Ear Or Testing By Auditory Stimulus Patents (Class 600/559)
  • Patent number: 10646125
    Abstract: A biological information measurement apparatus includes a biological sensor and an insertion portion, and the biological sensor is disposed at a position opposite the concha when the insertion portion is inserted in the external ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Mizuho Hidaka, Norikazu Morioka, Asao Hirano
  • Patent number: 10639475
    Abstract: An exemplary behavioral audiogram generation system 1) determines a noise floor within the cochlea of a patient, 2) presents, by way of a loudspeaker, acoustic stimulation having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined amplitude to the patient, 3) detects an evoked response that occurs in response to the acoustic stimulation, 4) determines an amplitude of the evoked response that occurs in response to the acoustic stimulation, and 5) determines, based on the amplitude of the evoked response, on the predetermined amplitude of the acoustic stimulation, and on the noise floor, a behavioral audiogram value for the patient that corresponds to the predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Kanthaiah Koka, Leonid M. Litvak
  • Patent number: 10631113
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for mobile platform based detection and prevention (or mitigation) of hearing loss. An example system may include a hearing loss indicator data generation circuit configured to measure hearing loss indicator data associated with use of the device by a user. The hearing loss indicator data may include ambient sound characteristics, user speech volume level and user volume setting of the device. The system may also include an audio context generation circuit configured to estimate context data associated with use of the device. The context data may be based on classification of audio input to the device and on the location of the device. The system may further include an interface circuit configured to collect the hearing loss indicator data and the context data over a selected time period and provide the collected data to a hearing loss analysis system at periodic intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Vikas Mishra, Raghavendra S. Hebbalalu, Anand V. Bodas, Kalyan Muthukumar
  • Patent number: 10602966
    Abstract: A method for detecting characteristics of a Eustachian tube of a patient includes communicating pressurized air into an oro-nasal cavity of the patient. The method further includes directing an energy signal into the oro-nasal cavity. The method further includes detecting transmission of the energy signal from the oro-nasal cavity through the Eustachian tube with a sensor. The method further includes determining at least one characteristic of the Eustachian tube based on whether the energy signal is detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua Makower
  • Patent number: 10588536
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for identifying non-penetrating brain injury in a subject, as well as methods for classifying a subject that received a hit to the body that transmitted an impulsive force to the brain as either having a non-penetrating brain injury or not, by analyzing one or more components of frequency-following response (FFR) following administration of an acoustic stimulus to the subject. In addition, the present disclosure provides methods for assessing a subject's recovery from a non-penetrating brain injury. Also disclosed herein are processes and systems for automatically generating acoustic stimuli and processing brain response data to identify non-penetrating brain injuries in subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Nina Kraus, Trent George Nicol, Jennifer Lynn Krizman, Travis Aaron White-Schwoch
  • Patent number: 10561347
    Abstract: In a method for examining the faculty of hearing for at least one ear of a mammal, in which growth curves are determined on the basis of the measurement of DPOAE's evoked by pairs of excitation signals (f1, f2) for different excitation frequencies f2, the ear is presented with first excitation signals with a first excitation frequency f1 and a first noise level L1 and secondary excitation signals with a second excitation frequency f2 and a second noise level L2. Pulse pairs with a first pulse of the first excitation signal and a second pulse of the second excitation signal are presented in the ear, and the DPOAE's evoked thereby are captured and evaluated. A set of at least two different pulse pairs with different second excitation frequencies f2 is presented in one block that is repeated several times during a measuring period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Eberhard Karls Universitat Tubingen
    Inventors: Ernst Dalhoff, Dennis Zelle
  • Patent number: 10446127
