Apparatus for bone conduction threshold hearing test

• US 6,964,642 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biocell LP, Tympany Inc. (Tympany Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tympany Inc. (Tympany Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Wasden, Christopher L., Thornton, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOOR, SADAF A
• Application Number:
  US10/438,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 600/559, 600/25, 735/85, 607 55- 57, 381150-151, 381/326, 381/380, 381/60, 267 42- 46, 267/158
• US Class Current: 600/559
• 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

An apparatus for bone conduction hearing testing is provided. The apparatus comprises a planar spring having opposed first and second elements to which are coupled, respectively, a bone conduction vibrator and an engagement element. The bone conduction vibrator contacts a first head portion, preferably the forehead, and the engagement element contacts a second head portion, preferably the rear of the head. The spring preferably has a lenticular shape, and may be either biconvex or D-shaped.

Claims

1. A bone conduction hearing test apparatus for engaging the head of a patient to be tested for bone conduction hearing, comprising:

a bone conduction vibrator for contacting a first head portion of the patient;

an engagement element for contacting a second head portion of the patient, and

a planar spring comprising opposed first and second spring elements, wherein said bone conduction vibrator and said engagement element are coupled to said planar spring.

2. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bone conduction vibrator is a forehead bone conduction vibrator.

3. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 2, wherein said engagement element is capable of engaging the back of the head of said patient.

4. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 2, wherein said apparatus engages the head of the patient at only said first head portion and said second head portion.

5. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 3, wherein said spring is capable of providing a force of from about 0 to 15 newtons to maintain contact between said forehead bone conduction vibrator and said first head portion.

6. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 3, wherein said bone conduction vibrator is coupled to said first spring element and said engagement element is coupled to said second spring element.

7. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first and second spring elements each comprise a first end, a second end, and a middle portion, said first ends being coupled together at a first joint, said second ends being coupled together at a second joint, and said middle portions forming a lenticular shaped spring when pulled apart.

8. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bone conduction hearing test apparatus engages the head of the patient at only said first head portion and said second head portion.

9. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first head portion is a portion of the forehead of the patient.

10. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second head portion is a portion of the back of the patient'"'"'s head.

11. A bone conduction hearing test apparatus for engaging the head of a patient to be tested for bone conduction hearing, said apparatus comprising:

a lenticular-shaped spring; and

a bone conduction vibrator coupled to said lenticular-shaped spring, wherein said spring provides a force to maintain contact between said bone conduction vibrator and a first head portion of the patient.

12. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first head portion is a portion of the forehead of the patient.

13. A bone conduction hearing test apparatus for engaging the head of a patient to be tested for bone conduction hearing, said apparatus comprising:

a lenticular-shaped spring, comprising opposed first and second spring elements each having a first end, a second end, and a midsection, said first ends being coupled together at a first connection, said second ends being coupled together at a second connection, and said midsections developing a spring force when pulled apart to form a lenticular shape; and

a bone conduction vibrator for engaging a first head portion of the patient and an engagement element for engaging a second head portion of the patient, said bone conduction vibrator being coupled to said first spring element and said engagement element being coupled to said second spring element.

14. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 13, wherein said lenticular-shaped spring is capable of providing a force of from about 0 to 15 newtons to maintain contact between said bone conduction vibrator and said first head portion.

15. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first head portion is a portion of the forehead of the patient.

16. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second head portion is a portion of the back of the patient'"'"'s head.

17. The bone conduction hearing test apparatus of claim 13, wherein said bone conduction hearingtest apparatus engages the head of the patient at only said first head portion and said second head portion.

18. An apparatus for bone conduction hearing testing of a patient, said apparatus comprising a lenticular-shaped spring having first and second contact elements for contacting the patient'"'"'s head at only two distinct areas, said first contact element comprising a bone conduction vibrator for contacting the patient'"'"'s head at a first area.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said second contact element comprises an engagement element for contacting the patient'"'"'s head at a second area.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said engagement element comprises a rigid portion.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said bone conduction vibrator is a forehead bone conduction vibrator.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said lenticular-shaped spring comprises opposed first and second spring elements each having a first end, a second end, and a midsection, said first ends being coupled together at a first connection, said second ends being coupled together at a second connection, and said midsections developing a spring force when pulled apart.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said bone conduction vibrator is coupled to said first spring element and said second contact element is coupled to said second spring element.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said second area is a portion of the back of the patient'"'"'s head.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said force is about 5.4 newtons.

26. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said lenticular-shaped spring is adapted to provide a relatively constant force across a range of patient head sizes.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said opposed first and second spring elements have the same or different elasticities.

28. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said apparatus is adapted for deterring attenuation of a bone-conduction signal when said apparatus is used for bone conduction testing.