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US 12,647,740 B2Granted
Hearing device and method for analyzing biofluid secreted by outer ear tissue
AssigneeSonova AG
InventorsEmily Urry, Michael Au
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary hearing device may comprise a housing configured to be worn at an ear of a user and an absorbing member positioned on the housing and configured to absorb a biofluid secreted by outer ear tissue of the user while the housing is worn by the user. The hearing device may further comprise an electrode assembly positioned with respect to the absorbing member such that the electrode assembly is in fluidic contact with the biofluid when the biofluid is absorbed by the absorbing member.
Claims18
A hearing device comprising:
- a housing configured to be worn at an ear of a user;
- an absorbing member positioned on the housing and configured to absorb a biofluid secreted by outer ear tissue of the user while the housing is worn by the user;
- and
- an electrode assembly positioned with respect to the absorbing member such that the electrode assembly is in fluidic contact with the biofluid when the biofluid is absorbed by the absorbing member,
- wherein:
- the absorbing member includes a fluid channel oriented with respect to the housing such that, while the housing is worn by the user, gravity causes the biofluid to flow to the electrode assembly;
- and
- the absorbing member further includes an outlet that is downstream of the electrode assembly and that is configured to remain continually open while the hearing device is worn at the ear of the user to pass the biofluid from the outlet and out of the hearing device through use of gravitational force.
5 more elements
A hearing device comprising:
- a memory storing instructions;
- and
- a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute the instructions to:
- apply, by way of an electrode assembly of the hearing device, an electric potential on biofluid secreted by outer ear tissue of a user of the hearing device and absorbed by an absorbing member of the hearing device;
- measure a current that flows through the biofluid based on the electric potential;
- and
- determine, based on the measured current, a property of the biofluid,
- wherein:
- the absorbing member includes a fluid channel oriented with respect to the hearing device such that, while the hearing device is worn by the user, gravity causes the biofluid to flow to the electrode assembly;
- and
- the absorbing member further includes an outlet that is downstream of the electrode assembly and that is configured to remain continually open while the hearing device is worn at the ear of the user to pass the biofluid from the outlet and out of the hearing device through use of gravitational force.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- applying, by a substance detection system and by way of an electrode assembly of a hearing device, an electric potential on biofluid secreted by outer ear tissue of a user of the hearing device and absorbed by an absorbing member of the hearing device;
- measuring, by the substance detection system, a current that flows through the biofluid based on the electric potential;
- and
- determining, by the substance detection system and based on the measured current, a property of the biofluid,
- wherein:
- the absorbing member includes a fluid channel oriented with respect to the hearing device such that, while the hearing device is worn by the user, gravity causes the biofluid to flow to the electrode assembly;
- and
- the absorbing member further includes an outlet that is downstream of the electrode assembly and that is configured to remain continually open while the hearing device is worn at the ear of the user to pass the biofluid from the outlet and out of the hearing device through use of gravitational force.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.