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for integrating a removable fader component with an audio component while also enabling the fader component to be connected with one or more external audio components and/or to function as a standalone fader when removed from the apparatus. Embodiments include an audio component configured to produce a first audio signal; a removable fader component configured with a first connection point for connectivity to the audio component and a second connection point for connectivity to an external audio component that produces a second audio signal, wherein a hardware component, a software component, or a combination thereof for performing a mixing of the first audio signal and the second audio signal is contained within the removable fader component; and a receptacle integrated into the apparatus, wherein the receptacle is configured to hold the removable fader component to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Sidney G. Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10441200
    Abstract: An audiologic test apparatus includes: a pump device configured to apply a first pressure to the ear canal; and a processing module for communicatively coupling to the pump device and to a signal generator, wherein the processing module is configured to obtain first acoustic parameter values indicative of an acoustic parameter at the first pressure based on a first broadband signal generated using the signal generator; wherein the pump device is configured to change the first pressure to a changed pressure, and wherein the pump device is also configured to apply a second pressure to the ear canal; and wherein the processing module is also configured to obtain second acoustic parameter values indicative of the acoustic parameter at the second pressure based on a second broadband signal generated using the signal generator, and determine a middle ear resonance frequency based on the first and second acoustic parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Natus Medical Incorporated
    Inventor: Ask Bojesen
  • Patent number: 10433082
    Abstract: There is provided a method for fitting of a binaural hearing system comprising a first hearing device and a second hearing device to a patient suffering from an asymmetric hearing loss for first time use, wherein the difference in hearing loss between the two ears is at least 5 dB on average in a main frequency range between 500 Hz and 4 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Andi Vonlanthen, Volker Kuehnel
  • Patent number: 10397710
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods of configuring, e.g., a hearing prosthesis comprising a beamforming microphone array having two or more microphones. Some embodiments include (i) storing a plurality of sets of beamformer coefficients in memory, where each set of beamformer coefficients corresponds to one of a plurality of zones on a recipient's head, and (ii) configuring the hearing prosthesis with a set of beamformer coefficients that corresponds to the zone on the recipient's head where the beamforming microphone array is located. Other embodiments include determining a set of beamformer coefficients based on magnitude and phase differences between microphones of the beamforming array, where the magnitude and phase differences are determined from a plurality of head related transfer function measurements for the microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Phyu Phyu Khing, Brett Swanson
  • Patent number: 10390126
    Abstract: An earphone for an audiometer is provided, which includes a right earphone portion, a left earphone portion, a right light-emitter corresponding to the right earphone portion, a left light-emitter corresponding to the left earphone portion, and a controller, wherein the controller selects any one of the right earphone portion and the left earphone portion as an earphone portion for presenting a test sound, and causes the light-emitter corresponding to the selected earphone portion to emit light in a mode in accordance with the test sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: RION Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishikawa, Ryoichi Hamanaka, Kaori Sato
  • Patent number: 10368785
    Abstract: A medical hearing testing method includes: inserting an in-ear test probe that is coupled to a hearing test adapter into an ear of a patient at a patient site; receiving device identification data at a web portal operating on a first electronic device over an electronic network between the first electronic device and the hearing test adapter, wherein the device identification data is uniquely identifies the hearing test adapter; receiving a control operation associated with a test session from the first user at the web portal; and responsive to receiving the control operation, transmitting an operational command from the web portal to the hearing test adapter over the electronic network, wherein the operational command controls an operation of the test probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: East Carolina University
    Inventors: Gregg D. Givens, Jianchu Yao
  • Patent number: 10368154
