METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OBSERVATION OF TYMPANIC FUNCTION

• US 20100094137A1
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Eye And Ear Infirmary (Foundation of The Massachusetts Eye and EAR Infirmary Incorporated), Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Rosowski, John J., Furlong, Cosme, Merchant, Saumil N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,155,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/477
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000096 using artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0661 Endoscope light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0048 Detecting, measuring or recording by applying mechanical forces or stimuli A61B5/021, A61B5/4884 and A61B9/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0097 by applying acoustic waves and detecting light, i.e. acoustooptic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/126 measuring compliance or mechanical impedance of the tympanic membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation

Abstract

Methods and systems for endoscopic observation of tympanic function.

Claims

1. A method for observation of inner ear function, the method comprising the steps of:

exciting the inner ear with a predetermined acoustic input;

detecting a response to inner ear excitation by the predetermined acoustic input;

providing an incident light into inner ear, while the inner ear is responding to the inner ear excitation;

receiving a portion of the incident light, the portion being reflected/scattered due to the inner ear excitation;

obtaining an interference pattern from the received portion of the incident light and a reference lightbeam; and

analyzing the interference pattern to determine spatial/temporal information related to inner ear function.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining an interference pattern comprises the step of:

controllably deflecting the reference lightbeam.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of obtaining an interference pattern further comprises the steps of:

a) varying, by the controllable deflection, a length of a path of the reference lightbeam by a predetermined fraction of a wavelength;

b) obtaining an intensity distribution corresponding to an interference pattern between the

received portion of the incident light and the reference lightbeam after traversing said length of said path; and

c) repeating steps a) and b) for a number of predetermined fractions of the wavelength;

thereby obtaining a plurality of intensity distributions.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern comprises the steps of:

obtaining a predetermined function of the plurality of intensity distributions, said predetermined function being related to characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear; and

obtaining from said predetermined function characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the step of:

applying a phase unwrapping algorithm to said predetermined function.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of obtaining an interference pattern further comprises the steps of:

repeating step a), b), and c) at a plurality of time periods, said plurality of time periods being selected over a characteristic time period of the response to excitation; and

wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the steps of;

obtaining a plurality of predetermined functions, each predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions being obtained at a different time period from said plurality of time periods;

obtaining a difference between one predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions and another predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions;

said one predetermined function and said another predetermined function being obtained at consecutive time periods from said plurality of time periods; and

obtaining, from said difference, characteristics of a temporal evolution of the excitation of the inner ear.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the step of:

applying a phase unwrapping algorithm to each predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of obtaining an interference pattern further comprises the steps of:

performing steps a), b), and c) at one wavelength, thereby obtaining a first plurality of intensity distributions;

repeating steps a), b), and c) at another wavelength, thereby obtaining a second plurality of intensity distributions; and

wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the steps of;

obtaining, from said first and second pluralities of intensity distributions, a predetermined function;

said predetermined function related to spatial characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear; and

obtaining, from said predetermined function, spatial characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the step of:

applying a phase unwrapping algorithm to said predetermined function.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein each intensity distribution from said plurality of intensity distributions is obtained over a predetermined time period.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern comprises the steps of:

obtaining a predetermined function of the plurality of intensity distributions, said predetermined function related to characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear; and

obtaining from said predetermined function characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear.

12. A system for examining behavior of a membrane in a passage, the system comprising:

a sound receiving component;

a sound generating component;

a light delivery component;

an optical component;

said sound receiving component, said sound generating component, and said light delivery component being disposed in a periphery of said optical component;

an illuminating light source operatively connected to said light delivery component;

said sound receiving component, said sound generating component, said optical component and said light delivery component being disposed in a speculum;

said speculum being adapted to permit examination of the passage;

said light delivery component delivering light into the passage at least after excitation of the membrane by said sound generating component;

said optical component receiving a reflected/scattered portion of light delivered into the passage;

an imaging component disposed to receive light from said optical component;

a reference light source;

a modulating component disposed to receive light from said reference light source and capable of modulating light received from said reference light source;

