Wearable apparatus for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests

• US 20040071296A1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biocell LP, Tympany Inc. (Tympany Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Biocell LP
• Inventors: Wasden, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,258,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0051 by applying vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A system for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests is disclosed. The system comprises a yoke wearable around the neck of a patient, for providing a housing for conduits and wiring to conduct the hearing tests. The yoke may also coupled to one or more ear probes for engaging the ear of the patient, and to at least one microphone for measuring ambient noise during at least a portion of a hearing test.

Claims

1. A system for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests in a first ear of a patient, said multiple tests comprising an audiometric hearing test and a second hearing test selected from the group consisting of an acoustic immittance hearing test and an otoacoustic emission hearing test, said system comprising:

a computer for controlling administration of the multiple diagnostic hearing tests;

a plurality of transducers for delivering signals to and receiving signals from said first ear;

a first insertion probe, coupled to at least a portion of said plurality of transducers, for insertion in said first ear;

a plurality of conduits coupling said computer and said plurality of transducers; and

a yoke wearable around the neck of the patient, said yoke being coupled to said first insertion probe and providing a housing for said plurality of conduits.

2. The system of claim 1, said system further comprising at least one ambient noise detection microphone coupled to said yoke.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one ambient noise detection microphone comprises a plurality of ambient noise detection microphones.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second insertion probe, coupled to at least a portion of said plurality of transducers, for insertion in a second ear of said patient, said system being capable of conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests in said first and second ears of said patient.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said yoke comprises an annular shape comprising at least one break in said annulus, said break comprising first and second ends which may be coupled and decoupled to facilitate coupling said yoke to the neck of said patient.

6. A wearable yoke for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests in a first ear of a patient, said wearable yoke comprising:

a yoke for engaging the neck of the patient;

at least one microphone, coupled to said yoke, for measuring ambient noise during at least a portion of a diagnostic hearing test.

7. The wearable yoke of claim 6, further comprising a first insertion probe, coupled to said yoke, for insertion in said first ear for conducting at least one hearing test.

8. A system for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests in a first ear of a patient, said system comprising:

a computer for controlling administration of the multiple diagnostic hearing tests;

a plurality of transducers for delivering signals to and receiving signals from said first ear;

a plurality of conduits coupling said computer and said plurality of transducers; and

a yoke wearable around the neck of the patient, said yoke providing a Houston for said plurality of conduits.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising at least one microphone, coupled to said yoke, for measuring ambient noise during at least a portion of a diagnostic hearing test.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a memory coupled to said yoke for storing calibration data for said transducers.