Hearing evaluation device with patient connection evaluation capabilities
AssigneeNatus Medical Incorporated
InventorsMatthijs P. Smits, Vineet Bansal, Abraham J. Totah, Bryan P. Flaherty, Alfred Christian Walton
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for evaluation of hearing loss is disclosed. The apparatus and method use evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) to determine if the subject is able to hear iteratively administered click stimuli. The present invention evaluates the sufficiency of the patient connections, namely earphones and electrodes, to the evaluation device. More particularly, the present invention determines if the earphones are detached or deformed, if the electrodes have been reversed, or if the electrodes have become detached.
Claims30
A device for hearing evaluation of a subject comprising:
- means for repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli, said means creating a particular acoustic environment;
- and
- means for determining if said means for repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli is creating said particular acoustic environment.
A system for hearing evaluation of a subject comprising:
- a transducer having an audible click output stimulus and a tone output stimulus, said tone output stimulus having an amplitude;
- an earphone, said transducer being located about said earphone;
- an electrode system adapted to detect an electroencephalographic (EEG) response to said click output stimulus;
- a microphone for detecting a response signal to said tone output stimulus;
- means for determining a response energy of said response signal;
- and
- processor for determining if said response energy is outside a predetermined range.
A system for hearing evaluation of a subject comprising:
- a first transducer having an audible click output stimulus;
- a second transducer having a tone output stimulus, said tone output stimulus having an amplitude;
- an earphone, said transducers being located in or about said carphone;
- an electrode system adapted to detect an EEG response to said click output stimulus;
- an microphone for detecting a response signal to said tone stimulus;
- means for determining a response energy of said response signal;
- and
- processor for determining if said response energy is outside a predetermined range.
A method for hearing evaluation of a subject, comprising the steps of:
- repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli, through an earphone, said earphone creating a particular acoustic environment;
- and
- automatically determining if said earphone is creating said particular acoustic environment.
A device for hearing evaluation of a subject comprising:
- means for repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli;
- a pair of electrodes for sampling an EEG response to said stimuli, each electrode having a proper placement location;
- and
- means for determining if the placement location of said pair of electrodes is reversed relative to said proper placement location.
A system for hearing evaluation of a subject comprising:
- a transducer having an audible click output stimulus;
- an electrode system adapted to detect an EEG response to said click output stimulus,
- said electrode system comprising a pair of electrodes, each electrode having a proper placement location;
- and
- a processor responsive to said electrode system for determining if the placement of said electrodes is reversed relative to said proper placement location.
A method for hearing evaluation of a subject, comprising the steps of:
- placing a pair of electrodes, each electrode having a proper placement location;
- repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli;
- sampling EEG responses to said stimuli with said pair of electrodes;
- and
- determining if the placement of said electrodes is reversed relative to said proper placement location.
A device for hearing evaluation of a subject comprising:
- means for repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli;
- attachable means for sampling EEG responses to said stimuli;
- and
- means for continuously and automatically detecting if said sampling means are not attached.
A system for hearing evaluation of a subject comprising:
- a transducer having an audible click output stimulus;
- an attachable electrode system adapted to detect an EEG response to said click output stimulus;
- an impedance detector for detecting the impedance associated with said electrode system;
- and
- a processor responsive to said detector impedance for continuously determining if said electrode system is attached.
A method for hearing evaluation of a subject, comprising the steps of:
- attaching electrodes;
- repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli;
- sampling EEG responses to said stimuli with said electrodes;
- and
- continuously determining if said electrodes are attached.
A method for hearing evaluation of a subject, comprising the steps of:
- attaching electrodes, said electrodes having an impedance between them;
- repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli;
- sampling EEG responses to said stimuli with said electrodes;
- continuously determining if said electrodes are attached;
- and
- determining the impedance between said electrodes when it has been determined that said electrodes are not attached.
A device for hearing evaluation of a subject comprising:
- means for repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli, said means creating a particular acoustic environment;
- and
- means for determining automatically if said means for repeatedly delivering auditory stimuli is creating said particular acoustic environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.