WIRELESS INTERFACE FOR AUDIOMETERS

• US 20120067107A1
• Filed: 11/09/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Gross, Allan H., Dar, Barak
• Granted Patent: US 8,939,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.82
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6888 Cabins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms

Abstract

An interface adapted for use with an audiometer, including a digital wireless interface supported by a base unit and a remote unit wherein the base unit receives signals from the audiometer and provides the signals to the remote unit via the digital wireless interface.

Claims

1. An interface adapted for use with an audiometer, comprising:

a digital wireless interface supported by a base unit and a remote unit wherein the base unit receives signals comprising test sound information corresponding to a test sound from the audiometer and provides the signals as digitally encoded test sound information corresponding the test sound to the remote unit via the digital wireless interface,

wherein the digital wireless interface provides at least 120 decibels of dynamic range bandwidth.

2. The interface as in claim 1, wherein the digital wireless interface comprises high density coding.

3. The interface as in claim 2, wherein the high density coding comprises minimum shift keying.

4. The interface as in claim 1, further comprising earphones coupled to the remote unit.

5. The interface as in claim 1, further comprising insert earphones coupled to the remote unit.

6. The interface as in claim 1, further comprising a bone conduction transducer coupled to the remote unit.

7. The interface as in claim 1, wherein the base unit further comprises a user interface.

8. The interface as in claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises at least one of an analog base unit and a digital base unit for receiving the test sound information.

9. The interface as in claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a computer-processing unit adapted for running a digital audiometer.

10. The interface as in claim 1, wherein the remote unit further comprises a response switch configured to communicate actuation of the response switch to a base unit via the digital wireless interface.

11. A method for calibrating an audiometric testing system to a test subject, the audiometric testing system having a digital wireless interface, the method comprising:

producing a test sound by insert earphones coupled to a sound level meter, the producing using the digital wireless interface to transmit the test sound as digitally encoded test sound information corresponding to the test sound;

monitoring a corresponding sound pressure level; and

adjusting the audiometric testing system via the digital wireless interface to match the sound pressure level to a predetermined value;

producing a test sound in an ear canal of a test subject;

determining the deviation between the reference equivalent sound pressure level (RESPL) of the ear and the standard RESPL; and

adjusting the audiometric testing system corresponding to the deviation.

12. The method as in claim 11, further comprising identifying an ear canal of the test subject to which a masking sound is transmitted.

13. The method as in claim 12, further comprising transmitting a masking sound to an ear canal of the test subject.

14. The method as in claim 11, further comprising measuring ambient noise in at least one ear canal of the test subject.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising canceling ambient noise in at least one ear canal of the test subject.

16. The method as in claim 11, further comprising sending a response via a response switch from the test subject.

17. An interface for providing an appropriate dynamic range for audiometric testing comprising:

a digital wireless interface supported by a base unit and a remote unit wherein the base unit receives a signal comprising test sound information corresponding a test sound from an audiometer and provides the signal as digitally encoded test sound information corresponding to the test sound to the remote unit via the digital wireless interface, wherein the amplitude of the signal provided via the wireless interface is automatically scaled based on a comparison of an average amplitude of the signal to preset thresholds,

wherein the audiometer is further configured to provide a masking signal for a non-test ear.

18. The interface as in claim 17, further comprising means for measuring ambient noise in at least one ear canal of a test subject.

19. The interface as in claim 18, further comprising means for canceling ambient noise in at least one ear canal of a test subject.

20. The system as in claim 17, further comprising means for sending a response from a test subject.