System and method for measuring acoustic reflectance

• US 5,792,072 A
• Filed: 04/08/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Washington
• Original Assignee: University of Washington
• Inventors: Keefe, Douglas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US08/630,004
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 128/746, 73/585, 73/587, 73/589, 600/559
• US Class Current: 600/559
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 15/00 Measuring mechanical or acoustic impedance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02491 Materials with nonlinear acoustic properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02872 Pressure

Abstract

A system and method of measuring the linear and nonlinear power-based responses of the ear uses a small probe assembly containing a sound source and microphone inserted into the ear. The linear power-based responses, or transfer functions, measured by the system include reflectance, admittance and impedance calculated in the time and frequency domains. A calibration procedure is based upon measured pressure responses in one or more calibration waveguides, and upon a model of the transfer function of each of the calibration waveguides that incorporates viscothermal losses. The linear transfer functions and the measured pressure responses in the ear may be combined to calculate sound power absorbed by the ear. The system is further able to measure the corresponding nonlinear power-based response of the ear by measuring any of the above transfer functions at different levels of the acoustic stimulus. These are used to calculate the nonlinear power absorbed by the ear when combined with the measured pressure responses in the ear at each stimulus level. A differential nonlinear transfer function of the ear and differential power absorbed by the ear are calculated based upon the level-dependent measurements of the transfer functions and the absorbed power. By delivering changes in static pressure applied to the ear via an additional probe tube in the probe assembly, the system is able to measure the dependence on static pressure of any of these linear and nonlinear power-based functions. The system is particularly useful in testing the auditory response of the human ear, with applications to the detection and diagnosis of abnormalities in the external, middle and inner ear of humans ranging in age from neonates to adults, as well as to the better understanding of the threshold audibility function in normal and hearing-impaired humans.

Claims

1. A system for the measurement of a linear response of the ear, the system comprising:

a probe assembly positionable in the ear;

an acoustic source within said probe assembly to produce an acoustic stimulus in response to an electrical input signal;

an acoustic energy detector within said probe assembly to detect acoustic energy signals and convert said detected acoustic energy signals to detected electrical signals;

one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, each having predetermined dimensions and having first and second ends;

a stimulus signal generator coupled to said acoustic source to generate said electrical input signal when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said stimulus signal generator also generating said electrical input signal when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

a signal processor receiving a set of detected calibration electrical signals from said acoustic energy detector when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides and receiving a detected measurement electrical signal when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear; and

a computer processor containing a calibration waveguide model indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic, including viscothermal effects, for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining a linear response function of the ear based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals, detected measurement electrical signal and said calibration waveguide model.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said linear response function of the ear includes a time-domain linear response function of the ear.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said time-domain linear response function comprises a selected one of a set including a reflection function, a time-domain impedance function and a time-domain admittance function.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said linear response function of the ear includes a frequency-domain linear response function of the ear.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said frequency-domain linear response function comprises a selected one of a set including a reflection coefficient function, an impedance function, and an admittance function.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said probe assembly substantially seals said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides and the ear from ambient atmosphere.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined dimensions include an acoustic calibration waveguide length and a cross-sectional area as a function of position along said acoustic calibration waveguide for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides is a cylindrical tube with said cross-sectional area having a constant value as a function of said position.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said second end in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides is terminated by an acoustic termination having known acoustic transfer characteristics to define said calibration waveguide model.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said second end in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides is a closed end.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said second end in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides is an open end.

12. The system of claim 1, further including a pump coupled to said probe assembly to control static pressure within the ear, said computer processor determining said linear response function of the ear as a function of said static pressure.

13. The system of claim 1, further including a pump coupled to said probe assembly to control static pressure within the ear and within said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining said linear response function of the ear as a function of said static pressure.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical input signal has a short duration less than an impulse response duration of said acoustic source.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said electrical input signal has a duration less than five milliseconds.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals and detects therefrom an incident signal in at least one of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal in said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said first reflected signal results from an acoustic reflection from said second end of said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide.

