Dr. Daniel A. Taylor is an embodiment of the adage “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

“My son is a cochlear implant recipient who needs spectacle correction,” Dr. Taylor says. “It soon became apparent that he would have a lot of materials competing over the space above his ear.”

Enter Protoconch, a patented concept developed with assistance from the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University, of which Dr. Taylor is the dean. Protoconch aims to connect the spectacle and cochlear processor elements to increase comfort and spectacle stability. The product earned an American Academy of Optometry “Bright Ideas” award in 2023. Dr. Taylor hopes to release the adapter later this year.

“For too long, cochlear implant recipients have been limited to certain styles that permit simultaneous use of their hearing appliances,” says Dr. Taylor. “I hope that Protoconch will bridge this gap, making the multitude of fashionable frames accessible.”

Read more about what inspires Dr. Taylor.