Multimedia feature for diagnostic instrumentation

• US 5,811,681 A
• Filed: 04/29/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maico Llc
• Original Assignee: Finnigan Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Foreman, Jack, Braun, Leroy
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, ROSE MARY
• Application Number:
  US08/639,694
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 73/585, 73/570, 128/746, 600/559
• US Class Current: 73/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity

Abstract

A method for automatedly administering an audiometric test includes the steps of controlling an audiometer to selectively switch the audiometer output between test tones generated by the audiometer and sound signals generated from digital information; first switching the audiometer output to sound signals when the step of controlling indicates a beginning of a new test, a completion of a current test, or a test error; outputting sound representative of the sound signals after the step of first switching; second switching the audiometer output to test tones after the step of outputting; and outputting test tones until the next step of first switching.

Claims

1. A method for administering an audiometric test, comprising the steps of:

controlling an audiometer that performs select logical testing procedures to selectively switch between the audiometer output of test signals, generated by the audiometer according to the select logical testing procedures of the audiometer and signals generated from digital information of a computer;

and generally signals from digital information of the computer, wherein the signals are representative of multimedia elements including test instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

first switching to signals generated by the computer when the step of controlling indicates a particular condition to which the select logical testing procedures of the audiometer cannot logically respond;

outputting sound in respect of the signals generated by the computer, after the step of first switching;

second switching the audiometer output to test signals of the audiometer according to the select logical testing procedures of the audiometer; and

outputting test signals until the next step of first switching.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular condition is selected from the group consisting of a beginning of a new test, a completion of a current test, and a test error.

4. A multimedia audiometer, including a conventional audiometer and a computer, comprising:

means for outputting sound signals generated from digital information of the computer;

means for outputting test signals generated by the conventional audiometer according to pre-programmed logic of the conventional audiometer;

means for switching between the means for outputting sound signals and the means for outputting test signals, the means for switching being communicatingly connected with the means for outputting sound signals and the means for outputting test signals; and

means for controlling the means for switching, the means for controlling being communicatingly connected with the means for switching.

5. A multimedia audiometer testing device, responsive to a test subject'"'"'s input, comprising:

a computer;

a test signal generator, the test signal generator generates test signals according to prescribed protocols of the test signal generator;

a logic circuit connected with the computer and the test signal generator;

wherein the logic circuit selectively causes the test signal generator to generate test signals according to the prescribed protocols in response to the test subject'"'"'s input; and

wherein the computer controls the logic circuit to selectively switch between test signals according to the prescribed protocols and select discernible signals output by the computer.

6. An audiometer testing device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, communicatingly connected with the processor, for storing digital data;

a sound wave generator, for generating analog sound signals in respect of digital data electrically connected with the processor;

a test signal generator; and

a logic circuit connected with the test signal generator and the processor;

wherein the logic circuit and the sound wave generator are controlled by the processor to selectively cause either the sound wave generator or the test signal generator to output discernible signals.

7. The audiometer of claim 6, further comprising earphone speakers communicatingly connected to the sound wave generator and the test tone generator.

8. The audiometer of claim 6, further comprising a handswitch for inputting a response detectable by the processor.

9. The audiometer of claim 7, further comprising a handswitch for inputting a response detectable by the processor, wherein the processor operates based on the response.

10. The audiometer of claim 9, wherein the processor is also connected with the earphone speakers, between the sound wave generator and the test tone generator, on the one hand, and the earphone speakers, on the other hand.

11. The audiometer of claim 6, further comprising a talkover card including an amplifier, the talkover card electrically connecting the sound wave generator and the processor.

12. An instrument, the instrument conducts a test protocol on a test subject, the test protocol comprises an output by the instrument followed by an input to the instrument, the test subject determines the input, the input may be positive, negative, or null, comprising:

an output generator;

an input detector for detecting the input;

a pre-programmed logic connected to the output generator, providing test sequences for output by the output generator responsive to the input as dictated by the preprogrammed logic; and

a computer connected to the input detector and the pre-progammed logic, the computer includes a digital data storage for storing a digital data.

13. The instrument of claim 12, wherein the output generator comprises:

an analog test tone generator; and

a sound wave generator for producing sound waves representative of the analog signal.

14. The instrument of claim 13, wherein the output generator further comprises a switch for switching the output generator between the analog test tone generator and the sound wave generator.

15. A multimedia audiometer, comprising:

a basic audiometer, comprising a sine wave generator, a frequency selector, an attenuator, an amplifier, and a pulse control, the basic audiometer performs select testing procedures according to a pre-programmed logic;

a computer;

a multimedia input interface communicatingly connecting the computer and the basic audiometer; and

a communications interface communicatingly connecting the computer and the basic audiometer.

16. The multimedia audiometer of claim 15, further comprising:

an input device connected to the basic audiometer; and

an output speaker connectected to the basic audiometer.

17. The multimedia audiometer of claim 15, wherein the computer comprises a sound wave generator for converting a digital information to analog signals in respect of the digital information.

18. The multimedia audiometer of claim 15, further comprising a switch connected to the multimedia input interface and the basic audiometer, on the one hand, and the output speaker, on the other hand, for switching between a first signal communicated over the multimedia input interface and a second signal generated by the basic audiometer as an output for the output speaker.

19. The multimedia audiometer of claim 15, wherein the computer and the basic audiometer communicate over the communications interface and the computer controls the operation of the audiometer over the communications interface.

20. The multimedia audiometer of claim 18, wherein the computer and the basic audiometer communicate over the communications interface and the computer controls the operation of the audiometer over the communications interface and wherein the switch comprises a relay and the computer controls the relay in order to switch between the first signal communicated over the multimedia input interface and the second signal generated by the basic audiometer as the output for the output speaker.

21. The multimedia audiometer of claim 20, wherein the computer comprises a sound wave generator for converting a digital information stored by the computer to analog signals in respect of the digital information.

22. A diagnostic instrument, comprising:

means for outputting an audible sound;

means for generating a test signal;

means for storing a digital data;

means for generating an analog signal derived from the digital data;

means for switching an output of the means for outputting between the test signal and the analog signal, the means for switching being electrically connected to the means for generating a test signal and the means for generating an analog signal;

first means for processing;

means for inputting, the means for inputting connects the first means for processing to the means for outputting;

second means for processing, the second means for processing controls the first means for processing; and

means for communicating, the means for communicating connects the second means for processing to the means for outputting, the means for generating the test tone, the means for storing the digital data, the means for generating the analog signal, the means for switching, and the means for inputting.

23. A method of performing a diagnostic test protocol, comprising the steps of:

outputting an audible sound;

generating a test signal;

storing a digital data;

generating an analog sound derived from the digital data;

switching the audible sound from the step of outputting between the test signal and the analog signal;

first processing a test protocol according to pre-programmed logical procedures;

second processing the digital data to control the step of first processing; and

controlling the steps of outputting, generating the test tone, storing, generating the analog sound, and switching.

24. A diagnostic instrument, responsive to a test subject'"'"'s input, comprising:

a first processor for performing a pre-programmed test sequence according to select logical testing procedures responsive to the subject'"'"'s input; and

a second processor for controlling the first processor.

25. The diagnostic instrument of claim 24, wherein the second processor controls the first processor according to a second pre-programmed test sequence that includes multimedia outputs.