PORTABLE MONITORING DEVICE WITH HEARING AID AND EEG MONITOR
First Claim
1. A portable monitoring device comprising a hearing aid having a housing, at least one microphone for receiving ambient sound, acoustic signal processing means for processing a signal from the microphone, and an acoustic output transducer, said portable monitoring device further comprising an EEG monitoring system for monitoring EEG signals of a person using the hearing aid, said EEG monitoring system being arranged at least partly in said housing, said EEG monitoring system comprisinga measuring unit having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from the person carrying the EEG monitor, said electrodes being arranged external to the housing or at the outer surface of the housing, anda processing unit having EEG signal processing means for analyzing the EEG signal, said processing unit being arranged in said housing, said signal processing means being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, in said person, said processing unit comprising decision means for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, and means for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable monitoring device comprises a hearing aid having a housing, a microphone (24), an acoustic signal processing means (43), and an acoustic output transducer (33). The portable monitoring device further comprises an EEG monitoring system arranged at least partly in said housing, and comprising a measuring unit (3) having electrodes (12) arranged external to the housing. The EEG monitoring system comprises a processing unit (42) for analyzing the EEG signal for identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, such as a seizure, in said person, decision means for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, and means for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer (33). The invention further provides a method of monitoring an EEG signal of a hearing impaired person.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable monitoring device comprising a hearing aid having a housing, at least one microphone for receiving ambient sound, acoustic signal processing means for processing a signal from the microphone, and an acoustic output transducer, said portable monitoring device further comprising an EEG monitoring system for monitoring EEG signals of a person using the hearing aid, said EEG monitoring system being arranged at least partly in said housing, said EEG monitoring system comprising
a measuring unit having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from the person carrying the EEG monitor, said electrodes being arranged external to the housing or at the outer surface of the housing, and a processing unit having EEG signal processing means for analyzing the EEG signal, said processing unit being arranged in said housing, said signal processing means being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, in said person, said processing unit comprising decision means for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, and means for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer.
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17. A method of monitoring an EEG signal of a hearing impaired person comprising the steps of
providing a portable monitoring device comprising a hearing aid having a housing, at least one microphone for receiving ambient sound, acoustic signal processing means for processing a signal from the microphone, and an acoustic output transducer, said portable monitoring device further comprising an EEG monitoring system for monitoring EEG signals of a person using the portable monitoring device, said EEG monitoring system being arranged at least partly in said housing, providing a measuring unit having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from the person carrying the EEG monitor, said electrodes being arranged external to the housing or at the outer surface of the housing, and providing a processing unit having EEG signal processing means for analyzing the EEG signal, said processing unit being arranged in said housing, said signal processing means being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, such as a seizure, in said person, said processing unit comprising decision means for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, and means for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer.
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18. A system comprising a portable monitoring device comprising a hearing aid having a housing, at least one microphone for receiving ambient sound, acoustic signal processing means for processing a signal from the microphone, and an acoustic output transducer, said portable monitoring device further comprising an EEG monitoring system for monitoring EEG signals of a person using the hearing aid, said EEG monitoring system being arranged at least partly in said housing, said EEG monitoring system comprising
a measuring unit having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from the person carrying the EEG monitor, said electrodes being arranged external to the housing or at the outer surface of the housing, and a processing unit having EEG signal processing means for analyzing the EEG signal, said processing unit being arranged in said housing, said signal processing means being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, in said person, said processing unit comprising decision means for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, and means for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer said system being adapted to be arranged at one ear of a person, and further comprising a hearing aid adapted to be arranged at the other ear of the person.
Specification