    Abstract: A system for providing audio output. The system includes a device, e.g. a mobile phone connectable to one or more earphones. The device includes a computing platform having a processor; an audio unit configured to generate one or more output signals of arbitrary amplitude to the earphone(s); and at least one microphone configured to record the ambient power level during signal output. The user indicates his/her hearing of the output signals whereby a proportionality constant is recorded for each frequency of the output signals. The processor is configured to: analyze the proportionality constant for each frequency of one or more feedback signals from the earphone(s) to yield calibration data; adjust the amplitude or frequency based on the calibration data; generate one or more audiograms resulting from a hearing test; and adjust the device power level according to the received one or more audiograms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Listening Applications Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoav Blau, Tomer Shor, Yehonatan Roth, Sabrina Cohen
  • Patent number: 10349122
    Abstract: An audio video display device executes a voice assistant that recognizes a spoken name associated with a hearing-impaired person and in response reduces the audio volume for the content being decoded, on the assumption that someone is speaking to the hearing-impaired person, and/or pauses the content being decoded, and/or determines the location of the source of the command and steers a microphone array to that location, and/or allows for independent volume/mute controls via an assistive listening device such as a neck loop to control the volume or mute the audio played on hearing aids independently of the volume of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Brant Candelore, Mahyar Nejat, Robert Noel Blanchard
  • Patent number: 10328233
    Abstract: An apparatus for stimulating neurons that includes a stimulation unit for applying pulse-like tones, a measuring unit for picking up measurement signals that render neural activity by the stimulated neurons, a control unit. The control unit applies a first pulse train having varied pitch, takes the measurement signals picked up in response to the first pulse train to select a first pitch range or pitch in which there is phase synchronization between the pulse train and the neural activity, actuates the stimulation unit to apply two phase-shifted second pulse trains, the pitch of the pulse trains being varied in opposite directions and a pitch starting value of the second pulse trains based on the first pitch range or pitch that is used to select a second pitch range or pitch resulting in minimum amplitude of the neural activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH GMBH
    Inventor: Peter Alexander Tass
  • Patent number: 10299705
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an estimation device for the estimation of Sound Recognition Score. The device estimates a Sound Recognition Score (SRS), to determine the hearing ability of that subject. The device also ascertains the performance of an Augmented Listening Device (ALD). The device comprises a memory unit, in which one or more audio signals and ambient noise signals are stored. The estimation device selects audio signal from the memory unit based on one or more parameters. Further, the device modulates the audio signals with the ambient noise signals and transmits the modulated audio signal to the ALD. Also, the device receives response for the transmitted signals from the ALD and estimates the responses based on the aggregate of values of the read flag data and response flag data. The estimated signal is displayed using a display unit as Sound Recognition Score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
    Inventors: Vishnu Venugopal Ambika, Gopakumar Gopinathan Nair, Krishnakumar Rao Sanjeeva Rao, Biju Cheriyan Oommen
  • Patent number: 10277186
    Abstract: A calibration method and a computer readable recording medium are provided. The calibration method is applied to an electronic device of an electronic system. The electronic system includes the electronic device and a broadcasting device. The calibration method comprises: obtaining device information of the broadcasting device to determine a type of the broadcasting device; providing a user interaction interface, and obtaining an interactive operation via the user interaction interface; generating a calibration command corresponding to the broadcasting device according to the interactive operation; and calibrating a broadcasting setting of the broadcasting device according to the calibration command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Pei-Chun Tsai, Kuo-Feng Liao, Wei-Po Lin
  • Patent number: 10212527
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system comprising a pipe that includes a first end and a second end. The pipe includes a plurality of sections coupled together. The system includes a loudspeaker that is a mouth simulator loudspeaker. The system includes an adapter that connects the loudspeaker to the first end. The system includes a receptacle positioned in the pipe a first distance from the first end and a second distance from the second end. The receptacle secures a plurality of microphones a third distance inside an inside surface of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Gregory C. Burnett
  • Patent number: 10201309