18. The system of claim 1, further including an allpass filter to process a short duration band-limited signal and thereby generate a time-stretched band-limited signal as said electrical input signal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said set of detected calibration electrical energy signals and said detected measurement electrical signal are time-stretched response signals, the system further including an inverse allpass filter to time-compress said time-stretched response signals, whereby said signal processor and said computer processor use said time-compressed set of detected calibration electrical signals and said time-compressed detected measurement electrical signal.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said signal processor receives said time-compressed set of detected calibration electrical energy signals and detects therefrom an incident signal in at least one of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal in said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides is a single acoustic calibration waveguide and said calibration waveguide model is indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic, including viscothermal effects, for said single acoustic calibration waveguide, said computer processor determining said linear response function of the ear based on said detected calibration electrical signal from said single acoustic calibration waveguide, said detected measurement electrical signal and said calibration waveguide model.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals and detects therefrom an incident signal, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal, said computer processor determining said linear response function of the ear using said incident signal and only said first reflected signal as said set of detected calibration electrical signals.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said predetermined dimensions include an effective length, said signal processor determining said effective length of said single acoustic calibration waveguide by reiteratively calculating a value for said acoustic transfer characteristic as a function of said effective length to minimize the difference between said acoustic transfer characteristic value and an acoustic transfer characteristic model value.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals containing an incident signal and a plurality of reflected signals, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal, said computer processor determining said linear response function of the ear using said incident signal and said plurality of reflected signals as said set of detected calibration electrical signals.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides comprises a plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides and said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals and detects therefrom an incident signal in at least one of said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal in said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide, said computer processor determining said linear response function of the ear based on a weighted average of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides, said detected measurement electrical signal and said calibration waveguide model.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said weighted average is an equal weighted average of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor generates a prediction model for each of said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides based on said calibration waveguide model for each of said plurality of said acoustic calibration waveguides, and said weighted average is proportional to a function of said prediction model for each of said plurality of said acoustic calibration waveguides.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein said weighted average is proportional to a function of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said plurality of said acoustic calibration waveguides.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein said computer processor generates a prediction model for each of said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides based on said calibration waveguide model for each of said plurality of said acoustic calibration waveguides, said weighted average being proportional to a function of said prediction model for each of said plurality of said acoustic calibration waveguides and a function of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said plurality of said acoustic calibration waveguides.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide includes said incident signal and only said first reflected signal.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals containing said incident signal and a plurality of reflected signals, said incident signal being separable from said first reflected signal in said at least one of said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining said linear response function of the ear using said incident signal and said plurality of reflected signals as said set of detected calibration electrical signals.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein said predetermined dimensions include an effective length and said computer processor generates a prediction model for each of said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides based on said calibration waveguide model for each of said plurality of said acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining said effective length of said single acoustic calibration waveguide by reiteratively calculating a value for an acoustic transfer characteristic as a function of said effective length to minimize the difference between said acoustic transfer characteristic value and said prediction model.

33. The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides comprises at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining measurement system parameters using a minimum norm solution of a matrix equation containing matrix elements that are functions of said set of detected calibration electrical signals when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, a prediction model of a predicted linear response for each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides based on said calibration waveguide model for each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, and a weighted average of functions of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides and said prediction model for each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining said linear response function using said detected measurement electrical signal and said measurement system parameters.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said predetermined dimensions include an effective length, said computer processor determining said effective length of each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides by reiteratively calculating a measured linear response as a function of said effective length to minimize a difference between said measured linear response and said prediction model linear response.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein said weighted average is an equal weighted average of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein said weighted average is proportional to a function of said prediction model for each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides.

37. The system of claim 33 wherein said weighted average is proportional to a function of said set of detected calibration electrical signals for said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein said computer processor generates said prediction model linear response, said weighted average being proportional to a function of said prediction model linear response for each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides and a function of said set of detected calibration electrical signals for said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein said measurement system parameters include an incident field pressure and a source reflectance.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein said measurement system parameters are a Thevenin pressure and a Thevenin source impedance.

41. The system of claim 33 wherein said measurement system parameters are a Norton volume velocity and a Norton source admittance.

42. The system of claim 33 wherein said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides comprises at least three acoustic calibration waveguides, and said matrix equation is an overdetermined matrix equation.

43. The system of claim 33 wherein said minimum norm solution of said matrix equation is a minimum norm solution with regularization.

44. The system of claim 33 wherein said matrix equation is a set of time-domain matrix convolution equations that are solved using pseudoinverse deconvolution.

