Modular wireless auditory test instrument with intelligent transducers

• US 8,983,084 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Natus Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Bengtsson, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US13/025,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20110135104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 381/60, 381/67, 735/85, 600/559, 600/528, 600/586, 702103-104, 702/116, 455/3.01, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 381/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing various auditory tests utilizing a hand-held, portable, wireless testing device is provided. Within the device is a diagnostic subsystem used to implement and analyze selected tests. Attached to the device, either directly or via a flexible cable, are one or more probes. A processor, storage means, input means and display means are included, thus allowing the device to process and store instructions as well as process, store and display data. A wireless networking subsystem is included, enabling the device to communicate with other, similarly enabled, systems and devices within the device'"'"'s communication range. Due to the inclusion of the wireless networking subsystem, the device can be configured to allow the user to transmit and/or print data, connect to a network, obtain device configuration updates, and send and receive patient and office updates.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a portable auditory test instrument, comprising:

coupling the portable auditory test instrument to a probe, wherein the probe is configured to interface with an ear of a user and comprises a transducer for providing a stimulus signal to the user of the probe;

receiving system configuration data transmitted from the probe to the portable auditory test instrument; and

automatically configuring the portable auditory test instrument based on the system configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the system configuration data includes probe calibration data, the method further comprising automatically determining if the probe calibration data is valid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the system configuration data is transmitted automatically from the probe to the portable auditory test instrument in response to the coupling of the portable auditory test instrument to the probe.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the system configuration data includes information about a capability of the probe.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable auditory test instrument is automatically configured in response to the received system configuration data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe is configured for placement at the ear.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe has a portion for insertion into the ear.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the system configuration data is stored in the probe before the probe is being used by the user.

9. A method of configuring a portable auditory instrument, comprising:

coupling the portable auditory instrument to a test probe, wherein the test probe is configured to interface with an ear of a user and comprises a transducer for providing a stimulus signal to the user of the test probe;

receiving system configuration data transmitted from the test probe to the portable auditory instrument; and

automatically configuring the portable auditory instrument based on the system configuration data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the system configuration data includes test probe calibration data, the method further comprising automatically determining if the test probe calibration data is valid.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the system configuration data is transmitted automatically from the test probe to the portable auditory instrument in response to the coupling of the portable auditory instrument to the test probe.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the system configuration data includes information about a capability of the test probe.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the portable auditory instrument is automatically configured in response to the received system configuration data.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the probe is configured for placement at the ear.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the probe has a portion for insertion into the ear.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the system configuration data is stored in the probe before the probe is being used by the user.

17. A method of configuring a portable auditory instrument, comprising:

coupling the portable auditory instrument to a probe, wherein the probe is configured to interface with an ear of a user and comprises a transducer for providing a stimulus signal to the user of the probe;

receiving system configuration data transmitted from the probe to the portable auditory instrument; and

automatically configuring the portable auditory instrument based on the system configuration data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the system configuration data includes probe calibration data, the method further comprising automatically determining if the probe calibration data is valid.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the system configuration data is transmitted automatically from the probe to the portable auditory instrument in response to the coupling of the portable auditory instrument to the probe.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the system configuration data includes information about a capability of the probe.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the portable auditory instrument is automatically configured in response to the received system configuration data.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the probe is configured for placement at the ear.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the probe has a portion for insertion into the ear.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the system configuration data is stored in the probe before the probe is being used by the user.

25. A method of configuring a portable auditory instrument, comprising:

coupling the portable auditory instrument to a test probe, wherein the test probe is configured to interface with an ear of a user and comprises a transducer for providing a stimulus signal to the user of the test probe;

obtaining system configuration data transmitted from the probe to the portable auditory instrument;

automatically configuring the portable auditory instrument based on the system configuration data;

wherein the portable auditory instrument is configured to perform at least one test selected from the group consisting of;

a tympanometry test, a tympanometry sweeps test, an acoustic reflex test, an acoustic reflex threshold determination, a reflex decay measurement, a pure tone threshold determination, an Eustachian tube function determination, an acoustic reflex latency test, a Gelle'"'"'s test, a measurement of an outer ear acoustic impedance under varying pressures, an audiometric emission measurement, an advanced audiometry test, an ABLB test, a Stenger test, and a SISI test.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the configuration data includes test probe calibration data, the method further comprising determining if the test probe calibration data is valid.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the system configuration data is transmitted from the test probe to the portable auditory automatically in response to the coupling of the portable auditory instrument to the test probe.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the system configuration data includes information about a capability of the test probe.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the portable auditory instrument is automatically configured in response to the received system configuration data.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the probe is configured for placement at the ear.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the probe has a portion for insertion into the ear.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the system configuration data is stored in the probe before the probe is being used by the user.

33. An auditory test instrument, comprising:

a connector configured to detachably couple to a test probe, wherein the test probe is configured to interface with an ear of a user and comprises a transducer for providing a stimulus signal to the user of the test probe;

a processing module configured to implement at least one auditory diagnostic test; and

a housing containing the processing module;

wherein the processing module is configured to receive system configuration data transmitted from the test probe, and automatically perform a configuration process based on the system configuration data.

34. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, wherein the system configuration data includes test probe calibration data, and the processing module is configured to automatically determine if the test probe calibration data is valid.

35. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, wherein the processing module is configured to automatically receive the system configuration data in response to a coupling of the connector to the test probe.

36. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, wherein the system configuration data includes information about a capability of the test probe.

37. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, wherein the processing module is configured to automatically perform the configuration process in response to the received system configuration data.

38. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, wherein the test probe is an intelligent probe.

39. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, wherein the test probe is mainly for use in hearing test(s).

40. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, further comprising a display configured to display results from the at least one auditory diagnostic test.

41. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, further comprising:

a wireless networking subsystem configured to wirelessly transmit a signal via a short distance wireless network to a peripheral electronic device or system;

wherein the peripheral electronic device or system is external to the housing, and the wireless network subsystem is configured to transmit the signal to the peripheral electronic device or system that is external to the housing.

42. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, wherein the probe is configured for placement at the ear.

43. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, wherein the probe has a portion for insertion into the ear.

44. The auditory test instrument of claim 33, wherein the system configuration data is stored in the probe before the probe is being used by the user.