Portable hearing-related analysis system

• US 6,647,345 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro Ear Technology Incorporated (Starkey Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Preves, David A., Bye, Gordon J., Erdahl, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/112,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 381/23.1, 381/60, 381/58, 381/312, 381/314, 381/323, 705/41
• US Class Current: 702/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

An improved hearing-related analysis programming system with a host computer for providing at least one hearing aid program and having at least one personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) defined port in combination with a PCMCIA Card inserted in the port and arranged for interacting with the host computer for controlling hearing-related analysis or programming of a hearing aid. The host computer provides power and ground to the PCMCIA Card and provides for downloading the hearing aid programming software to the PCMCIA Card upon initialization. A microprocessor on the PCMCIA Card executes hearing-related analysis or the programming software. A hearing aid interface for adjusting voltage levels and impedance levels is adapted for coupling signals to the hearing aid being programmed. Systems for performing hearing-related analysis include a portable audiometer system on a PCMCIA Card and operable with a portable host computer to analyze hearing of a patient, and a real-ear system on a PCMCIA Card and operable with a portable host computer to analyze output from a hearing aid in a patient'"'"'s ear.

Claims

1. A portable hearing analyzer and hearing aid programming system, comprising:

a host including a processor and a memory operably connected to the processor;

a card operably coupled to the processor, the card having circuitry configured to wirelessly connect to a hearing aid for programming the hearing aid; and

a hearing analyzer operably coupled to the processor to generate selected hearing test signals and to transmit hearing test results to the host.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the card having circuitry configured to wirelessly connect to a hearing aid is configured to connect to a hearing aid by an infrared transmission system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the card having circuitry configured to wirelessly connect to a hearing aid is configured to connect to a hearing aid by a radio frequency transmission system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the card is removably coupled to the host.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the card includes a control processor and a memory system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hearing analyzer includes a hearing analyzer card removably coupled to the host.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the hearing analyzer includes a hearing analyzer circuit separate from the hearing analyzer card, and wherein the hearing analyzer circuit is in communication with the processor through the hearing analyzer card.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the hearing analyzer includes a cable connection connecting the hearing analyzer card to the hearing analyzer circuit.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the hearing analyzer includes a hearing analyzer circuit within the hearing analyzer card.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the hearing analyzer card includes a processor system that produces hearing-related analyzing instructions;

and wherein the hearing analyzer includes;

a plurality of selectable audio signal sources;

a first circuit coupled to the plurality of selectable audio signal sources and coupled to the processor system of the hearing analyzer card to select one of the plurality of selectable audio signal sources in response to predetermined ones of the hearing-related analyzing instructions.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the hearing analyzer includes an audio signal device coupled to the first circuit to apply the selected audio signals to a person whose hearing is to be tested.

12. A system of claim 11, wherein the hearing analyzer includes:

a feedback circuit having an input section to receive feedback signals and an output section; and

a feedback control circuit coupled to the output section and coupled to processor system of the hearing analyzer to control transmission of the feedback signals to the host processor.

13. The system of claim 12, and further including in combination:

a feedback device coupled to the input section, the feedback device including selection devices operable to feedback hearing analysis signals indicative of hearing responses resulting from the selected ones of the selected audio signals.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the hearing analyzer card is a PCMCIA card.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the card having circuitry configured to wirelessly connect to a hearing aid is a PCMCIA card.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the card having circuitry configured to wirelessly connect to a hearing aid is a PCMCIA card.