    Abstract: A system, method, and wireless earpieces for determining the status of the user. Sensor measurements of the user are performed utilizing a radar sensor of the wireless earpieces. The sensor measurements are analyzed. The status of the user is determined utilizing at least the sensor measurements of the radar sensor of the wireless earpieces. An alert is communicated to the user in response to there being a change in the status of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventor: Peter Vincent Boesen
  • Patent number: 10187736
    Abstract: The treatment of tinnitus may include a tinnitus therapy including generating a tinnitus therapy sound that is similar to a patient's perceived tinnitus sound. In one example, a method for tinnitus therapy may include tracking a tinnitus therapy over a duration, the tinnitus therapy including a tinnitus therapy sound matching a patient's perceived tinnitus played over the duration and presenting each of a volume evolution of the tinnitus therapy sound and usage data of the tinnitus therapy over the duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Otoharmonics Coporation
    Inventors: Michael Baker, Brenda Edin, Daniel Drexler, Marisa Pedemonte Benvenuto, Dario Geisinger Yasky, Andres Bianco de Olea
  • Patent number: 10158956
    Abstract: A method (100) of fitting a hearing aid system comprising identification of an auditory neuro-synaptopathy of a person based on the sensitivity of the person to temporal masking, a hearing aid fitting system, a computerized device (200, 300), a server (302) hosting a web service and a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed carry out said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Jesper Theill
  • Patent number: 10135414
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a loudspeaker for storing equalization settings in an active loudspeaker including a loudspeaker cabinet, at least one driver connected to the cabinet and an amplifier electronics including an equalizer, in which method the loudspeaker is calibrated in controlled conditions for forming factory calibration parameters for controlling the equalizer, the factory calibration parameters controlling the equalizer are stored in the amplifier electronics. In accordance with the invention the factory calibration parameters are also stored in a memory fixedly mounted to the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Genelec Oy
    Inventors: Aki Mäkivirta, Kari Pöyhönen, Ilpo Martikainen
  • Patent number: 10117605
    Abstract: Method, system and apparatus for patient communications in remote hearing diagnostics is disclosed. The invention may include electrical circuitry for conditioning audio input and output signals as well as a means of switching paths for the audio data between equipment sources and personnel involved in a remote hearing diagnostics session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventors: Dave Davis, Brian Lisiewski
  • Patent number: 10085677
    Abstract: A hearing screening system for testing hearing abilities of a patient includes an otoacoustic emission (OAE) module operable to perform OAE tests, a tympanometry (tymp) module operable to perform tymp tests, and at least one probe in communication with at least one of the OAE and tymp modules. The probe includes a probe tip that is configured to be positioned within an ear canal of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ETYMOTIC RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Iseberg, Steve Viranyi, Gregory R. Shaw, Viorel Drambarean, John Stuhr French, Ron Scicluna, Mead C. Killion
  • Patent number: 10085678
    Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for rapidly grading the hearing of a user in accordance with WHO guidelines are disclosed. One example includes a personal computer and a test device configured to produce calibrated acoustic output at suprathreshold levels presented at an audiometric frequency range from 500 to 4000 Hz. The consumer's minimal response levels are registered, and a hearing ability score is presented to indicate a hearing grade and hearing aid candidacy. The hearing ability score may be representative of a classification of the WHO grading of hearing impairment. Systems and methods disclosed herein, with considerations for room noise present in the consumer's environment, allow for rapid hearing profiling, using a standard personal computer and minimal low-cost hardware, thus particularly suited for self-testing outside clinical environments such as at home, office, or retail store settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: iHear Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Adnan Shennib
  • Patent number: 10070800
    Abstract: A method for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject. The method includes, in a processing system, determining at least one first impedance value, measured at a site using a first electrode configuration, determining at least one second impedance value, measured at the site using a second electrode configuration, and determining the presence, absence or degree of an anomaly using the first and second impedance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: IMPEDIMED LIMITED
    Inventors: Bruce Herbert Cornish, Brian John Thomas, Jye Geoffrey Smith
  • Patent number: 10045132
