Flexible hearing aids can benefit from piezoelectric actuators to generate vibrations on epidermis layer of skin behind the ear and noninvasively bypass conductive hearing loss. However, the major challenge is to generate a strong level of vibrations on the surface of skin that can reach cochlea with thin and low-power actuators. Lead zirconium titanate has a high piezoelectric constant and can generate vibrations with elevated levels of force and acceleration. In this paper, we assembled arrays of unimorph piezoelectric actuators composed of lead zirconium titanate to increase the vibration level and overcome damping in flexible substrate, skin, and bone. Finite element analysis was conducted to study the vibrations from a single actuator as well as an array of actuators. Also, the experimental data showed that an array of two actuators with adjusted phase increased the velocity of vibrations by 18 dB at 9 kHz compared to a single actuator on a flat aluminum foundation.
Implementation of microsystems on flexible substrates has enabled a new class of noninvasive medical devices. Flexible substrates are interfaced with soft tissues without causing damage or discomfort for the users. This will enable noninvasive attachment of medical microsystems to the surface of fragile tissues such as infants’ skin. In this talk, we will introduce two noninvasive medical microsystems on flexible substrates: a smart, wireless, battery-free, chipless patch for detection of cutaneous melanoma and a Band-Aid-like conductive hearing aid for pediatric patients. The patch will be placed on the epidermis layer for detection of abnormality in impedance of skin, and the flexible hearing aid will be attached to an infant’s skin behind the ear to bypass pediatric conductive hearing loss. These technologies will enable early action on melanoma and pediatric hearing loss, avoiding long-term consequences of these diseases.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.