Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10966640-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for a healthcare provider to administer a portable interactive hearing assessment is provided. The system allows the healthcare provider to administer the hearing assessment in a way that accurately detects hearing loss and provides recommendations for seeking further assistance from qualified hearing health specialists and/or an ENT physician. The system includes a hearing test device, and a processor that receives and processes a pressure test result associated with each of the patient's ear from a tympanometer and the patient's response to one or more pure tone frequencies transmitted by the hearing test device. The processor may also provide a report and recommendation based on received pressure test result and the determined hearing results, and demonstrate effects of any hearing loss to a person accompanying the patient so that the accompanying person understands a scope of the patient's hearing loss.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a portable interactive patient hearing assessment system for a healthcare provider to administer to a patient using a hearing test device and a tympanometer. The hearing test device transmits a plurality of pure tone frequencies to the patient and the system receives and processes one or more signals that indicate the patient’s response to the plurality of pure tone frequencies to determine hearing results. The system also receives and processes pressure test results associated with each ear from the tympanometer to support per-ear assessment.
In response to the determined hearing results and the tympanometer pressure test results, the processor generates reports for a healthcare provider and/or the patient. When the determined hearing results indicate no hearing loss, the processor provides a report of no hearing loss. When the determined hearing results indicate a bilateral symmetrical hearing loss and the pressure test result associated with each ear from the tympanometer is normal, the processor provides a report comprising a referral to an audiologist, conditioned on a healthcare provider input indicating that a physical exam of the ears indicates that the ears are normal.
When the determined hearing results indicate a bilateral symmetrical hearing loss and the tympanometer pressure test result associated with each ear is not normal, the processor provides a report comprising a referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician, also conditioned on the healthcare provider input indicating that the physical exam of the ears indicates that the ears are not normal. The system further includes a simulator configured to demonstrate effects of any hearing loss to a person accompanying the patient.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. Across these independent claims, the processor-based workflow includes at least two core inventive features: portable interactive pure-tone hearing assessment with signals processing, and tympanometer pressure test result processing per ear tied to conditional report/referral outputs, including bilateral symmetrical hearing loss logic.
Portable interactive hearing test device transmitting pure tone frequencies
A hearing test device configured to transmit a plurality of pure tone frequencies to the patient, with the processor receiving and processing one or more signals that indicate the patient's response to the plurality of pure tone frequencies to determine hearing results.
Tympanometer per-ear pressure test integrated with processor
A tympanometer configured to conduct a pressure test of each ear of the patient and indicate a pressure test result associated with each ear, with the processor receiving and processing pressure test results to support the determination logic for generating reports.
Conditional report generation for no hearing loss
In response to determined hearing results indicating no hearing loss, the processor provides a report of no hearing loss to the healthcare provider and/or to the patient.
Referral logic for bilateral symmetrical hearing loss with normal pressure tests and normal ear exam input
In response to determined hearing results indicating a bilateral symmetrical hearing loss, where the pressure test result associated with each ear from the tympanometer is normal and an input by the healthcare provider indicates that a physical exam of the ears indicates that the ears are normal, the processor provides a report comprising a referral to an audiologist.
Referral logic for bilateral symmetrical hearing loss with not-normal pressure tests and not-normal ear exam input
In response to determined hearing results indicating a bilateral symmetrical hearing loss and where the pressure test result associated with each ear from the tympanometer is not normal (and the healthcare provider input indicates that a physical exam of the ears indicates that the ears are not normal), the processor provides a report comprising a referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician.
Simulator demonstrating effects of hearing loss
A simulator configured to demonstrate effects of any hearing loss to a person accompanying the patient.
The independent claims collectively cover a portable interactive hearing assessment system that administers a pure-tone hearing test and processes patient response signals to determine hearing results, uses a tympanometer to obtain pressure test results associated with each ear, and generates reports/referrals based on combinations of hearing results and per-ear tympanometer normality with healthcare provider physical exam input, including bilateral symmetrical hearing loss pathways to an audiologist or an ENT physician. One independent claim further includes a simulator to demonstrate effects of any hearing loss.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?