    Abstract: A method (100) of fitting a hearing aid system comprising identification of an auditory neurodegeneration of a person based on the ability of the person to perceive small differences in intensity level, a computerized device (200, 300) and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon, which when executed by a computer perform said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Morten Love Jepsen, Jesper Theill
  • Patent number: 9999396
    Abstract: An exercise physiological sensing system, a motion artifact suppression processing method and a motion artifact suppression processing device for obtaining a stable exercise heart rate signal of a user during exercise are provided. The exercise physiological sensing system includes a bone conduction body, a signal-to-noise ratio analysis module, and a computation module. The bone conduction body has a physiological sensor. The physiological sensor detects a physiological signal from a detected area of the user. The signal-to-noise ratio analysis module is coupled to the physiological sensor and detects a quality stability of the physiological signal. The computation module is coupled to the signal-to-noise ratio analysis module and generates the stable exercise heart rate signal according to the physiological signal. Accordingly, the exercise physiological sensing system can effectively improve the stability of the detected physiological signal during exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hsing-Chen Lin, Shuenn-Yuh Lee, Tzung-Min Tsai
  • Patent number: 9992590
    Abstract: The treatment of tinnitus may include a tinnitus therapy including generating a tinnitus therapy sound that is similar to a patient's perceived tinnitus sound. In one example, a method for tinnitus therapy may include tracking a tinnitus therapy over a duration, the tinnitus therapy including a tinnitus therapy sound matching a patient's perceived tinnitus played over the duration and presenting each of a volume evolution of the tinnitus therapy sound and usage data of the tinnitus therapy over the duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Otoharmonics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Baker, Brenda Edin, Daniel Drexler, Marisa Pedemonte Benvenuto, Dario Geisinger Yasky, Andres Bianco de Olea
  • Patent number: 9986947
    Abstract: Evaluating an implanted hearing prosthesis, including operating the implanted hearing prosthesis, capturing sound generated by a transducer of the prosthesis during said operation, and comparing the captured sound to a sound model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Kyun Thibaut, Jurgen Van Vlem, Christiane D'hondt, Florent Hubert-Brierre, Kristof Buytaert, Hans Bernhard, Grégoire Meylan, Martin Junghans, Susanne Gentner
  • Patent number: 9987490
    Abstract: A method of determining insertion status of a cochlear implant electrode array into a cochlea of a patient is provided. The method includes measuring conductivity associated with an electrode in the electrode array. Insertion status of the electrode is determined based, at least in part, on the measured conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Kabot, Mathias Kals
  • Patent number: 9980636
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems of evaluating test-retest precision using fractional rank precision or mean-average precision, comprising: a) collecting a test and a retest result of each subject, wherein the results are described in feature space(s) and collected from a vision test machine; b) selecting, a first test result of a first subject; c) calculating distances from the first test result to the retest result of each subject; d) assessing, a similarity between the first test result and the retest result of each subject by ranking the distances in a non-descending order; e) assessing a rank precision for the first subject based on a rank of a distance from the first test result to the retest result of the first subject; f) repeating b), c), d), and e) for each subject; and evaluating, the test-retest precision based on the rank precision for each of the plurality of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ADAPTIVE SENSORY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Dorr, Luis A. Lesmes
  • Patent number: 9895088
    Abstract: A hearing protection device is disclosed which incorporates integrated audiometric testing, thereby allowing for testing without removal of safety hearing protection. The hearing protection is typically intended to be worn for the duration of a work shift, and allows for self-testing during the shift. Embodiments of the device may utilize a series of partial test sessions, so that each test session is kept brief so as to not interfere unduly with the work schedule. This may encourage frequent testing, hopefully aiding in early detection of potential hearing loss. Additionally, methods of use are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell Hearing Technologies AS
    Inventors: Viggo Henriksen, Trym Holter, Olav Kvaloy, Asle Melvaer, Georg Esa Ottesen, Odd Kristen Ostern Pettersen, Jarle Svean, Svein Sorsdal
  • Patent number: 9895110
