# US 11,076,779 B2 · Optimization tool for auditory devices

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- Number: US 11,076,779 B2
- Document ID: US11076779B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/848,517
- Filed: 2020-04-14
- Published: 2020-07-30
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-06
- Assignees: Soundwave Hearing, LLC
- Applicants: Soundwave Hearing, LLC
- Inventors: Christopher Boven; Reagan John Roberts
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076779B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/123: {subjective methods}
- A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles}
- A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)}
- A61B 5/743: {Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots}
- A61N 1/36038: {Cochlear stimulation}
- A61N 1/36039: {fitting procedures}
- H04R 25/30: {Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power}
- H04R 25/305: {Self-monitoring or self-testing}
- H04R 25/50: {Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics}
- H04R 25/70: {Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting}
- G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path}
- H04R 2225/41: Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
- H04R 2225/67: Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An optimization system for testing a patient's hearing comprising a controller, right and left ear pieces, and a memory. The controller provides a series of tones to the ear piece and receive feedback from the patient between each tone provided. The controller then generates a data point on an audiogram after receiving each feedback, wherein each data point is based on the respective feedback, and, after each data point is generated, compute a statistical distribution based on the generated data points. The controller then identifies an area of the audiogram most in need of additional data based on the statistical distribution and selects a subsequent tone to provide in the series of tones, wherein each subsequent tone provided in the series of tones is a tone represented in the area of the audiogram most in need of additional data at the time of selection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optimization system for testing a patient's hearing comprising:
a controller;
an ear piece in audible communication with the controller;
a memory in communication with the controller and including instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to:
provide a series of tones to the ear piece;
receive feedback from the patient between each tone provided, wherein each feedback indicates that the respective tone was detected in the ear piece or that the respective tone was not detected;
generate a data point on an audiogram after receiving each feedback, wherein each data point is, based on the respective feedback;
after each data point is generated, compute a statistical distribution based on the generated data points;
identify an area of the audiogram, most in, need of additional data based on the statistical distribution; and
select a subsequent tone to provide in the series of tones, wherein each subsequent tone provided in the series of tones is a tone represented in the area of the audiogram most in need of additional data at the time, of selection.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optimization system of claim 1, wherein the ear piece comprises a right ear piece and a left, ear piece, and the controller:
provides a series of tones to the right and left ear pieces, wherein each tone is provided to one of the right and left ear pieces, and
generates a data point on one of a right audiogram and a left audiogram after receiving each feedback, wherein each data point is based on the respective feedback.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optimization system of claim 1, wherein the controller utilizes a Gaussian process to compute the statistical distribution.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optimization system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate a hearing thresholds graph including an upper curve and a lower curve, each of the upper and lower curves based on the series of tones and the feedback from the patient.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The optimization system of claim 4, wherein an upper area of the hearing thresholds graph above the upper curve corresponds to one or more tones that were detected.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The optimization system of claim 5, wherein a lower area of the hearing thresholds graph below the lower curve corresponds to one or more tones that were not detected.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The optimization system of claim 6, wherein a central area of the hearing thresholds graph between the upper and lower curves corresponds to one or more tones that were not provided for detection.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The optimization system of claim 6, wherein the upper and lower curves align after the series of tones has been provided.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The optimization system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to display a graphical user interface including the audiogram and the hearing thresholds graph.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The optimization system of claim 9, wherein the graphical user interface includes a right cumulative confidence level and a left cumulative confidence level.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The optimization system of claim 1, further comprising a hearing device, and wherein the controller is configured to output the generated data points to the hearing device.

### Claim 12

A method of testing a patient's hearing comprising the steps of:
providing a series of tones to an ear piece;
receiving feedback from the patient between each tone provided, wherein each feedback indicates that the respective tone was detected in the ear piece or that the respective tone was not detected;
generating a data point on an audiogram after receiving each feedback, wherein each data point is based on the respective feedback;
after each data point is generated, computing a statistical distribution based on the generated data points;
identifying an area of the audiogram most in need of additional data based on the statistical distribution; and
selecting a subsequent tone to provide in the series of tones, wherein each subsequent tone provided in the series of tones is a tone represented in the area of the audiogram most in need of additional data at the time of selection.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein each tone in the series of tones is provided to one of a right ear piece and a left ear piece, and wherein each data point is generated for one of a right audiogram and a left audiogram after receiving each feedback.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
generating a hearing thresholds graph based on, the feedback and including at least one curve separating the graph into an upper section, and a lower section.