45. A system for the measurement of a nonlinear power-based transfer function of the ear, the system comprising:

a probe assembly positionable in the ear;

an acoustic source within said probe assembly to produce an acoustic stimulus in response to an electrical input signal;

an acoustic energy detector within said probe assembly to detect acoustic energy signals and convert said detected acoustic energy signals to detected electrical signals;

a stimulus signal generator coupled to said acoustic source to generate said electrical input signal at first and second stimulus levels to cause said acoustic source to produce acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

a pump coupled to said probe assembly to control static pressure in the ear;

a signal processor to receive detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear; and

a computer processor determining a first power-based transfer function of the ear as a function of said static pressure based on a detected measurement electrical signal in response to said acoustic stimulus at said first acoustic stimulus level and measurement system parameters of said probe assembly, determining a second power-based transfer function of the ear as a function of said static pressure based on a detected measurement electrical signal in response to said acoustic stimulus at said second acoustic stimulus level and measurement system parameters of said probe assembly, said computer processor further determining the power-based nonlinear transfer function based on said first and second transfer functions of the ear and said static pressure.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein said measurement system parameters are a stored calibration model.

47. The system of claim 45 wherein said first and second transfer functions are used to calculate a differential nonlinear transfer function.

48. A system for the measurement of a nonlinear power-based transfer function of the ear, the system comprising:

one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, each having predetermined dimensions and having first and second ends;

a probe assembly positionable in the ear;

an acoustic source within said probe assembly to produce an acoustic stimulus in response to an electrical input signal;

an acoustic energy detector within said probe assembly to detect acoustic energy signals and convert said detected acoustic energy signals to detected electrical signals;

a stimulus signal generator coupled to said acoustic source to generate said electrical input signal when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said stimulus signal generator also generating said electrical input signal at first and second stimulus levels to cause said acoustic source to produce acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

a pump coupled to said probe assembly to control static pressure in the ear;

a signal processor to receive a set of detected calibration electrical signals from said acoustic energy detector when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides and receiving detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear; and

a computer processor containing a calibration waveguide model indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining first and second power-based transfer functions of the ear as a function of said static pressure based on said detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at said first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, said set of detected calibration electrical signals, and said acoustic calibration waveguide model, said computer processor further determining the power-based nonlinear transfer function based on said first and second transfer functions of the ear and said static pressure.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said model is a stored response of said probe assembly.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein said model is a predictive model of said acoustic transfer characteristic.

51. The system of claim 48 wherein said first and second transfer functions are used to calculate a differential nonlinear transfer function.

52. A system for the measurement of a power absorbed by the ear, the system comprising:

a probe assembly positionable in the ear;

an acoustic source within said probe assembly to produce an acoustic stimulus in response to an electrical input signal;

an acoustic energy detector within said probe assembly to detect acoustic energy signals and convert said detected acoustic energy signals to detected electrical signals;

a stimulus signal generator coupled to said acoustic source to generate said electrical input signal at first and second stimulus levels to cause said acoustic source to produce acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

a signal processor to receive detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear; and

a computer processor determining a first power-based transfer function of the ear based on a first detected measurement electrical signal in response to said acoustic stimulus at said first acoustic stimulus level, determining a second power-based transfer function of the ear based on a second detected measurement electrical signal in response to said acoustic stimulus at said second acoustic stimulus level, said computer processor further determining the power absorbed by the ear at said first and second acoustic stimuli levels based on said first and second transfer functions and said first and second detected measurement electrical signals.

53. The system of claim 52, further including one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, each having predetermined dimensions and having first and second ends and a calibration waveguide model indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said stimulus signal generator also generating said electrical input signal when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said signal processor also receiving a set of detected calibration electrical signals from said acoustic energy detector when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining measurement system parameters based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals and said calibration waveguide model, said computer processor further determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear based on said detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at said first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, said set of detected calibration electrical signals, and said acoustic calibration waveguide model.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein said probe assembly is characterized by measurement system parameters in a stored calibration model.

55. The system of claim 52 wherein said probe assembly is characterized by measurement system parameters including a predictive model of said measurement system parameters.

56. The system of claim 52 wherein said computer processor calculates a differential nonlinear power absorbed by the ear.