    Abstract: An exercise physiological sensing system, a motion artifact suppression processing method and a motion artifact suppression processing device for obtaining a stable exercise heart rate signal of a user during exercise are provided. The exercise physiological sensing system includes a bone conduction object, a signal-to-noise ratio analysis module, and a computation module. The bone conduction object has a physiological sensor. The physiological sensor detects a physiological signal of otic bones of the user. The signal-to-noise ratio analysis module is coupled to the physiological sensor and detects a stability of the physiological signal of the otic bones. The computation module is coupled to the signal-to-noise ratio analysis module and generates the stable exercise heart rate signal according to the physiological signal of the otic bones. Accordingly, the exercise physiological sensing system can effectively improve the detected stability of an exercise physiological signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hsing-Chen Lin, Shuenn-Yuh Lee, Tzung-Min Tsai
  • Patent number: 9881062
    Abstract: A system for developing and implementing empirically derived algorithms to generate decision rules to predict invalidity of subject reported data and fraud with research protocols in surveys allows for the identification of complex patterns of variables that detect or predict subject invalidity of subject reported data and fraud with the research protocol in the survey. The present invention may also be used to monitor invalidity of subject reported data within a research protocol to determine preferred actions to be performed. Optionally, the invention may provide a spectrum of invalidity, from minor invalidity needing only corrective feedback, to significant invalidity requiring subject removal from the survey. The algorithms and decision rules can also be domain-specific, such as detecting invalidity or fraud among subjects in a workplace satisfaction survey, or demographically specific, such as taking into account gender or age.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: eResearch Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Saul Shiffman, Douglas R. Engfer, Jean A. Paty
  • Patent number: 9808715
    Abstract: An interactive gaming system for a user suffering tinnitus. The system comprises a game machine configured to provide a game scenario in which the user's performance in the game scenario is based on the user's response to audio cue arrangements comprising a combination of sounds, and where at least one of the sounds has one or more sound characteristics, that are configured based on one or more sound characteristics of the user's perceived tinnitus. The system further comprises an audio delivery device or devices that are driven by the game machine to present the audio cue arrangements to the user in accordance with the game scenario and a user interface in signal communication with the game machine and which is operable by a user to interact with the game scenario by responding to the audio cue arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Ltd.
    Inventors: Grant Donald Searchfield, Kei Kobayashi, Kimberly Jane Wise
  • Patent number: 9795325
    Abstract: A new hearing profile assessment plays each of a plurality of frequency tones multiple times at a plurality of loudness levels. For each frequency, the patient indicates which tones that they can hear, establishing minimum-amplitude thresholds for each frequency. The assessment adapts loudness levels until the patient indicates consistent minimum-amplitude thresholds for each frequency. Also, a new system for training the hearing of a subject is disclosed. The system instructs the subject to vocalize various sound items and remember the sounds that they vocalize. The system plays either recorded samples of the subject's own voice, or comparison samples of a synthesized voice or other's vocalizations of the same sound items. The system prompts the subject to compare the played samples with the sounds they remembered vocalizing. The system uses the feedback to adjust sound processing parameters for a hearing aid, cochlear implant, sound output devices, or a training program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: POSIT SCIENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael M. Merzenich, Wesley Marshall Jackson
  • Patent number: 9794672
    Abstract: Technology presented herein increases a user's enjoyment of sound by personalizing an audio signal so that the user perceives the audio signal as if the user had ideal hearing and/or desired hearing. In one embodiment, headphones on a user's head include a sensor and a speaker. While the speaker plays an audio signal to the user, the sensor records the user's response to the audio signal. The sensor can be a microphone, a brainwave sensor, an EEG sensor, etc. The user's response can be the audio response inside the user's ear, the brainwave response associated with the user, electrical skin response associated with the user, etc. Based on the measured response, and based on the knowledge of how other people perceive sound, the audio signal is modified to compensate for the difference between the user's hearing and the ideal hearing and/or desired hearing, therefore increasing the user's enjoyment of sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NURA HOLDINGS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Luke John Campbell, Kyle Damon Slater
