Systems, methods and products for diagnostic hearing assessments distributed via the use of a computer network

• US 7,530,957 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diagnostic Hearing Assessment LLC
• Original Assignee: East Carolina University
• Inventors: Balch, David C., Givens, Gregg D., Murphy, Timothy, Blanarovich, Adrian, Keller, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/113,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,478 Days
• Field of Search: 600/559, 600/300, 607/116, 736/45, 735/85, 707/8, 707/10, 707/100, 718/102, 718/108, 709/203, 709/232, 702/19, 702/122, 702/54, 702/76, 702/108, 702/124, 702/183, 381/23.1
• US Class Current: 600/559
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/123 subjective methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/125 objective methods
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The systems, methods and associated devices performing diagnostic hearing tests which use a computer network to allow interaction between a test administration site and one or a plurality of remote patient sites. The test can be administered by an audiologist or clinician at a site remote from the patient, in a manner, which can allow interaction between the user and the clinician during at least a portion of the administration of the test. The diagnostic hearing tests can be performed such that they meet standardized guidelines such as ANSI requirements or certification standards and can include distortion product emission level measurements or middle ear compliance measurements.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a diagnostic hearing test, the method comprising the steps of:

serving web pages from a web server associated with a diagnostic hearing test device to a web client which indicate a status of the diagnostic hearing test, wherein the diagnostic hearing test device is a portable device with a function generator and attenuator held therein, the portable device configured to communicate with a computer network;

receiving requests from the web client which provide parameters for performing the diagnostic hearing test; and

controlling operation of the diagnostic test device based on the parameters of the received request from the web client so as to provide control of the diagnostic hearing test from a remote site,

wherein the diagnostic hearing test comprises measuring middle ear pressure and compliance characteristics using the portable testing device.

2. A method of controlling a diagnostic hearing test, the method comprising the steps of:

serving web pages from a web server associated with a diagnostic hearing test device to a web client which indicate a status of the diagnostic hearing test, wherein the diagnostic hearing test device is a portable device with a function generator and attenuator held therein, the portable device configured to communicate with a computer network;

receiving requests from the web client which provide parameters for performing the diagnostic hearing test; and

controlling operation of the diagnostic test device based on the parameters of the received request from the web client so as to provide control of the diagnostic hearing test from a remote site,

wherein the hearing evaluation test comprises measuring transient and/or distortion product emission levels in the ear using the portable testing device.

3. A method of controlling a hearing test, the method comprising the steps of:

serving web pages from a web server associated with a hearing test device to a web client which indicate a status of the hearing test, wherein the hearing test device is a portable device with an audiometer;

receiving requests from the web client which provide parameters for performing the hearing test; and

controlling operation of the hearing test device based on the parameters of the received request from the web client so as to provide control of the hearing test,

wherein the hearing test comprises obtaining a biotelemetry measurement of the ear of the subject using the portable device for evaluating at least one of the following;

(a) middle ear pressure;

(b) compliance characteristics;

or (c) distortion product emission levels in the ear.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the hearing test comprises a diagnostic hearing test of selected tones, and wherein the controlling is carried out in substantially real-time based on input from a clinician at a remote site.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the requests from the web client are common gateway interface (CGI) requests which specify parameters for performing the diagnostic hearing test.

6. A method of controlling a electrophysiological auditory evaluation test using one or more of otoacoustic emissions and tympanometry, the method comprising the steps of:

serving web pages from a web server on-board or in communication with a local portable device configured to engage a computer network and being in communication with an otoacoustic auditory evaluation test device configured to measure otoacoustic emissions including at least one of middle ear compliance and cochlear hair cell responses, to a web client which indicates a status of the otoacoustic evaluation test;

receiving requests from the web client which provide parameters for performing the otoacoustic evaluation test; and

controlling at least a portion of the operation of the test using the portable device based on the parameters of the received requests from the web client.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the portable device is configured with the web-server on-board.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the portable device also comprises a function generator and attenuator in communication with the web server.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the controlling step is carried out in substantially real-time based on input from a clinician at a remote site to control operation of the test based on the parameters that inputs that generate the received requests from the web client.