another optical component disposed to receive light from said modulating component and from said imaging component;

said beam separating component providing light received from said imaging component and of from said modulating component; and

an image detecting component disposed to receive light from said beam separating component;

said image detecting component being disposed to receive light from said another optical component and being capable of detecting an interferometric recording of light from said reference light source and the reflected scattered portion of the light delivered into the passage.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one processing component; and

at least one computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, said computer readable code being capable of causing said processing component to;

analyze the interferometric recording to determine spatial information related the membrane.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said computer readable code, in causing said processing component to analyze the interferometric recording, causes said processing component to:

provide control signals to said modulating components, said control signals resulting in varying a length of a path of light from said reference light source by a predetermined fraction of a wavelength;

an intensity distribution being obtained corresponding to the interferometric recording between the reflected scattered portion of the light delivered into the passage and the light from said reference light source after traversing said length of said path; and

repeat the preceding instruction for a number of predetermined fractions of the wavelength;

thereby obtaining a plurality of intensity distributions;

obtain a predetermined function of the plurality of intensity distributions, said predetermined function related to characteristics of the behavior of the membrane in the passage; and

obtain from said predetermined function characteristics of the behavior of the membrane in the passage.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer readable code, in causing said processing component to analyze the interferometric recording, further causes said processing component to:

apply a phase unwrapping algorithm to said predetermined function.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein said computer readable code, in causing said processing component to analyze the interferometric recording, causes said computer readable code to:

a) provide control signals to said modulating components, said control signals resulting in varying a length of a path of light from said reference light source by a predetermined fraction of a wavelength;

an intensity distribution being obtained corresponding to the interferometric recording between the reflected scattered portion of the light delivered into the passage and the light from said reference light source after traversing said length of said path; and

b) repeat instruction a) for a number of predetermined fractions of the wavelength;

thereby obtaining a plurality of intensity distributions;

repeat step a) and b) at a plurality of time periods, said plurality of time periods being selected over a characteristic time period of a response of the membrane to excitation;

obtain a plurality of predetermined functions, each predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions being obtained at a different time period from said plurality of time periods from said plurality of intensity distributions at said different time period;

obtain a difference between one predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions and another predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions;

said one predetermined function and said another predetermined function being obtained at consecutive time periods from said plurality of time periods;

obtain, from said difference, characteristics of a temporal response of the membrane to excitation.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer readable code, in causing said processing component to analyze the interferometric recording, further causes said processing component to:

apply a phase unwrapping algorithm to each predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein a wavelength of said illuminating light source and said reference light source is selectable to a predetermined wavelength;

and wherein said computer readable code, in causing said processing component to analyze the interferometric recording, causes said computer processing component to;

select the wavelength of said illuminating light source and said reference light source to a first wavelength;

provide control signals to said modulating components, said control signals resulting in varying a length of a path of light from said reference light source by a predetermined phase increment;

an intensity distribution being obtained corresponding to the interferometric recording between the reflected scattered portion of the light delivered into the passage at said first wavelength and the light from said reference light source at said first wavelength after traversing said length of said path; and

repeat the preceding instruction for a number of predetermined phase increments;

thereby obtaining a first plurality of intensity distributions;

select the wavelength of said illuminating light source and said reference light source to a second wavelength;

provide control signals to said modulating components, said control signals resulting in varying a length of a path of light from said reference light source by a predetermined phase increment;

an intensity distribution being obtained corresponding to the interferometric recording between the reflected scattered portion of the light delivered into the passage at said second wavelength and the light from said reference light source at said second wavelength after traversing said length of said path; and

repeat the preceding instruction for a number of predetermined phase increments;

thereby obtaining a second plurality of intensity distributions;

obtain, from said first and second pluralities of intensity distributions, a predetermined function;

said predetermined function related to spatial characteristics of a response of the membrane to excitation;

obtain, from said predetermined function, spatial characteristics of the response of the membrane to excitation.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein each intensity distribution from said plurality of intensity distributions is obtained over a predetermined time period.