  • Patent number: 9750437
    Abstract: Arrangements are described for determining a physiological characteristic of the auditory pathway (as whole or selected parts such as an inner ear). Electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to inner ear neural tissue and corresponding tissue response signals are developed by measuring over time response of the auditory pathway to each electrical stimulation pulse, with each tissue response signal forming a response curve including at least one physiological landmark such as a local maximum and a local minimum. A multi-dimensional polynomial is fit over the tissue response signals, and calculation starting points are defined based on prominent physiologic landmarks such as a local maximum and a local minimum for one selected tissue response signal. A line of minimum principal curvature of the multi-dimensional polynomial over the plurality of tissue response signals that intersect the calculation starting points is calculated to determine a physiological characteristic of the auditory pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
    Inventors: Konrad Schwarz, Philipp Spitzer, Stefan Strahl
  • Patent number: 9717909
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) sound processor located external to a patient, 2) a cochlear implant communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor and implanted within the patient, 3) an electrode array communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant and located within a cochlea of the patient, and 4) a receiver communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor and configured to be in communication with an ear of the patient. The EAS sound processor operates in accordance with an acoustic-only mode during a post-implant time period and detects audio content presented to the patient, directs the receiver to apply acoustic stimulation, and prevents the cochlear implant from applying electrical stimulation representative of audio content presented to the patient during the post-implant time period. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Carol Murad, Mark B. Downing
  • Patent number: 9712907
    Abstract: Methods of generating tactile user feedback utilizing headphone devices may involve sending a feedback signal from a computing device to a headphone device operatively connected to the computing device. A tactile vibration may be generated utilizing a tactile bass vibrator of the headphone device in response to the feedback signal. Systems for generating tactile user feedback utilizing headphone devices may include a headphone device operatively connected to a computing device, the headphone device comprising a tactile bass vibrator configured to generate a tactile vibration in response to a feedback signal received from the computing device. The computing device may be programmed to send a feedback signal to the headphone device in response to a predetermined event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Noertker, John Timothy, Matthew Windt
  • Patent number: 9687650
    Abstract: An exemplary system 1) presents, during a first time period, a tone in isolation to a patient by way of a receiver in communication with an ear of the patient, the tone having a predetermined frequency included in a frequency band, 2) presents, during a second time period, the tone together with a masking signal to the patient by way of the receiver, 3) uses an electrode located within an intracochlear region of the patient that is associated with the frequency band to record, during the first time period, a first evoked response that occurs in response to the presentation of the tone, and record, during the second time period, a second evoked response that occurs in response to the presentation of the tone together with the masking signal, and 4) determines, based on the first and second evoked responses, whether the intracochlear region is dead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Leonid M. Litvak, Smita S. Agrawal
  • Patent number: 9680922
    Abstract: A method for execution by a network element of a communications network. The method comprises receiving from a first network entity a first communication that includes at least (i) a network-initiated message generated by a server-side portion of an application that also has a corresponding client-side portion and (ii) a first application identifier associated with the application. The method further comprises consulting a database based at least on the first application identifier in an attempt to identify a second application identifier associated with the application; and releasing to a second network entity a second communication that includes at least (i) the network-initiated message and (ii) either the second application identifier, if the attempt was successful, or the first application identifier, if the attempt was unsuccessful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BCE INC.
