.И. , Асташина Н.Б. , Еловиков А.М. , Байдаров А.А. , Майоров П.В. 
Published: February 2025

В статье выполнен анализ амплитудно-частотных и временных показателей предлагаемого научно-исследовательской группой технологического решения для реализации проекта по разработке «бионического протеза ушной раковины». Целью работы является изучение влияния параметров крепления бионического уха на характеристики звукового сигнала для дальнейшего определения оптимального положения имплантатов. Для решения поставленных задач был создан тестовый стенд, на котором выполнены экспериментальные исследования, на основании полученных данных сделаны выводы об отсутствии влияния геометрических расстояний между элементами протеза на АЧХ сигнала, а также о необходимости доработки механизма крепления виброизлучателя.

Introduction. The occurrence of microtia, which includes anotia, is found in approximately 4.53 cases per 10,000 newborns [1]. As a result, most patients suffer from partial or complete hearing loss, as well as stenosis or atresia of the auditory canal [2–4]. Surgical intervention is one method employed to restore hearing, although its feasibility can vary depending on the patients' age or, in some cases, the degree of atresia [4–7]. Patients also turn to alternative methods of rehabilitation, such as bone-anchored hearing aids, which facilitate sound transmission through bone conduction. These devices often yield progressive or even superior results in terms of hearing restoration [8–11]. The aim of this study is to examine how the attachment parameters of the bionic ear affect the characteristics of the sound signal. This analysis will help identify the optimal position for the implants. The team of authors has created a bionic ear that not only restores the function of the ear but also enhances facial aesthetics [18–22]. This innovative system combines several components into one unified design: an ear prosthesis, a magnetic beam fixation system for attaching the prosthesis to osseointegrated extraoral implants, a microphone, and an audio processing unit equipped with a specialized digital signal processor (DSP) along with analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. During the development of this technology, a significant challenge was understanding how sound quality is transmitted through the complex "implant – vibration emitter – patient's bone tissue" system. This system is highly nonlinear, involving multiple transitions between different materials with varying sound properties, such as speed and density, leading to resonances and delays across different frequencies. Results. This article investigates a critical factor affecting acoustic characteristics, which is the specific distances between the mechanical attachments of key components in the bionic ear. It analyzes how these fundamental distances impact acoustic characteristics. Additionally, the article outlines the experimental approach and the setup of a custom-designed experiment station. This station enables the evaluation of the acoustic performance of the "bionic prosthesis-vibration emitter-implant" system under acoustically challenging conditions that closely resemble real-world scenarios. Conclusion.Hence, the research indicates that altering the distance between the mounts of the bionic ear has an insignificant impact on its sound-reproduction capabilities. The customization of bionic design based on the individual patient's characteristics is a more elaborate process. It's worth noting that the choice of materials for the bionic ear's frame does have a positive effect. Using materials with a high degree of rigidity for the frame can lead to vibration emitter suspension deformation during prosthesis installation. Similarly, the quality of securing the vibration emitter to the bone implant is critical.