57. The system of claim 52, further including a pump coupled to said probe assembly to control static pressure in the ear, said computer processor determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear and said power absorbed by the ear as a function of said static pressure.

58. A system for the measurement of a nonlinear power-based transfer function of the ear, the system comprising:

a probe assembly positionable in the ear;

an acoustic source within said probe assembly to produce an acoustic stimulus in response to an electrical input signal;

an acoustic energy detector within said probe assembly to detect acoustic energy signals and convert said detected acoustic energy signals to detected electrical signals;

one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, each having predetermined dimensions and having first and second ends;

a stimulus signal generator coupled to said acoustic source to generate said electrical input signal when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said stimulus signal generator also generating said electrical input signal at first and second stimulus levels to cause said acoustic source to produce acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

a signal processor to receive a set of detected calibration electrical signals from said acoustic energy detector when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides and to receive detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear; and

a computer processor containing a calibration waveguide model indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic, including viscothermal effects, for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining a first power-based transfer function of the ear based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals, said detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimulus at said first acoustic stimulus level, and said calibration waveguide model, determining a second power-based transfer function of the ear based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals, said detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimulus at said second acoustic stimulus level, and said calibration waveguide model, said computer processor further determining the power-based nonlinear transfer function based on said first and second transfer functions.

59. The system of claim 58, further including a pump coupled to said probe assembly to control static pressure within the ear, said computer processor determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear as functions of said static pressure.

60. The system of claim 58 wherein said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals and detects therefrom an incident signal in at least one of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal in said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein said first reflected signal results from an acoustic reflection from said second end of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides.

62. The system of claim 58, further including an allpass filter to process a short duration band-limited signal and thereby generate a time-stretched band-limited signal as said electrical input signal.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein said set of detected calibration electrical energy signals and said detected measurement electrical signals are time-stretched response signals, the system further including an inverse allpass filter to time-compress said time-stretched response signals, whereby said signal processor and said computer processor use said time-compressed set of calibration electrical signals and said time-compressed measurement electrical signals.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein said signal processor receives said time-compressed set of detected calibration electrical energy signals and detects therefrom an incident signal in at least one of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal in said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide.

65. The system of claim 58 wherein said stimulus signal generator generates said electrical input signal at said first and second stimulus levels to cause said acoustic source to produce acoustic stimuli at said first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said set of detected calibration electrical signals including detected calibration electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at said first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides.

66. The system of claim 58 wherein said stimulus signal generator generates said electrical input signal at said first stimulus level to cause said acoustic source to produce an acoustic stimulus at said first acoustic stimulus level when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said set of detected calibration electrical signals including detected calibration electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimulus at said first acoustic stimulus level when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides.

67. The system of claim 58 wherein said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides is a single acoustic calibration waveguide and said calibration waveguide model is indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic, including viscothermal effects, for said single acoustic calibration waveguide, said computer processor determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals, said detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear, and said calibration waveguide model.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals and detects therefrom an incident signal, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal, said computer processor determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear using said incident signal and only said first reflected signal as said set of detected calibration electrical signals.

69. The system of claim 67 wherein said predetermined dimensions include an effective length, said signal processor determining said effective length of said single acoustic calibration waveguide by reiteratively calculating a value for said acoustic transfer characteristic as a function of said effective length to minimize the difference between said acoustic transfer characteristic value and an acoustic transfer characteristic model value.

70. The system of claim 67 wherein said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals containing an incident signal and a plurality of reflected signals, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal, said computer processor determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear using said incident signal and said plurality of reflected signals as said set of detected calibration electrical signals.

71. The system of claim 58 wherein said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides comprises a plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides and said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals and detects therefrom an incident signal in at least one of said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal in said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide, said computer processor determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear based on a weighted average of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides, said detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear, and said calibration waveguide model.

72. The system of claim 58 wherein said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides comprises at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining measurement system parameters using a minimum norm solution of a matrix equation containing matrix elements that are functions of said set of detected calibration electrical signals when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, a prediction model of a predicted linear response for each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides based on said calibration waveguide model for each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, and a weighted average of functions of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, said computer processor determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear using said detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at said first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear, and said measurement systems parameters.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein said stimulus signal generator generates said electrical input signal at said first and second stimulus levels to cause said acoustic source to produce acoustic stimuli at said first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, said set of detected calibration electrical signals including detected electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at said first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides.

