Apparatus and method for characterization of acute otitis media
Inventors
Moehring, Mark A. • Gates, George A. • Kreindler, Daniel M. • Chesavage, Jay A. • Singh, Rahul
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10660604-B2
Publication Date
2020-05-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
An ultrasound signal processor uses an excitation generator to cause displacement of a tympanic membrane while a series of ultrasound pulses are applied to the tympanic membrane. Phase differences between a transmitted signal and received signal are examined to determine the movement of the tympanic membrane in response to the applied excitation. An examination of the phase response of the tympanic membrane provides a determination as to whether the fluid type behind the tympanic membrane is one of: no fluid, serum fluid, or purulent fluid.
Core Innovation
The invention characterizes a tympanic membrane by applying an excitation comprising a pressure modulation in air to cause displacement, and by interrogating the tympanic membrane with ultrasound energy. A transducer transmits acoustic waves or ultrasound energy toward the tympanic membrane and receives reflected acoustic waves or reflected ultrasound energy. The device includes a phase and amplitude detector or receiver and detector to obtain phase and amplitude information from the reflected acoustic energy.
The invention determines a phase output by comparing a phase of a transmit signal to a phase of the reflected acoustic waves, and generates a comparison result based on phase and amplitude measurements comprising differences between transmitted and received ultrasound energy. A response analyzer or signal analyzer compares the phase output or plurality of phase and amplitude measurements to the excitation and determines one or more of a viscosity of a fluid adjacent to the tympanic membrane or a mobility of the tympanic membrane based on the comparison. In another form, the analyzer forms an effusion metric based on comparisons between the plurality of measurements and the excitation waveform.
The invention further enables classification of effusion type by relating the effusion metric to effusion categories. The document describes determining one or more of viscosity or mobility and forming an effusion metric that differentiates between no fluid and fluid types including serous fluid and purulent fluid. In device implementations, an optical source provides a visual indication of a region of insonification on the tympanic membrane to allow direction of acoustic waves from the transducer to a region of interest.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent claims. Both claims cover characterizing a tympanic membrane by pressure-modulated air excitation and ultrasound interrogation using phase and amplitude comparisons to determine viscosity/mobility or to form an effusion metric.
Pressure-modulated excitation and ultrasound phase comparison to determine viscosity or mobility
An excitation generator produces an excitation comprising a pressure modulation in air for application to the tympanic membrane to cause a displacement, while a transducer transmits and receives acoustic waves; a phase and amplitude detector compares a phase of the transmit signal to a phase of the reflected acoustic waves to generate a phase output, and a response analyzer compares the phase output to the excitation to determine one or more of a viscosity of a fluid adjacent to the tympanic membrane or a mobility of the tympanic membrane based on the comparison.
Pressure-modulated air-volume excitation and effusion metric formation from phase and amplitude differences
A speculum tip is inserted into an ear canal and coupled to an excitation generator that generates an excitation waveform comprising a pressure modulation in an air volume to cause a displacement in the tympanic membrane; an ultrasound transducer distinct from the excitation generator transmits ultrasound energy and receives reflected ultrasound energy, a detector generates a plurality of phase and amplitude measurements each comprising a difference between transmitted ultrasound energy and the received signal, and a signal analyzer compares the plurality of phase and amplitude measurements to the excitation waveform to form an effusion metric.
Across both independent claims, the core coverage is phase-and-amplitude-based characterization of the tympanic membrane using pressure-modulated air excitation and ultrasound interrogation, leading either to determination of viscosity/mobility or to formation of an effusion metric.
Stated Advantages
Enables characterization of a tympanic membrane by determining one or more of a viscosity of a fluid adjacent to the tympanic membrane or a mobility of the tympanic membrane based on a comparison.
Enables formation of an effusion metric based on comparison of phase and amplitude measurements to an excitation waveform.
Effusion metric differentiates among no effusion, serum effusion, and purulent effusion.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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