Device for electromechanical stimulation and testing of hearing
AssigneePhonak AG
InventorHans Leysieffer
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Abstract
A device for electromechanical stimulation and testing of hearing having an electromechanical transducer for producing mechanical stimulation vibrations. The mechanical stimulation vibrations from the electromechanical transducer are non-invasively transmitted through an external auditory canal to at least approximately the center of the tympanic membrane (the umbo) and thus to the manubrium mallei of the ossicular chain. An impedance measuring system measures the mechanical impedance of a biological load structure which is coupled to the transducer.
Claims40
A device for electromechanical stimulation and testing of hearing, comprising:
- an electromechanical transducer for producing mechanical stimulation vibrations;
- means for non-invasively transmitting the mechanical stimulation vibrations from the electromechanical transducer through the external auditory canal to approximately the center of the tympanic membrane (the umbo) and thus to the manubrium mallei of the ossicular chain;
- and
- an impedance measuring system for measuring the mechanical impedance of a biological load structure which is coupled to the transducer by forming a quotient of a first measuring signal and a second measuring signal,
- wherein the impedance measuring system comprises means for measuring the electrical input impedance of the electromechanical transducer coupled to the biological load structure.
A device for electromechanical stimulation and testing of hearing, comprising:
- an electromechanical transducer for producing mechanical stimulation vibrations;
- means for non-invasively transmitting the mechanical stimulation vibrations from the electromechanical transducer through the external auditory canal to approximately the center of the tympanic membrane (the umbo) and thus to the manubrium mallei of the ossicular chain;
- and
- an impedance measuring system for measuring the mechanical impedance of a biological load structure which is coupled to the transducer by forming a quotient of a first measuring signal and a second measuring signal,
- wherein the impedance measuring system is designed for direct measurement of the mechanical impedance of the biological load structure coupled, during testing of the hearing, to the transducer and is integrated into the transducer at an actoric output side thereof.
A device for electromechanical stimulation and testing of hearing, comprising:
- an electromechanical transducer for producing mechanical stimulation vibrations;
- means for non-invasively transmitting the mechanical stimulation vibrations from the electromechanical transducer through the external auditory canal to approximately the center of the tympanic membrane (the umbo) and thus to the manubrium mallei of the ossicular chain;
- an impedance measuring system for measuring the mechanical impedance of a biological load structure which is coupled to the transducer by forming a quotient of a first measuring signal and a second measuring signal;
- and
- a passive mechanical coupling element for coupling the electromechanical transducer to the umbo,
- wherein the impedance measuring system is integrated into the coupling element.
A device for electromechanical stimulation and testing of hearing, comprising:
- an electromechanical transducer for producing mechanical stimulation vibrations;
- means for non-invasively transmitting the mechanical stimulation vibrations from the electromechanical transducer through the external auditory canal to approximately the center of the tympanic membrane (the umbo) and thus to the manubrium mallei of the ossicular chain;
- a passive mechanical coupling element for coupling the electromechanical transducer to the umbo;
- and
- an impedance measuring system for measuring the mechanical impedance of a biological load structure which is coupled to the transducer by forming a quotient of a first measuring signal and a second measuring signal,
- wherein a first mechanical resonance frequency of a combination composed of the electromechanical transducer and the mechanical coupling element is disposed at the upper end of a spectral transmission range of at least 10.000 cps and
- wherein the electromechanical transducer has a mechanical source impedance which, in the entire spectral transmission range is distinctly higher than a mechanical load impedance defined by a biological, system comprising tympanic membrane, ossicular chain and inner ear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.