Medical Sensor Applications of Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR)

 描述（由申请人提供）：Koronis Biomedical Technologies（KBT）提出开发一种基于隧道磁阻（TMR）技术的新型全向、低功耗、小型化助听器拾音线圈更换模块（TCRM）。据报道，3150万美国人患有听力损失：听力损失影响十分之一的美国人和四分之一的家庭。现代的拾音线圈通过电话听筒以及越来越普遍的公共广播系统（听力环路）来帮助听力受损者，其通过使用助听器中的大型昂贵的缠绕线圈来接收磁性音频信号。虽然接收到的磁性音频通常比由声学麦克风生成的音频更上级，但是绕线线圈体积大、方向性强并且易受噪声影响。TMR技术在磁传感器尺寸、灵敏度和噪声抑制方面有所改进，这意味着有机会显著提高助听器拾音线圈的性能。KBT将设计、制造和测试一种优化的TMR传感器，使该技术适用于此用途。将开发、测试基于TMR的全方位助听器TCRM，并将其集成到市售助听器外壳中。

 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.