Methods and systems for observation of tympanic function

• US 9,155,459 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Furlong, Cosme, Merchant, Saumil N., Rosowski, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Unsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Santos Rodriguez, Joseph M
• Application Number:
  US12/521,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20100094137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,772 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000096 using artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0661 Endoscope light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0048 Detecting, measuring or recording by applying mechanical forces or stimuli A61B5/021, A61B5/4884 and A61B9/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0097 by applying acoustic waves and detecting light, i.e. acoustooptic measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/126 measuring compliance or mechanical impedance of the tympanic membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation

Abstract

Methods and systems for endoscopic observation of tympanic function.

Claims

1. A method for observation of two dimensional deformation and two dimensional shape of an inner ear membrane, the method comprising the steps of:

exciting the inner ear with a predetermined acoustic input;

the predetermined acoustic input provided by a sound generator;

detecting a response to inner ear excitation by the predetermined acoustic input using a microphone;

providing an incident light into inner ear, while the inner ear is responding to the inner ear excitation;

the incident light provide by a light source;

receiving a portion of the incident light, the portion being reflected or scattered due to the inner ear excitation;

obtaining an interference pattern from the received portion of the incident light and a reference lightbeam;

the reference lightbeam provided by a reference source;

the received portion of the incident light and a reference lightbeam being received by an image detecting component; and

analyzing the interference pattern to determine spatial and temporal information related to inner ear function;

the spatial and temporal information comprising the two dimensional deformation and two dimensional shape of the inner ear membrane;

the interference pattern being generated by a processing component and computer usable media having computer readable code embodied therein, which, when executed by the processing component, causes the processing component to analyze the interference pattern;

wherein the step of obtaining an interference pattern further comprises the steps of;

a) varying, by controllable deflection, a length of a path of the reference lightbeam by a predetermined fraction of a wavelength;

b) obtaining an intensity distribution corresponding to an interference pattern between the received portion of the incident light and the reference lightbeam after traversing said length of said path; and

c) repeating steps a) and b) for a number of predetermined fractions of the wavelength;

thereby obtaining a plurality of intensity distributions in order to obtain a predetermined function characteristic of the inner ear.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern comprises the steps of:

obtaining the predetermined function of the plurality of intensity distributions, said predetermined function being related to characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear; and

obtaining from said predetermined function characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the step of:

applying a phase unwrapping algorithm to said predetermined function.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining an interference pattern further comprises the steps of:

repeating step a), b), and c) at a plurality of time periods, said plurality of time periods being selected over a characteristic time period of the response to excitation; and

wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the steps of;

obtaining a plurality of predetermined functions, each predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions being obtained at a different time period from said plurality of time periods and being one of a phase change related to shape contours and a fringe-locus function;

said each predetermined function being related to characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear;

obtaining a difference between one predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions and another predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions;

said one predetermined function and said another predetermined function being obtained at consecutive time periods from said plurality of time periods; and

obtaining, from said difference, characteristics of a temporal evolution of the excitation of the inner ear.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the step of:

applying a phase unwrapping algorithm to each predetermined function from said plurality of predetermined functions.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the predetermined function is one of a fringe locus function and a phase change related to shaped contours obtained after performing a double exposure operation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining an interference pattern further comprises the steps of:

performing steps a), b), and c) at one wavelength, thereby obtaining a first plurality of intensity distributions;

repeating steps a), b), and c) at another wavelength, thereby obtaining a second plurality of intensity distributions; and

wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the steps of;

obtaining, from said first and second pluralities of intensity distributions, a predetermined function;

said predetermined function related to spatial characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear; and

obtaining, from said predetermined function, spatial characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern further comprises the step of:

applying a Phase unwrapping algorithm to said predetermined function.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein each intensity distribution from said plurality of intensity distributions is obtained over a predetermined time period.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of analyzing the interference pattern comprises the steps of:

obtaining a predetermined function of the plurality of intensity distributions, said predetermined function related to characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear; and

obtaining from said predetermined function characteristics of the excitation of the inner ear.