74. The system of claim 72 wherein said stimulus signal generator generates said electrical input signal at said first stimulus level to cause said acoustic source to produce an acoustic stimulus at said first acoustic stimulus level when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, said set of detected calibration electrical signals including detected electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at said first acoustic stimulus level when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides.

75. The system of claim 58 wherein said first and second transfer functions are used to calculate a differential nonlinear transfer function.

76. The system of claim 58 wherein said computer processor calculates power absorbed by the ear as a function of stimulus level.

77. The system of claim 58 wherein said computer processor calculates a differential nonlinear power absorbed by the ear.

78. A system for the measurement of a reflectance of the ear, the system comprising:

a probe assembly positionable in the ear;

an acoustic source within said probe assembly to produce an acoustic stimulus in response to an electrical input signal;

an acoustic energy detector within said probe assembly to detect acoustic energy signals and convert said detected acoustic energy signals to detected electrical signals;

a stimulus signal generator coupled to said acoustic source to generate said electrical input signal when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

a pump coupled to said probe assembly to control static pressure in the ear;

a signal processor receiving a detected electrical signal when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear, said signal processor calculating a transfer function of the ear as a function of said static pressure;

a storage area containing an estimate of an ear canal area; and

a computer processor receiving said transfer function and said ear canal estimate from said storage area, said computer processor calculating the reflectance of the ear as a function of said static pressure.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein said signal processor is a portion of a tympanometer.

80. The system of claim 79 wherein said transfer function calculated by said signal processor is an admittance.

81. The system of claim 78 wherein said stimulus generator generates a signal at a selected frequency, said signal processor also calculating said transfer function of the ear as a function of said selected frequency, said computer processor calculating said reflectance of the ear as a function of said static pressure and said selected frequency.

82. A method for the measurement of a linear response of the ear, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a probe assembly in one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, each having predetermined dimensions and having first and second ends;

generating an electrical input signal to an acoustic source within said probe assembly when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides to produce an acoustic stimulus in response to said electrical input signal;

detecting acoustic energy signals with an acoustic energy detector within said probe assembly and converting said detected acoustic energy signals to detected electrical signals;

receiving a set of detected calibration electrical signals from said acoustic energy detector when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides;

positioning said probe assembly in the ear;

generating said electrical input signal when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

receiving a detected measurement electrical signal when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear; and

determining a linear response function of the ear based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals and detected measurement electrical signal and a calibration waveguide model indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic, including viscothermal effects, for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides.

83. The method of claim 82 wherein said linear response function of the ear includes a time-domain linear response function of the ear.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein said time-domain linear response function comprises a selected one of a set including a reflection function, a time-domain impedance function and a time-domain admittance function.

85. The method of claim 82 wherein said linear response function of the ear includes a frequency-domain linear response function of the ear.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein said frequency-domain linear response function comprises a selected one of a set including a reflection coefficient function, an impedance function, and an admittance function.

87. The method of claim 82 wherein said predetermined dimensions include an acoustic calibration waveguide length and a cross-sectional area as a function of position along said acoustic calibration waveguide for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides is a cylindrical tube with said cross-sectional area having a constant value as a function of said position.

89. The method of claim 82 wherein said second end in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides is terminated by an acoustic termination having known acoustic transfer characteristics to define said calibration waveguide model.

90. The method of claim 82, further including the step of controlling static pressure within the ear, said step of determining said linear response function determining said linear response function of the ear as a function of said static pressure.

91. The method of claim 82, further including the step of controlling static pressure within the ear and within said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said step of determining said linear response function determining said linear response function of the ear as a function of said static pressure.

92. The method of claim 82 wherein said steps of generating said electrical input signal uses a signal having a short duration less than an impulse response duration of said acoustic source.

93. The method of claim 82 wherein said electrical input signal has a duration less than five milliseconds.

94. The method of claim 82, further including the step of detecting, from said detected calibration electrical signals detected when said probe assembly is positioned in at least one of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, an incident signal, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal in said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide.

