Remote programming system for programmable hearing aids

• US 8,542,842 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Zaccaria
• Original Assignee: Richard Zaccaria
• Inventors: Zaccaria, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US12/691,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20110176686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/315, 381/60, 381/23.1, 600/559, 735/85, 455/3.01, 455/3.05
• US Class Current: 381/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

Bluetooth-enabled programmable digital hearing aids can be adjusted remotely and in real time. The hearing aid patient at home or a location convenient to the patient logs on to a hearing clinic web site to connect with a clinician, e.g. audiologist or hearing aid technician, at a central clinic location. The patient computer is provided with software for this and the patient is provided with a wireless hearing aid adjustment device. The clinician downloads the patient'"'"'s hearing aid program and other data, and then makes adjustments and reprograms the hearing aids in real time.

Claims

1. Arrangement for interactive real-time remote analysis and adjustment of a hearing aid for a hearing patient, in which a hearing aid clinician at a central clinic location is able to analyze and adjust performance and program settings of one or more programmable hearing aids of a hearing patient who is present at a patient location that is remote from said central clinic location, the arrangement comprising

at said central clinic location,

a suitably programmed computer having a processor, an interface device for use by the clinician, a video monitor screen, and an Internet connection to connect the clinician computer with a global computer network;

and software permitting analysis of program settings of a patient'"'"'s hearing aid in real time by the clinician and permitting the clinician at the central clinic location to adjust the settings of the hearing aid while the patient is wearing the aid; and

software providing real time communication between the clinician and the patient at the remote patient location;

at said remote patient location,

a patient-operated computer including a processor, a video monitor screen, a patient-computer interface device, and an Internet connection to connect the patient computer with said global computer network;

software installed on said patient computer to permit the clinician to obtain a remote connection to gain control of the patient computer, to analyze program settings of the patient hearing aid and adjust the patient'"'"'s hearing aid by use of the interface device of the clinician computer; and

a wireless device connected with the patient computer and communicating wirelessly with the patient'"'"'s hearing aid at the patient location, the device being able to transmit data corresponding to program settings of the hearing aid between the hearing aid and the patient computer, and thence between the patient computer and the computer at the central clinic location.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said wireless device employs short-range low-power radio to communicate with the patient'"'"'s hearing aid.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said wireless device includes a necklace incorporated therewith to permit the patient to wear the wireless device on the patient'"'"'s neck.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a pre-addressed return envelope permitting the patient to return the wireless device to the central clinic location following a remote adjustment session with the clinician.

5. A method for interactive, real-time analysis and adjustment of a hearing aid of a patient, wherein a hearing aid clinician is located at a central clinic location and is able to analyze and adjust the performance and program settings of one or more programmable hearing aids of a hearing aid patient who is present at a patient location that is remote from said clinic location, the method comprising providing the clinician at the clinic location with a suitably programmed computer having an interface device for use by the clinician, a video monitor screen, an Internet connection to connect the clinician computer with a global computer network, and software permitting analysis of program settings of a patient'"'"'s hearing aid and permitting the clinician to adjust the program settings of the patient'"'"'s hearing aid, while the patient is wearing the hearing aid wherein the clinician computer is adapted to provide real-time communication between the clinician at the clinic location and the patient at the patient location;

and providing the patient at the patient location a patient computer including a processor, a video monitor screen, a patient-computer interface device, and an Internet connection to connect the patient computer with said global computer network;

the method further comprising

installing on the patient computer software to permit the clinician to gain control of the patient computer through said Internet connection, and to analyze and adjust the patient'"'"'s hearing aid, while it is being worn by the patient, through the clinician computer connected via said global computer network with the patient computer;

providing the patient with a wireless hearing aid adjustment device;

connecting the wireless hearing aid adjustment device with the patient computer;

the wireless hearing aid adjustment device communicating wirelessly with the patient'"'"'s hearing aid while the aid is present in the ear of the patient;

obtaining via the wireless hearing aid adjustment device program settings of the patient'"'"'s hearing aid and communicating the settings through the patient computer and the global computer network to the clinician computer, and displaying said settings on the monitor at said clinic location;

the clinician entering adjustments to said program settings on the clinician computer; and

the clinician computer communicating said adjustments through the global computer network to the patient computer at the patient location;

the wireless hearing aid adjustment device uploading the adjusted program settings to the patient'"'"'s hearing aid to re-fit the hearing aid in real time.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said wireless hearing aid adjustment device communicates with the patient'"'"'s hearing aid with low-power short range radio waves.

7. The method of claim 6 further said wireless hearing aid adjustment device and hearing aid communicate via a Bluetooth protocol.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the wireless hearing aid adjustment device includes a necklace adapted to fit around the neck of the patient, and further comprising the patient placing the wireless hearing aid adjustment device around his or her neck.

9. The method of claim 5 also comprising providing the patient with a self-addressed return envelope adapted for returning the wireless hearing aid adjustment device to the central clinic location.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the patient communicates real-time feedback to the clinician concerning specific problems that he or she is experiencing with the hearing aid, and the clinician makes real-time adjustments to the program based on said real-time feedback.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein said software installed on the patient computer establishes a remote audio-video connection between the clinician computer and the patient computer to provide video imaging of the patient and the clinician so that the patient and clinician can see images of one another and can talk and listen to one another.