Binghamton University Researchers Developing Spider-Inspired Hearing Probe

The project, which seeks to transform how clinicians identify auditory impairment, aims to address the limitations of current diagnostic tools. By focusing on otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)—the faint sounds generated by the cochlea in response to auditory stimuli—the team hopes to provide a reliable indicator of inner ear health. These emissions typically vanish when the inner ear sustains damage, making them a critical, albeit difficult, target for measurement.

Spider-Inspired Sensing Technology

The core innovation of the probe lies in its departure from traditional pressure-based microphones. While standard devices are modeled after the human ear, the Binghamton team has turned to nature—specifically spiders—for a different approach. The inspiration originated when Jian Zhou, PhD ’18, observed a spiderweb swaying in the breeze while walking through the university’s nature preserve.

This observation led to the development of a flow microphone designed to detect the motion of air, or particle velocity, rather than sound pressure.

“Both things are the sound, but the microphones that we make and use now are all modeled after human ears, because humans are arrogant animals and we make everything work like us. The truth is, most animals don’t hear sound that way at all – they hear the motion of the air. That includes many of the insects that can hear.”

Ronald Miles, Distinguished Professor, Binghamton University

Engineering a Medical-Grade Probe

The transition from a laboratory-tested flow microphone to a clinical medical device presents significant engineering hurdles. The team, which includes Professor Christopher Shera of the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, plans to integrate a laser for increased precision alongside a traditional acoustic-pressure microphone. The objective is to produce a dual-sensing instrument capable of navigating the confined, intricate environment of the human ear canal.

The researchers expect the first three years of the $1.84 million, five-year project to be dedicated to building a prototype, followed by a phase of participant testing to refine the device’s performance and ensure patient safety.

Commercialization and Clinical Impact

The underlying flow-sensing technology is not entirely new to the commercial sector. It has already been adopted by the Canadian venture firm TandemLaunch and its spin-off company, Soundskrit. By repurposing this technology as a medical-grade ear probe, the researchers aim to address the global prevalence of hearing impairment.

Zhou emphasized that the project serves a broader purpose than just hardware development. If the team succeeds, the resulting instrument could provide valuable data on ear function, offering insights that may improve treatment feedback and diagnostic accuracy for millions of people.

“If we are successful with this project, we will introduce a new instrument that can help us better understand how the ear works, and detect hearing loss earlier and more precisely.”

Jian Zhou, Assistant Professor, Binghamton University

The project remains in its development phase, with researchers focused on shrinking the sensor array and perfecting the integration of laser-assisted measurement. The ultimate success of the probe will depend on the team’s ability to maintain high fidelity in sound detection while ensuring the device is suitable for routine clinical use in audiometry settings.