Ear pathology diagnosis apparatus and method

Details Ear pathology diagnosis apparatus and method Ear pathology diagnosis apparatus and method

1983-11-15

1986-07-22

Metz, Andrew H.

Surgery

Truss

Pad

73585, 73587, 73589, A61B 512

Patent

active

046012958

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for diagnosis of pathological ear conditions, and particularly to those devices and methods in which there are determined quantities related to the complex acoustic impedance of components of the ear.
2. Background Art
A wide variety of specific pathologic diseases associated with the human and animal ear have been identified. Among the more frequently identified pathologies are those comprising obstruction of the external canal, agenesis of the pinna, atresia of the external canal, perforation of the tympanic membrane, retraction of the tympanic membrane, otitis in its various forms (adhesive, purulent and non-purulent), otosclerosis, fixation of the stapes, and cholesteatoma, among others. In children, otitis media is one of the most common childhood pathologies. By itself, it is a significant affliction which can lead to serious long-term hearing and learning disabilities if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Further, it is frequently symptomatic of other pathologies, and thus useful in their diagnosis.
The diagnosis of otitis media in young children is particularly difficult because of the fear, or even pain, associated with the commonly available techniques of diagnosis. The usefulness of examination by conventional otoscopic techniques is often diminished by the discomfort of the child which leads, at best, to movement by the child which impairs the examination and, at worst, to a refusal to allow the examination to proceed. The problem is especially acute when the examination is to be made in the environment of a mass screening, such as may take place in hospital clinics where large numbers of patients must be seen in a comparatively short time. Similar problems are encountered in the useage of other diagnosis techniques, such as tympanometry.
Acoustic impedance measurements have also frequently been used to examine various characteristics of the ear in support of medical diagnosis. Prior-art acoustic impedance measurements of human ear structures are usefully summarized in the following patents:


______________________________________ Ear Canal Measurement Frequency Seal Patent Inventor Technique In Hertz Required ______________________________________ 3,294,193 Zwislocki Impedance 220 Yes Bridge 3,757,769 Arguimbau Measure 220 & 660 Yes Complex Y 4,002,161 Klar Measure 220 Yes Compliance 4,009,707 Ward Measure 220 Yes Compliance 4,079,198 Bennett Impedance Variable Yes Bridge ______________________________________
See also Pinto and Dallos, "An Acoustic Bridge for Measuring the Static and Dynamic Impedance of the Ear Drum", IEEE Transactions on Bio-Medical Engineering, Volume PME-15, No. 1, January 1968, Pages 10-16.
Typically, a probe such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,051 (Kerovac), is inserted into the ear canal in such a way that the ear is effectively sealed from the external atmosphere. The probe is usually supplied with a means for varying the pressure within the ear canal above and below ambient pressure.
While the pressure is being varied, or at selected fixed values of pressure, a continuous wave (CW) sound signal, of constant amplitude, is introduced into the ear canal. The signal from the sound source, and the signal from the probe-mounted transducer, are variously combined to yield a measure of simple compliance (Klar, and Ward), impedance (Zwislocki, Bennett), or complex admittance (Arguimbau), at the entrance to the ear canal.
In most cases (Arguimbau, Klar, Ward), the measurement of acoustic admittance or compliance is direct, and made at a frequency of 220 or 660 Hz. In other cases (Bennett), impedance measurements are made in a bridge circuit, with an "Artificial Ear" as a reference, over a wider frequency range.
Commercially-available forms of the devices described in the above references include the Metz bridge, the Madsen Z0 70 electroacoustic impedance meter, and the Grason-Stadler model 1720 otoadmitt

REFERENCES:
patent: 3294193 (1966-12-01), Zwislocki
patent: 3395697 (1968-08-01), Mendelson
patent: 3757769 (1973-09-01), Arguimbau et al.
patent: 3882848 (1975-05-01), Klar et al.
patent: 3949735 (1976-04-01), Klar et al.
patent: 4002161 (1977-01-01), Klar et al.
patent: 4009707 (1977-03-01), Ward
patent: 4057051 (1977-11-01), Kerovac
patent: 4079198 (1978-03-01), Bennett
patent: 4122841 (1978-10-01), Rock et al.
patent: 4201225 (1980-05-01), Bethea, III et al.
patent: 4237905 (1980-12-01), Keller et al.
patent: 4289143 (1981-09-01), Canavesio et al.
patent: 4459996 (1984-07-01), Teele
Buczko; "Principal Respects of Development of Acoustic Impedance Meter"; Medicor News, (Hungary), No. 1, 1978, pp. 39-45.
Modena et al.; "A New Artifical Ear for Telephone Use"; J. Acoustic Soc. Am., 63(5), 5-178, pp. 1604-1610.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Ear pathology diagnosis apparatus and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Ear pathology diagnosis apparatus and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ear pathology diagnosis apparatus and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-860548