تیمی از محققان با همکاری دانشگاه ملی سئول ابزاری به نام Nanoplug ارائه داده‌اند که نخستین سمعک نامرئی و همچنین کوچک‌ترین سمعک جهان لقب گرفته است. این سامانه در مقایسه با نمونه‌های دیگر نامحسوس‌تر و همچنین ارزان‌تر است. این سامانه ابداعی دارای ابعاد ۷٫۱*۵٫۷*۴٫۱۷ میلی‌متر است و اندازه آن، نصف اندازه سمعک‌های دیگر گزارش شده است. سیستم جدید با استفاده از نوعی نانوباتری به ابعاد ۰٫۸۵*۱٫۳۷۵*۰٫۳ میلی‌متر عمل می‌کند. این باتری به اندازه دانه گندم بوده و می‌تواند شش روز بدون شارژ مجدد کار کند.تیم علمی مدعی است سمعک ابداعی دارای هیچ نوع فلزات سنگین و مواد شیمیایی سمی در درونش نیست؛ می‌توان با استفاده از نوعی نرم‌افزار رایانه‌ای، آن را برنامه‌ریزی کرد و نتایج حاصله را مستقیما با استفاده از کابل در این سمعک دانلود کرد. شکل سمعک مزبور پیش از کارگذاشتن آن در گوش مستطیلی بوده و کاربر می‌تواند با استفاده از ضربه‌زدن آهسته روی گوش و زمانی که سمعک را پوشیده، از انتخاب‌های این فناوری استفاده کند. تیم علمی در حال جمع‌آوری بودجه لازم جهت تجاری‌سازی کوچک‌ترین سمعک جهان است. Nanoplug is 100% invisible hearing aid, instant-fit, appropriate for people with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss Nanoplug is a high-tech product adjustable in the privacy of your own home. Suitable for use with mobile phones, as well. Most importantly, affordable. Nanoplug allows you to keep your hearing loss secret with no noticeable change to your appearance. No one will know why you’re hearing better except you. A huge leap forward in design, eliminating embarrassment and social stigma. To do so, we aimed at eliminating the top complaints people have with current hearing aids. Nanoplug is comprised of micro-components and nano-battery, allowing for a hearing aid at a fraction of the size of the next smallest on the market. With a cell that is only nanometers in dimension, the nanobattery can be configured and connected to scale the output of power by accessing groups of cells into different sized banks, allowing for a variable output that transcends all boundaries and spans all applications. Additionally, with its extremely high surface to volume ratio, it provides a virtually instantaneous recharge. Batteries contain no toxic chemicals or heavy metals providing safety while being eco-friendly. They are integrated and rechargeable. Battery would give 138.888 hours runtime (6 days before recharging). Nanoplug captures sound in the same way that your ears were designed to do. Device gently preserves and amplifies sounds so that what you hear is always clear, and you will be able to participate confidently in all situations. Nanoplug positioning reduces the risk of internal feedback and wind noise, allowing active users to comfortably enjoy the sounds around them. Acous-Tap technology allows you to program your Nanoplug for up to 4 different environment (noise) settings. Simply pat your ear and Nanoplug will switch through your personal, preset programs to adapt to your current situation and noise levels. Nanoplug could be programmed for a noisy restaurant, walking or enjoying the outdoors, watching TV, etc. Before your Nanoplug hearing aids are sent to you, they are programmed to meet your specific hearing requirements. Making Nanoplug unique, you will also receive a Hearing Aid Programmer, allowing for adjustments in the privacy of your own home. Nanoplug’s high tech adjustable hearing aids places the ability to make programming adjustments in the hands of the consumer. Hearing aid manufacturers will not provide this kind of programming option because they do not want you to have control of your own hearing aids. You need to enter your audiogram. Based on the audiogram information entered, “auto fit” program will automatically provide a “first fit” for the sound settings. Then you can make adjustments to the hearing aids. It really couldn’t be easier. A comfortable fit, no matter what size your ear canals are, even for people with small, thin and short ear canals. Easy to insert and easy to remove. Nanoplug is very powerful device based on the latest generation of microchips. It was built by a team of audiologists, engineers, and industrial designers. Nanoplug device guarantees high quality sound, while lasting for ۶ days without recharging. Nanoplug hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, microchip and receiver. Small microphone collect sounds from the environment. A microchip converts the incoming sound into digital code. Then it analyzes and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss, listening needs and the level of the sounds around you. The signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears through receiver. Nanoplug also reduced the size of the cover by micro injection molding. Micro injection molding is a processing technology using extremely high pressure and speed in producing very small and accurate molded parts. ely suited for most of raw materials ranging from high-temperature resistant engineering plastics to commodity resins. Thin wall injection molding can produce walls as thin as 0.3 mm. Nanoplug is not a mere project. The frame prototype is already fully developed. We have spent more than a year designing and developing Nanoplug with the leading audiologists, engineers, and industrial designers. منبع:ماهنامه مهندسی پزشکی
