Photonic EarLens

With the prevalent use of ear buds in society have accompanied a rapid increase in hearing loss of younger people. Researchers at Texas A and M have recently developed a new type of hearing aid that utilizes photonic technology. This device uses a microphone to detect sound waves then transduces the signal into infrared light. This infrared light then goes to a Tympanic Contact Actuator this is in direct contact with the base of the ear canal. The light is then converted to powerful vibrations that allow for precise clarity in hearing. By isolating an particular algorithm  researchers were able to enhance the clarity . They did numerous studies in various noisy climates and critiqued than angle with which the microphone is placed to minimize the impact of extraneous background noises.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2974567/