US 12,661,034 B2 · Measuring presbycusis

Abstract

Diagnosing and treating presbycusis (age related hearing loss) includes measuring basilar membrane stiffness. In an example, a low frequency component of an electrocochleogram stimulation signal is used to bias a region of the basilar membrane, the results of which are used basilar membrane stiffness. The resulting measurement is used to measure a subcomponent of presbycusis. Further, the measurement can be combined with known diagnostic methods to reveal or distinguish other origins of hearing loss such as strial presbycusis, sensory presbycusis, neural presbycusis, and cochlea conductive presbycusis. The relative contributions for each of the diagnosed origins of hearing loss can be determined.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

providing one or more sound waves to an inner ear of a recipient, wherein the one or more sound waves include a first component having a first frequency configured to activate a tissue region of the inner ear, and a second component having a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency and is configured to bias the tissue region;
measuring a response to the provided one or more sound waves;
and
determining a stiffness of a basilar membrane at a region of the inner ear based on the measured response.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/043,989Filed 2 Sep 2021 · us provisional application

Priority

10 Sep 2020

Published

US 2023/0404440 A121 Dec 2023

Granted

23 Jun 2026

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61B 5/126
Objective methods: measuring compliance or mechanical impedance of the tympanic membrane
A61B 5/125
Evaluating hearing capacity: objective methods
A61B 5/6817
Ear: ear canal
A61N 1/36038
Of the outer, middle or inner ear: cochlear stimulation

Measuring presbycusis

Life of this patent

Measuring presbycusis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29