95. The method of claim 94 wherein said first reflected signal results from an acoustic reflection from said second end of said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide.

96. The method of claim 82, further including the step of allpass filtering a short duration band-limited signal and thereby generating a time-stretched band-limited signal as said electrical input signal.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein said set of detected calibration electrical energy signals and said detected measurement electrical energy signal are time-stretched response signals, the method further including the steps of inverse allpass filtering said time-stretched response signals to time-compress said time-stretched response signals, wherein said step of determining said linear response function of the ear is based on said time-compressed set of detected calibration electrical signals and said time-compressed measurement electrical signal.

98. The method of claim 97, further including the step of detecting, from said time-compressed set of detected calibration electrical energy signals when said probe assembly is positioned in at least one of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, an incident signal, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal in said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide.

99. The method of claim 82 wherein said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides is a single acoustic calibration waveguide and said calibration waveguide model is indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic, including viscothermal effects, for said single acoustic calibration waveguide, said step of determining said linear response function of the ear based using said detected calibration electrical signal from said single acoustic calibration waveguide, said detected measurement electrical signal and said calibration waveguide model.

100. The method of claim 99 wherein said step of receiving said set of detected calibration electrical signals includes the step of detecting therefrom an incident signal, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal, said step of determining said linear response function of the ear using said incident signal and only said first reflected signal as said set of detected calibration electrical signals.

101. The method of claim 99 wherein said predetermined dimensions include an effective length, the method further including the step of determining said effective length of said single acoustic calibration waveguide by reiteratively calculating a value for said acoustic transfer characteristic as a function of said effective length to minimize the difference between said acoustic transfer characteristic value and an acoustic transfer characteristic model value.

102. The method of claim 99 wherein said set of detected calibration electrical signals contains an incident signal and a plurality of reflected signals, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal, said step of determining said linear response function of the ear using said incident signal and said plurality of reflected signals as said set of detected calibration electrical signals.

103. The method of claim 82 wherein said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides comprises a plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides and said step of receiving said set of detected calibration electrical signals includes the step of detecting therefrom an incident signal in at least one of said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides, said incident signal being separable from a first reflected signal in said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide, said step of determining said linear response function of the ear based on a weighted average of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides, said detected measurement electrical signal and said calibration waveguide model.

104. The method of claim 103 wherein said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said at least one acoustic calibration waveguide includes said incident signal and only said first reflected signal.

105. The method of claim 103 wherein said signal processor receives said set of detected calibration electrical signals includes said incident signal and a plurality of reflected signals, said incident signal being separable from said first reflected signal in said at least one of said plurality of acoustic calibration waveguides, said step of determining said linear response function of the ear using said incident signal and said plurality of reflected signals as said set of detected calibration electrical signals.

106. The method of claim 82 wherein said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides comprises at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, said step of determining said linear response measurement also determining measurement system parameters using a minimum norm solution of a matrix equation containing matrix elements that are functions of said set of detected calibration electrical signals when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, a prediction model of a predicted linear response for each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides based on said calibration waveguide model for each of said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, and a weighted average of functions of said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said at least two acoustic calibration waveguides, said step of determining said linear response function using said detected measurement electrical signal and said measurement system parameters.

107. A method for the measurement of a nonlinear power-based transfer function of the ear, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a probe assembly in one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, each having predetermined dimensions and first and second ends;

generating electrical input signals for an acoustic source within said probe assembly when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides to produce acoustic stimuli in response to said electrical input signals;

detecting acoustic energy signals with an acoustic energy detector within said probe assembly and converting said detected acoustic energy signals to detected calibration electrical signals;

receiving said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said acoustic energy detector when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides;

positioning said probe assembly in the ear;

generating said electrical input signal at first and second levels to cause said acoustic source to produce acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

receiving first and second detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

determining a first power-based transfer function of the ear based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals in said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said first detected measurement electrical signal, and a calibration waveguide model indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic, including viscothermal effects, for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides;

determining a second power-based transfer function of the ear based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals in said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said second detected measurement electrical signal, and said calibration waveguide model; and

determining the nonlinear power-based transfer function of the ear based on said first and second transfer functions.

