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-12614474-B2
Publication Date
2026-04-28
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 relates to a method of testing an otoscope using a model ear that includes an artificial tympanic membrane. The method provides an artificial tympanic membrane and uses adjustments of liquid proximate an interior surface of the artificial tympanic membrane and adjustments of gas pressure proximate the interior surface to controllably change membrane movement and mimic an ultrasound reflectivity of a healthy state of an ear.
The method further includes adjusting the pressure of gas proximate the interior surface of the artificial tympanic membrane to controllably change the membrane movement. This change in membrane movement is used to controllably mimic an ultrasound reflectivity of a disease state of the ear, where the disease state is a bacterial or a viral ear infection, and the adjustments are selected so the membrane movement properties correspond to a mobility scale.
The invention also includes a system for simulating a tympanic membrane. The system comprises a main chamber, a membrane supported within the main chamber and secured by a membrane clamp, and an elastomeric spring coupled to the membrane and secured by a spring clamp, with selective control of a mass of the membrane, a damping of the elastomeric spring, a spring rate, a pressure in the interior of the main chamber, and an amount of liquid in the interior of the main chamber to mimic ultrasound reflectivity of both a healthy state and a disease state.
Claims Coverage
The consolidated content provides three independent claims. Across them, the core inventive coverage includes methods for testing an otoscope using a model ear with an artificial tympanic membrane, and a system for simulating a tympanic membrane, all by controllably changing membrane movement or deflection to mimic ultrasound reflectivity for healthy and bacterial or viral disease states.
Testing an otoscope using a model ear with an artificial tympanic membrane
Providing the artificial tympanic membrane, adjusting a volume of or a type of liquid proximate an interior surface of the artificial tympanic membrane, and adjusting a pressure of gas proximate the interior surface to controllably change membrane movement to controllably mimic ultrasound reflectivity of a healthy state and of a disease state that is a bacterial or a viral ear infection.
Testing an otoscope using controlled ultrasound reflectivity mimicry for healthy and disease states
Adjusting two or more of the volume of liquid, the type of liquid, and the pressure of gas to change membrane deflection or membrane movement to controllably mimic the ultrasound reflectivity of the disease state.
Simulating a tympanic membrane using a clamped membrane and elastomeric spring with selective parameter control
A system with a main chamber, a membrane supported within the main chamber and secured by a membrane clamp, and an elastomeric spring coupled to the membrane and secured by a spring clamp, with selective control of at least one of a mass of the membrane, a damping of the elastomeric spring, a spring rate, a pressure in the interior of the main chamber, and an amount of liquid in the interior of the main chamber.
The claims jointly cover selective control of liquid parameters, gas pressure, and in the system claim mechanical and chamber parameters, to mimic ultrasound reflectivity for a healthy state and for a bacterial or viral ear infection disease state.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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