Apparatus and method for characterization of acute otitis media
AssigneeOtoNexus Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMark A. Moehring, George A. Gates, Daniel M. Kreindler, Jay A. Chesavage, Rahul Singh
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Abstract
An ultrasound signal processor uses an excitation generator to cause displacement of a tympanic membrane while a series of ultrasound pulses are applied to the tympanic membrane. Phase differences between a transmitted signal and received signal are examined to determine the movement of the tympanic membrane in response to the applied excitation. An examination of the phase response of the tympanic membrane provides a determination as to whether the fluid type behind the tympanic membrane is one of: no fluid, serum fluid, or purulent fluid.
Claims31
A device for characterizing a tympanic membrane, the device comprising:
- an excitation generator configured to produce an excitation comprising a pressure modulation in air for application to the tympanic membrane to cause a displacement;
- a transducer configured to transmit acoustic waves towards the tympanic membrane during a transmit interval and to receive reflected acoustic waves from the tympanic membrane during a receive interval;
- an optical source configured to provide a visual indication of a region of insonification on the tympanic membrane, thereby allowing direction of the acoustic waves from the transducer to a region of interest on the tympanic membrane;
- a phase and amplitude detector configured to receive a phase and an amplitude of the reflected acoustic waves, compare a phase of the transmit signal to the phase of the reflected acoustic waves, and generate a phase output;
- and
- a response analyzer configured to compare the phase output to the excitation and determine one or more of a viscosity of a fluid adjacent to the tympanic membrane or a mobility of the tympanic membrane based on the comparison.
A device for characterizing a tympanic membrane, the device comprising:
- a speculum tip configured to be inserted into an ear canal;
- an excitation generator coupled to the speculum tip and configured to generate an excitation waveform comprising a pressure modulation in an air volume to cause a displacement in the tympanic membrane;
- an ultrasound transducer distinct from the excitation generator and positioned in the speculum tip, wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to transmit ultrasound energy and to receive reflected ultrasound energy from the tympanic membrane;
- a transmit/receive switch coupled to the ultrasound transducer;
- a receiver configured to amplify reflected ultrasound energy received from the ultrasound transducer to form a received signal, wherein the received signal comprises a phase and amplitude of the reflected ultrasound energy,
- a detector configured to generate a plurality of phase and amplitude measurements each comprising a difference between the transmitted ultrasound energy and the received signal,
- a signal analyzer configured to compare the plurality of phase and amplitude measurements to the excitation waveform and form an effusion metric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.