    Inventor: Glen Bryan
  • Patent number: 9675777
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in treating tinnitus, employs a sound processing unit, a tactile unit, and an interface therebetween. The tactile unit comprises an array of stimulators each of which can be independently actuated to apply a tactile stimulus to a subject, and an input for receiving a plurality of actuation signals from the interface and directing individual actuation signals to individual stimulators. The sound processing unit receives an audio signal at an input, analyses the signal with a digital signal processor to generate the actuation signals which are representative of the audio signal, and provides the plurality of actuation signals to the interface. In a preferred embodiment the digital signal processor divides the audio signal into a series of frames in the time domain, performs a transform on each frame to generate a set of coefficients representing said frame, and maps the set of coefficients to a set of actuation signals to be applied to the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND MAYNOOTH
    Inventors: Paul O'Grady, Ross O'Neill, Barak A. Pearlmutter
  • Patent number: 9662035
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for profiling evoked potentials in brain electrical activity which apply steady state response concepts to analysis of longer latency responses reflective of activity of brain regions beyond the brainstem, up to an including the cortex. The use of repeated stimuli within a single analysis window produces a quasi steady-state response and permits a high-resolution spectral analysis. Response amplitudes were measured at repetition rates from 80 to below 1 Hz, using trains of repeated tone-burst stimuli. An amplitude measure introduced and defined as the harmonic sum was incorporated into the spectral power of the response carried by both the fundamental frequency, and the harmonics thereof. Additionally, time ensemble averaging can be employed to improve signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: Intelligent Hearing Systems, University of Pittsburgh—of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: John David Durrant, Abreena Iris Tlumak, Rafael E. Delgado, John Robert Boston
  • Patent number: 9597231
    Abstract: A method of treatment of the symptoms of tinnitus is disclosed in which a non-sinusoidal pulsating electric waveform having a pulse repetition rate (frequency) less than 100 Hz is applied to a headphone or an earphone or a like acoustic transducer worn by a tinnitus sufferer. Square, sawtooth and triangular waveforms are suitable. Preferably a sequence of square, triangular, square and square waveforms each of duration of 3 minutes, and separated by a silent pause of 10-15 seconds, is applied. Various devices for applying such waveform(s) to such transducers are disclosed including a clinical oscillator, an internet distribution system, a playback device, electronic or magnetic storage devices, and a cochlear implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TIPA Tinnitus Corporation PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Peter Anthony Winkler
  • Patent number: 9564059
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and techniques for stimulating a user. For example, materials and methods for manipulating nystagmus and the related vestibular system with coupling of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) and visual cueing are provided herein. Use of GVS within the present invention may be applied to simulation, alleviating motion sickness, and directional cueing of a user to a precise target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: Vivonics, Inc., Mayo Foundation For Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Michael Cevette, Jan Stepanek, Anna Galea
  • Patent number: 9480418
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring or testing the hearing of a user using a portable unit include presenting a plurality of test frequencies for selection by a user and storing data about those frequencies, and the user's response to stimuli presented at those frequencies, and comparing the stored data to previously acquired hearing data. Using mathematical prediction algorithms, changes in baseline hearing values can be used to identify potential hearing issues, especially hearing issues associated with ototoxicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Stephen Fausti, Roger Ellingson, Wendy Helt, Peter Jacobs, Grayson Silaski, Debra Wilmington, Samuel Gordon, Marilyn Dille, Garnett McMillan, Kelly Reavis, Dawn Martin
  • Patent number: 9473862
    Abstract: A method for providing a hearing aid, which is adapted to the individual needs of a hearing aid user, wherein hearing loss data is measured on an individual. In order to allow time and cost savings during the fitting procedure of said hearing aid and to provide a ready-to-wear hearing aid the method comprises the steps of—assessing the admissibility of the measured hearing loss by determining if said measured hearing loss data is located within a predetermined admissibility range; attributing said measured hearing loss data to one of a set of standardized profiles, wherein each standardized profile corresponds to a certain type of hearing loss generally located within said admissibility range and is associated with a set of standardized programming parameters of a hearing aid; providing a hearing aid (104, 114) which is programmed according to the set of standardized programming parameters that is associated with said attributed standardized profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Sonetik AG
    Inventor: Christian Stromsted
  • Patent number: 9445713
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for mobile imaging and image analysis. In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for assisting in the acquisition and analysis of images of the tympanic membrane to provide information that may be helpful in the understanding and management of disease, such ear infection (acute otitis media). These apparatuses may guide or direct a subject in taking an image of a tympanic membrane, including automatically detecting which direction to adjust the position of the apparatus to capture an image of the tympanic membrane and automatically indicating when the tympanic membrane has been imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: CellScope, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Scott Douglas, Daniel Irving Golden, Christopher Todd Fox, Thomas Burnell Reeve, Janakiramanan Ramachandran