Systems and methods for simulating a tympanic membrane
Inventors
Moehring, Mark A. • Gates, George • Corredor, Charlie • MacDonald, Chad J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11741856-B2
Publication Date
2023-08-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a device for modeling properties of an ear. The device includes an artificial tympanic membrane and a housing coupled to the artificial tympanic membrane. The housing defines an interior portion coupled to an interior surface of the artificial tympanic membrane. The interior portion has an adjustable volume or an adjustable type of fluid and an adjustable gas pressure. Adjustment of the volume or type of fluid and the gas pressure changes a membrane movement to produce selected movement properties according to a mobility scale.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a device for modeling properties of an ear that includes a tympanic membrane. The device includes an artificial tympanic membrane having an ultrasound reflectivity mimicking an ultrasound reflectivity of a biological tympanic membrane, and a housing coupled to the artificial tympanic membrane and defining an interior portion coupled to an interior surface of the artificial tympanic membrane.
The interior portion has an adjustable volume of fluid or an adjustable type of fluid, and an adjustable gas pressure. By adjusting the volume or type of fluid and the gas pressure, the device changes membrane deflection and membrane movement, and produces selected movement properties according to a mobility scale, including an ordinal or continuous mobility scale as described in the provided content.
A processor is configured to control operation of one or more of a fluid injector, an internal air valve, an internal air pump, an internal pressure gauge, an external pressure gauge, or an external air pump. The control of fluid and gas conditions via these components is used to set the artificial tympanic membrane behavior and mobility properties, including for testing an otoscope using a model ear that includes the artificial tympanic membrane.
Claims Coverage
The provided partial content includes three independent claims. Across these, the independent claims share the use of an artificial tympanic membrane with ultrasound reflectivity mimicking a biological tympanic membrane, adjustable interior fluid parameters and adjustable gas pressure, and processor control of fluid and pressure components, with one claim adding mobility-scale mapping and another claim directed to testing an otoscope.
Ultrasound-reflectivity-mimicking artificial tympanic membrane
The device comprises an artificial tympanic membrane having an ultrasound reflectivity mimicking an ultrasound reflectivity of a biological tympanic membrane.
Adjustable interior fluid and adjustable interior gas pressure
A housing coupled to the artificial tympanic membrane defines an interior portion coupled to an interior surface of the artificial tympanic membrane, the interior portion having an adjustable volume of fluid or an adjustable type of fluid, and the interior portion having an adjustable gas pressure.
Processor-controlled fluid and air/pressure components
A processor is configured to control operation of one or more of: a fluid injector, an internal air valve, an internal air pump, an internal pressure gauge, an external pressure gauge, or an external air pump.
Mobility-scale mapping from fluid/gas adjustment to membrane movement
Adjustment of the volume or type of fluid and the gas pressure changes membrane movement to produce selected movement properties according to a mobility scale.
Testing an otoscope using a model ear
A method includes providing the artificial tympanic membrane, adjusting a volume of or a type of fluid proximate an interior surface of the artificial tympanic membrane, adjusting a pressure of gas proximate the interior surface of the artificial tympanic membrane, and controlling the operation of one or more fluid and air/pressure components at a processor.
Overall, the independent claims define an artificial tympanic membrane with ultrasound reflectivity mimicking a biological tympanic membrane, adjustable fluid and gas conditions in an interior portion, processor control of fluid and pressure components, and in one claim, selected membrane movement properties according to a mobility scale. One independent claim further recites testing an otoscope using a model ear.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Testing an otoscope using a model ear that includes an artificial tympanic membrane.
Modeling properties of an ear, including a tympanic membrane, by producing selected membrane deflection, membrane movement, and selected movement properties according to a mobility scale.
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