The current use of hearing aids and artificial cochleas for deaf-mute individuals depends on their auditory nerve. Skin-hearing technology, a patented system developed by our group, uses a cutaneous sensory nerve to s...The current use of hearing aids and artificial cochleas for deaf-mute individuals depends on their auditory nerve. Skin-hearing technology, a patented system developed by our group, uses a cutaneous sensory nerve to substitute for the auditory nerve to help deaf-mutes to hear sound. This paper introduces a new solution, multi-channel-array skin-hearing technology, to solve the problem of speech discrimination. Based on the filtering principle of hair cells, external voice sig- nals at different frequencies are converted to current signals at corresponding frequencies using electronic multi-channel bandpass filtering technology. Different positions on the skin can be stimulated by the electrode array, allowing the perception and discrimination of external speech signals to be determined by the skin response to the current signals. Through voice frequen- cy analysis, the frequency range of the band-pass filter can also be determined. These findings demonstrate that the sensory nerves in the skin can help to transfer the voice signal and to dis- tinguish the speech signal, suggesting that the skin sensory nerves are good candidates for the replacement of the auditory nerve in addressing deaf-mutes＇ hearing problems. Scientific hearing experiments can be more safely performed on the skin. Compared with the artificial cochlea, multi-channel-array skin-hearing aids have lower operation risk in use, are cheaper and are more easily popularized.展开更多
Determining the frequency range of derma nerve that responds to audio current is fundamental for the development of skin-hearing technology. Previous studies have shown that the range of derma nerve responding to audi...Determining the frequency range of derma nerve that responds to audio current is fundamental for the development of skin-hearing technology. Previous studies have shown that the range of derma nerve responding to audio current is 15-15 000 Hz, because audio amplification is not separated from the step-up transformer. Therefore, the present study used a signal generator which directly drives plane electrodes, simplified the original experimental environment for skin-hearing, measured lower limit voltage of frequency for derma nerve receiving pulse current signals, and revealed that the frequency range of human derma nerve response was as wide as 0.1-30 000 Hz. Results demonstrate that human derma nerve receives audio signals and infrasound within a wide frequency range.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.60672001Special Fund of Education Department of Shaanxi Province,China,No.05JC03
文摘The current use of hearing aids and artificial cochleas for deaf-mute individuals depends on their auditory nerve. Skin-hearing technology, a patented system developed by our group, uses a cutaneous sensory nerve to substitute for the auditory nerve to help deaf-mutes to hear sound. This paper introduces a new solution, multi-channel-array skin-hearing technology, to solve the problem of speech discrimination. Based on the filtering principle of hair cells, external voice sig- nals at different frequencies are converted to current signals at corresponding frequencies using electronic multi-channel bandpass filtering technology. Different positions on the skin can be stimulated by the electrode array, allowing the perception and discrimination of external speech signals to be determined by the skin response to the current signals. Through voice frequen- cy analysis, the frequency range of the band-pass filter can also be determined. These findings demonstrate that the sensory nerves in the skin can help to transfer the voice signal and to dis- tinguish the speech signal, suggesting that the skin sensory nerves are good candidates for the replacement of the auditory nerve in addressing deaf-mutes＇ hearing problems. Scientific hearing experiments can be more safely performed on the skin. Compared with the artificial cochlea, multi-channel-array skin-hearing aids have lower operation risk in use, are cheaper and are more easily popularized.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.60672001the Special Fund of Education Department of Shaanxi Province,No.05JC0
文摘Determining the frequency range of derma nerve that responds to audio current is fundamental for the development of skin-hearing technology. Previous studies have shown that the range of derma nerve responding to audio current is 15-15 000 Hz, because audio amplification is not separated from the step-up transformer. Therefore, the present study used a signal generator which directly drives plane electrodes, simplified the original experimental environment for skin-hearing, measured lower limit voltage of frequency for derma nerve receiving pulse current signals, and revealed that the frequency range of human derma nerve response was as wide as 0.1-30 000 Hz. Results demonstrate that human derma nerve receives audio signals and infrasound within a wide frequency range.
