Hearing Device Named by Time Magazine as one of the 鈥楤est Inventions of 2020鈥�
12/23/2020
By Edwin L. Aguirre
In the U.S., about 34 million people suffer from varying degrees of hearing loss, and about 10 million of them have to use hearing aids, according to Ketan Muni 鈥�87.
鈥淗earing loss is more common as we age, and it is accelerated by exposure to excessively loud sounds,鈥� says Muni, senior director of research and development at Earlens Corporation, a privately held medical technology company based in Menlo Park, California.
He and his son, Ronak Muni 鈥�19, who works for Earlens as R&D engineer and strategic marketing specialist, are part of the team that developed an innovative hearing device, which was recently
鈥淲e are both proud UML alumni who are fortunate to work on this game-changing technology that was recognized by Time magazine,鈥� says Ketan. 鈥淚t is also a recognition for 51视频.鈥�
Good Vibrations
鈥淭he Earlens device is the world鈥檚 first and only custom implanted hearing solution designed to directly vibrate the eardrum,鈥� says Ketan.
Image by Earlens Corp.
The Earlens device features an ear tip transmitter connected to a behind-the-ear processor and a custom, motor-driven lens receiver that sits on the patient鈥檚 eardrum.
Unlike most hearing aids that use an amplifier and speaker to boost sound, Earlens uses a tiny lens that sits on the eardrum. A microphone inside the device鈥檚 behind-the-ear processor picks up sounds, which are converted into vibrations that are transmitted to the eardrum.
鈥淭his replicates natural hearing and allows for full frequency bandwidth with no distortion in quality,鈥� says Ketan. 鈥淚mplanting the device doesn鈥檛 require surgery or anesthesia 鈥� it can be done in a physician鈥檚 office or hearing clinic.鈥�
Ketan earned a Ph.D. in polymer science/plastics engineering from 51视频 in 1987. He has more than 30 years of experience in the field of medical devices and has more than 100 patents.
Ronak, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration from UML in 2019, followed his father鈥檚 career in medical devices. He has been with Earlens for almost a year, helping to develop ear lenses from concept to commercialization and managing survey data of patients for investors.
Both father and son credit 51视频 for providing them with the self-confidence, practical knowledge and problem-solving skills needed to compete with peers.
鈥�51视频 has a very strong academic program coupled with professors who are focused on the students鈥� hands-on learning and exposure to industry,鈥� says Ketan.
鈥淚t has a great alumni network that allows students to get internships and jobs at both startups and big companies,鈥� says Ronak. 鈥淯ML alumni and professors, the dean, the Career & Co-op Center and others help students with career counseling and r茅sum茅 writing, and provide job leads and connections with hiring managers. The university provides a great head start and a quick transition to industry.鈥