Earphone for audiometer, and audiometer
Inventors
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Assignees
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RIONRION is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company based in Rochester, MN, focused on revolutionizing exosome science to heal from within. Established in 2017, RION leverages the unique properties of exosomes derived from platelets to develop innovative therapies aimed at enhancing tissue regeneration and addressing various medical challenges.
RION is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company based in Rochester, MN, focused on revolutionizing exosome science to heal from within. Established in 2017, RION leverages the unique properties of exosomes derived from platelets to develop innovative therapies aimed at enhancing tissue regeneration and addressing various medical challenges.
Publication Number
US-10390126-B2
Publication Date
2019-08-20
Expiration Date
2038-09-18
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.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an earphone for an audiometer including right and left earphone portions, each equipped with a corresponding light-emitter, and a controller. The controller selects one earphone portion to present a test sound and causes the corresponding light-emitter to emit light in a mode aligned with the test sound. This configuration enables visual signaling related to the audiometry progress directly on the earphones.
The problem addressed is the difficulty examiners face in monitoring the progress of audiometry, especially in wireless audiometers where subjects and examiners may be physically separated. Conventional audiometers require the examiner to watch a main body display or test sound presenting lamp, which complicates monitoring during automatic audiometry and multiple subjects' testing. Additionally, environmental noise monitoring near the subject is problematic when the noise monitor is located in the main body, remote from the subject.
This invention solves these problems by integrating light-emitters in the earphone portions for real-time visual feedback corresponding to test sounds and subject responses, allowing the examiner to monitor the progress with minimal change in line of sight while observing the subject. Furthermore, by potentially including a microphone near the earphone portion for environmental noise measurement, the invention enhances accurate ambient noise monitoring at the subject's location.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes three independent claims covering earphones with light-emitters, microphone integration, and earphone structure, plus audiometer configurations comprising such earphones and a main body.
Earphone with selectable test sound presentation and light-emitters indicating test sound and subject response
An earphone includes right and left earphone portions, each with a corresponding light-emitter and a controller that selects one earphone portion to present a test sound. The controller causes the selected earphone's light-emitter to emit light in a mode corresponding to the test sound, and causes the unselected earphone's light-emitter to emit light in a different mode when a subject's response to the test sound is detected.
Earphone with microphone measuring sound pressure for light-emitter control
An earphone further includes a microphone that measures the sound pressure of the earphone portion. The controller causes the light-emitter corresponding to the selected earphone portion to emit light in a mode in accordance with the sound pressure measured by the microphone.
Earphone with light-emitting elements located at earphone hooks
An earphone where the right light-emitter is a right light-emitting element provided in a right hook portion of the right earphone portion, and the left light-emitter is a left light-emitting element provided in a left hook portion of the left earphone portion.
Audiometer comprising an earphone with selective test sound light-emitting and a main body
An audiometer including the described earphone (any of the earphones per previous claims) and a main body which causes the earphone to present the test sound.
The claims cover an audiometer earphone system distinguished by selective test sound presentation with radiating light-emitters indicating the test sound and subject response, optionally incorporating a microphone for sound measurements, with light-emitting elements positioned at earphone hooks, and combined with a main body controlling the test sound presentation.
Stated Advantages
The invention allows the examiner to easily and visually monitor the progress and normality of audiometry through lighting states on the earphone portions, reducing the need to shift gaze away from the subject.
Accurate environmental noise measurement at the subject's vicinity is enabled by integrating a microphone in the earphone, providing better noise level assessment than measurement at the remote main body.
In wireless audiometry environments and automatic audiometry of multiple subjects, the invention facilitates simultaneous monitoring with minimal examiner effort and improved usability.
The lighting modes enable clear differentiation of test sound levels and subject responses, improving the examiner's understanding during examinations.
Documented Applications
Wireless audiometry for conducting hearing tests on multiple subjects simultaneously.
Automatic audiometry programs where test sound presentation and subject response are automatically controlled and monitored.
Screening audiometry conducted outside of specialized audiometry rooms, requiring real-time environmental noise level monitoring.
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