Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Ear or testing by auditory stimulus
Patent
1998-10-23
1999-09-14
O'Connor, Cary
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Ear or testing by auditory stimulus
A61B 500
Patent
active
059514868
ABSTRACT:
A device provides an indication of a condition of an ear by combining measurements of temperature in the ear, acoustic reflectance of the ear, and/or a characteristic of any fluid in the ear. Any two of these measurements may be combined in the same device to provide improved diagnostic information. For example, chemical sensing of fluid may be combined with acoustic reflectometry or temperature sensing, or both, to provide improved diagnosis of ear pathologies. Acoustic reflectometry also may be combined with temperature sensing. Chemical sensing determines a characteristic of the fluid, such as whether a bacterium or a virus is present. The device may provide diagnostic information from sensed characteristics of the fluid, measured acoustic reflectance and/or measured temperature to indicate the risk of an ear infection. For example, the device may determine if any fluid present is infected. The device also may identify bacteria in the fluid. The temperature sensor also may be used to improve alignment between the device and the tympanic membrane, thus improving the accuracy of measurements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4334538 (1982-06-01), Juhn
patent: 5626139 (1997-05-01), Szeles et al.
patent: 5626147 (1997-05-01), Lackey
patent: 5628323 (1997-05-01), Pompei
patent: 5776179 (1998-07-01), Ren et al.
Jenkins Geoffrey
Kimball Sandra
Kunen David
MDI Instruments, Inc.
O'Connor Cary
Wingood Pamela
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for analysis of ear pathologies using combi does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for analysis of ear pathologies using combi, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for analysis of ear pathologies using combi will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1504597