108. A method for the measurement of a nonlinear power-based transfer function of the ear, the system comprising:

positioning a probe assembly in the ear;

generating an electrical input signal at first and second stimulus levels to produce acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

varying static pressure in the ear in a controlled fashion;

receiving first and second detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

determining a first power-based transfer function of the ear of the ear as a function of said static pressure based on said first detected measurement electrical signal and measurement system parameters of said probe assembly;

determining a second power-based transfer function of the ear of the ear as a function of said static pressure based on said second detected measurement electrical signal and said measurement system parameters; and

determining the power-based nonlinear transfer function based on said first and second transfer functions of the ear and said static pressure.

109. A method for the measurement of a nonlinear power-based transfer function of the ear, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a probe assembly in one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, each having predetermined dimensions and first and second ends;

generating electrical input signals for an acoustic source within said probe assembly when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides to produce acoustic stimuli in response to said electrical input signals;

detecting acoustic energy signals with an acoustic energy detector within said probe assembly and converting said detected acoustic energy signals to detected calibration electrical signals;

receiving said set of detected calibration electrical signals from said acoustic energy detector when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides;

positioning a probe assembly in the ear;

varying static pressure in the ear in a controlled fashion;

generating said electrical input signal at first and second levels to cause said acoustic source to produce acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

receiving detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

determining a first power-based transfer function of the ear as a function of said static pressure based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals in said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimulus at said first acoustic stimulus level, and a calibration waveguide model indicative of an acoustic transfer characteristic for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides;

determining a second power-based transfer function of the ear as a function of said static pressure based on said set of detected calibration electrical signals in said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimulus at said second acoustic stimulus level, and said calibration waveguide model for each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides; and

determining the nonlinear power-based transfer function of the ear based on said first and second transfer functions and said static pressure.

110. A method for the measurement of a power absorbed by the ear, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a probe assembly in the ear;

generating an electrical input signal at first and second levels to cause an acoustic source within said probe assembly to produce acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

detecting acoustic energy signals and converting said detected acoustic energy signals to detected electrical signals;

receiving first and second detected measurement electrical signals in response to said acoustic stimuli at first and second acoustic stimulus levels, respectively, when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

determining a first power-based transfer function of the ear based on said first detected measurement electrical signal;

determining a second power-based transfer function of the ear based on said second detected measurement electrical signal; and

determining the power absorbed by the ear at said first and second acoustic stimuli levels based on said first and second transfer functions and said first and second detected measurement electrical signals.

111. The method of claim 110, further including the steps of positioning said probe assembly in one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, each having predetermined dimensions and having first and second ends, generating said electrical input signal when said probe assembly is positioned in said first end of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, detecting a set of detected calibration electrical signals from said acoustic energy detector when said probe assembly is positioned in each of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides, said step of determining said first and second power-based transfer functions of the ear determining said first and second power-based transfer functions based on said first and second detected measurement electrical signals, respectively, said set of detected calibration electrical signals and a calibration waveguide model indicative of an acoustic transfer function of said one or more acoustic calibration waveguides.

112. The method of claim 110, further including the step of varying static pressure in the ear in a controlled manner, said steps of determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear and said power absorbed by the ear determining said first and second transfer functions of the ear and said power absorbed by the ear as a function of said static pressure.

113. A method for the measurement of a reflectance of the ear, the system comprising:

positioning a probe assembly in the ear;

generating an electrical input signal to an acoustic source within said probe assembly to produce an acoustic stimulus in response to said electrical input signal;

receiving a detected measurement electrical signal when said probe assembly is positioned in the ear;

varying static pressure in the ear in a controlled fashion;

calculating a transfer function of the ear as a function of said static pressure;

estimating an ear canal area; and

receiving said transfer function and said ear canal area estimate and calculating therefrom the reflectance of the ear as a function of said static pressure.

114. The method of claim 113 wherein said step of calculating said transfer function of the ear is performed by a tympanometer.

115. The method of claim 114 wherein said transfer function calculated by said tympanometer is an admittance.

116. The method of claim 113 wherein said step of generating said generating said electrical input signal to said acoustic source generates a signal at a selected frequency, and said step of calculating said response function of the ear as a function of said static pressure also calculates said response function of the ear as a function of said selected frequency, said step of calculating said reflectance of the ear as a function of said static pressure calculating said reflectance of the ear as a function of said static pressure and said selected frequency.