Medical Sensor Applications of Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR)

 描述(由申请人提供)：Koronis Biomedical Technologies(KBT)计划开发一种基于隧道磁阻(TMR)技术的新型全方位、低功耗、小型化助听器远程油替换模块(TCRM)。据报道，有3150万美国人患有听力损失：每10个美国人中就有1个人患有听力损失，每4个家庭中就有1个家庭患有听力损失。现代电信油通过在助听器中使用昂贵的大线圈接收磁性音频信号，帮助听力受损的人使用电话听筒以及日益无处不在的公共广播系统(听力回路)。虽然接收到的磁性音频通常优于声学麦克风产生的音频，但缠绕线圈体积大、方向性强，而且容易受到噪声的影响。TMR技术改进了磁性传感器的尺寸、灵敏度和噪声抑制，为显著提高助听器远程油品的性能提供了机会。KBT将设计、制造和测试优化的TMR传感器，将该技术应用于此用途。一种基于TMR的全方位助听器TCRM将被开发、测试并集成到商业上可用的助听器外壳中。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Koronis Biomedical Technologies (KBT) proposes to develop a novel omnidirectional, low power, miniaturized hearing aid telecoil replacement module (TCRM) based on tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) technology. It has been reported that 31.5 million Americans have hearing loss: Hearing loss affects 1 in 10 Americans and 1 in 4 households. Modern telecoils assist the hearing-impaired with telephone handsets as well as increasingly ubiquitous public address systems (hearing loops) by receiving magnetic audio signals using large, expensive wound-coils in the hearing aid. While the received magnetic audio is often superior to audio generated by acoustic microphones, wound-coils are bulky, highly directional, and subject to noise. TMR technology delivers improvements in magnetic sensor size, sensitivity, and noise rejection that represent an opportunity to significantly enhance the performance of hearing aid telecoils. KBT will design, fabricate, and test an optimized TMR sensor, adapting this technology for this use. A TMR-based omnidirectional hearing aid TCRM will be developed, tested, and integrated within a commercially available hearing aid enclosure.