Automatic ear impression classification
Inventors
SCHWARZLOS-SOOPRAYEN, JANA-KOSIMA • Leuthold, Markus
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12251213-B2
Publication Date
2025-03-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
An illustrative method for checking a usability of an impression model of a human ear includes determining an estimated shape model of the human ear by adapting a statistical shape model to the impression model, wherein the statistical shape model has been determined from a plurality of impression models of a plurality of human ears and wherein the statistical shape model has at least one impression feature, which is mapped to an estimated impression feature of the estimated shape model; determining a feature classification from the estimated impression feature; and when the feature classification is within an allowed feature classification range, rating the impression model as usable.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an automatic usability check for an impression model of a human ear and uses the result for manufacturing at least part of a hearing device. An impression model is determined by scanning the human ear or an ear impression with a scanner, and an evaluation device determines an estimated shape model of the human ear by adapting a statistical shape model to the impression model.
Adapting the statistical shape model to the impression model is performed by deforming the statistical shape model such that an objective function, which measures a difference between the impression model and a deformed statistical shape model, is minimized. The statistical shape model includes at least one impression feature that is mapped in the adaption process to an estimated impression feature of the estimated shape model, and the evaluation device determines a feature classification from the estimated impression feature.
When the feature classification is within an allowed feature classification range, the evaluation device rates the impression model as usable. The method further manufactures at least part of the hearing device based on the impression model when the impression model is rated as usable, and the documented content also indicates selecting a best model from multiple impressions and checking compatibility of a chosen hearing-device type using design features compared to classification results.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims: one method claim and one system claim. Across both, the core inventive elements are statistical-shape-model adaptation via deformation that minimizes an objective function, mapping impression features to estimated impression features, and classifying those estimated impression features to decide whether the impression model is usable for hearing-device manufacturing.
Scanning to determine an ear impression model for usability checking
An impression model of the human ear is determined by scanning the human ear or an ear impression of the human ear with a scanner.
Deformation-based statistical shape model adaptation
An estimated shape model is determined by adapting a statistical shape model to the impression model, wherein the statistical shape model is determined from a plurality of impression models of a plurality of human ears and adaptation is performed by deforming the statistical shape model such that an objective function measuring a difference between the impression model and a deformed statistical shape model is minimized.
Mapping impression features to estimated impression features for classification
The statistical shape model has at least one impression feature that is mapped in the adaption process of the impression model to the estimated shape model to an estimated impression feature of the estimated shape model.
Feature classification against an allowed feature classification range
A feature classification is determined from the estimated impression feature, and when the feature classification is within an allowed feature classification range, the impression model is rated as usable.
Manufacturing a hearing device part based on a usable impression model
At least part of the hearing device is manufactured based on the impression model when the impression model is rated as usable.
System integration of scanner, evaluation device, and manufacturing device
A system includes a scanner system configured to scan the human ear or an impression and generate the impression model, an evaluation device configured to perform the statistical-shape-model adaptation, feature classification, and usability rating, and a manufacturing device instructed to manufacture at least part of the hearing device based on the impression model when rated as usable.
The independent claims jointly cover determining an impression model by scanning, fitting a statistical shape model to obtain an estimated shape model through deformation that minimizes an objective function, mapping impression features to estimated impression features, classifying those estimated impression features to compare to an allowed feature classification range, rating the impression model as usable when the classification is within range, and manufacturing a hearing device part based on the usable impression model.
Stated Advantages
Enables rating an impression model as usable when feature classification is within an allowed feature classification range.
Supports manufacturing at least part of a hearing device based on an impression model that is rated as usable.
Documented Applications
Automatic usability checking for an ear impression/impression model to enable manufacturing of at least part of a hearing device.
Selecting a best model from multiple impressions based on classification results.
Checking compatibility of a chosen hearing-device type using design features compared to classification results.
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