Portable monitoring device with hearing aid and EEG monitor
First Claim
1. A portable monitoring device comprising:
- a hearing aid having a hearing aid housing, at least one microphone for receiving ambient sound, an acoustic signal processor configured to process a signal from the microphone in accordance with a hearing impairment of a person using said hearing aid to obtain a processed sound signal, and an acoustic output transducer configured to produce an acoustic output corresponding to the processed sound signal, andan EEG monitoring system configured to monitor EEG signals of said person, said EEG monitoring system being arranged at least partly in said hearing aid housing, said EEG monitoring system comprisinga measuring unit having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from said person, said electrodes being arranged external to the housing or at an outer surface of the housing,a processing unit having an EEG signal processor configured to analyze the EEG signal, said processing unit being arranged in said housing, said EEG signal processor being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, in said person, said processing unit comprising a decision component for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, and a notification component for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer; and
an adjustment component receiving a signal representing an acoustic background noise level and configured to adjust a sound level of said alarm or information according to the acoustic background noise level in order to make the alarm or information clearly discernible over background noise.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable monitoring device comprises a hearing aid having a housing, a microphone (24), an acoustic signal processing means (43), and an acoustic output transducer (33). The portable monitoring device further comprises an EEG monitoring system arranged at least partly in said housing, and comprising a measuring unit (3) having electrodes (12) arranged external to the housing. The EEG monitoring system comprises a processing unit (42) for analyzing the EEG signal for identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, such as a seizure, in said person, decision means for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, and means for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer (33). The invention further provides a method of monitoring an EEG signal of a hearing impaired person.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A portable monitoring device comprising:
-
a hearing aid having a hearing aid housing, at least one microphone for receiving ambient sound, an acoustic signal processor configured to process a signal from the microphone in accordance with a hearing impairment of a person using said hearing aid to obtain a processed sound signal, and an acoustic output transducer configured to produce an acoustic output corresponding to the processed sound signal, and an EEG monitoring system configured to monitor EEG signals of said person, said EEG monitoring system being arranged at least partly in said hearing aid housing, said EEG monitoring system comprising a measuring unit having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from said person, said electrodes being arranged external to the housing or at an outer surface of the housing, a processing unit having an EEG signal processor configured to analyze the EEG signal, said processing unit being arranged in said housing, said EEG signal processor being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, in said person, said processing unit comprising a decision component for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, and a notification component for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer; and an adjustment component receiving a signal representing an acoustic background noise level and configured to adjust a sound level of said alarm or information according to the acoustic background noise level in order to make the alarm or information clearly discernible over background noise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21)
-
-
17. A method of monitoring an EEG signal of a hearing impaired person comprising the steps of
providing a hearing aid having a housing, at least one microphone for receiving ambient sound, an acoustic signal processor configured to process a signal from the microphone in accordance with a hearing impairment of said person to obtain a processed sound signal, and an acoustic output transducer configured to produce an acoustic output corresponding to said processed sound signal, and providing an EEG monitoring system for monitoring EEG signals of said person, said EEG monitoring system being arranged at least partly in said housing, wherein said step of providing said EEG monitoring system comprises the steps of: -
providing a measuring unit having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from said person, said electrodes being arranged external to the housing or at an outer surface of the housing, and providing a processing unit having an EEG signal processor for analyzing the EEG signal, said processing unit being arranged in said housing, said EEG signal processor being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, such as a seizure, in said person, said processing unit comprising a decision component for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, a notification component for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer; and
an adjustment component receiving a signal representing acoustic background noise level and configured to adjust a sound level of said alarm or information according to the acoustic background noise level in order to make the sound or information clearly discernible over background noise. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
18. A system comprising a portable monitoring device comprising a hearing aid having a housing, at least one microphone for receiving ambient sound, an acoustic signal processor configured to process a signal from the microphone in accordance with a hearing impairment of a person using said hearing aid to obtain a processed sound signal, and an acoustic output transducer configured to produce an acoustic output corresponding to said processed sound signal, said portable monitoring device further comprising an EEG monitoring system for monitoring EEG signals of said person, said EEG monitoring system being arranged at least partly in said housing, said EEG monitoring system comprising
a measuring unit having electrodes for measuring one or more EEG signals from said person, said electrodes being arranged external to the housing or at an outer surface of the housing, a processing unit having an EEG signal processor for analyzing the EEG signal, said processing unit being arranged in said housing, said EEG signal processor being adapted for, based on the EEG signal, identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, in said person, said processing unit comprising a decision component for deciding, based on said analyzed EEG signal, when an alarm or information must be provided to said person, and a notification component for providing said alarm or information through said output transducer, said system being adapted to be arranged at one ear of a person, and further comprising a hearing aid adapted to be arranged at the other ear of the person; - and
an adjustment component receiving a signal representing acoustic background noise level and configured for adjusting a sound level of said alarm or information according to the acoustic background noise level in order to make the alarm or information clearly discernible over background noise. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 23)
- and
Specification