Patent US3443468A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5868682A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5868682A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and process for generating and measuring the shape of an acoustic reflectance curve of an ear
Assignee: Digital Diagnostic Corp
•
Filing: 1997-06-18
•
Granted: 1999-02-09
•
Expires: 2017-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A device and a process for analysis of an ear directs into the ear acoustic waves Measurements may be made without pressurizing the ear canal and contact between the device and the ear does not need to be air-tight. The patient experiences essentially no discomfort from use of the device. The device detects the reflected waves to produce what is called an acoustic reflectance curve. The shape of a region of the acoustic reflectance curve is electronically measured in order to obtain an indicator of ear condition which is substantially independent of a line of sight between a sound source and the ear. This indicator may be based on a measurement of the resonance characteristic, or freedom of motion, of the tympanic membrane or other ear component being analyzed. One such measurement is the rate of change of the acoustic reflectance with respect to frequency. The rate of change measured around the null may be presented as an angle measurement, a gradient or slope measurement, a width measurement, or other form of measurement of the shape of the null. The steepest slopes on either side of a null may be used to define an angle. Diagnosis of an ear pathology, such as abnormal pressure or presence of fluid in the middle ear or conductive hearing loss, may be based on this measure alone.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome T. Combs
- 👤 Hugh W. Busey
- 👤 Kresimir Ukraincik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/12; A61B5/121; G; G01; G01H; G01H15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A device for analyzing a human ear, comprising: means for directing energy from an energy source into the ear and for detecting reflected energy to produce an electrical signal, wherein the electrical signal has a shape; and means for electronically measuring the shape of a region of the electrical signal to obtain an indication of a condition of the ear, wherein the indication is substantially independent of a line of sight from the energy source into the ear.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A device for analyzing a human ear, comprising: means for directing energy from an energy source into the ear and for detecting reflected energy to produce an electrical signal, wherein the electrical signal has a shape; and means for electronically measuring the shape of a region of the electrical signal to obtain an indication of a condition of the ear, wherein the indication is substantially independent of a line of sight from the energy source into the ear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for directing directs the energy to the tympanic membrane of an ear of an individual.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 2, wherein the indicated condition of the ear is conductive hearing loss.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting detects a vector sum of reflected energy and energy from the energy source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring shape includes a means for detecting resonance in the cavity and a frequency at which resonance occurs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process for analyzing a human ear, comprising: directing energy from an energy source into the ear; detecting reflected energy to produce an electrical signal, wherein the electrical signal has a shape; and electronically measuring the shape of a region of the electrical signal to obtain an indication of a condition of the ear, wherein the indication is substantially independent of a line of sight from the energy source into the ear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process for analyzing a human ear, comprising: directing energy from an energy source into the ear; detecting reflected energy to produce an electrical signal, wherein the electrical signal has a shape; and electronically measuring the shape of a region of the electrical signal to obtain an indication of a condition of the ear, wherein the indication is substantially independent of a line of sight from the energy source into the ear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 6, wherein the step of directing directs the energy to the tympanic membrane of an ear of an individual.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the indicated condition of the ear is conductive hearing loss.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 6, wherein the step of detecting includes detecting a vector sum of reflected energy and energy from the energy source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 6, wherein the step of measuring shape includes a step of detecting resonance in the cavity and a frequency at which resonance occurs.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
83 words
A device for analyzing a human ear, comprising: an energy detector positioned to detect reflected energy from the ear to produce an electrical signal, wherein the electrical signal has a shape; and a shape analyzer connected to receive the reflected signal and having an output which provides a measure of the shape of a region of the electrical signal indicative of a condition of the ear, wherein the measure is substantially independent of a line of sight from the device into the ear.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
83 words
A device for analyzing a human ear, comprising: an energy detector positioned to detect reflected energy from the ear to produce an electrical signal, wherein the electrical signal has a shape; and a shape analyzer connected to receive the reflected signal and having an output which provides a measure of the shape of a region of the electrical signal indicative of a condition of the ear, wherein the measure is substantially independent of a line of sight from the device into the ear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 11, further comprising an energy source positioned to direct energy into the bodily cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 12, wherein the bodily cavity is an ear having a tympanic membrane and wherein the indicated condition of the ear is conductive hearing loss.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the energy detector detects a vector sum of reflected energy and energy from the energy source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 11, wherein the shape analyzer detects resonance in the cavity and a frequency at which resonance occurs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3294193A
Cited
US3395697A
Cited
US3757769A
Cited
US3882848A
Cited
US3949735A
Cited
US4079198A
Cited
US4009707A
Cited
US4002161A
Cited
US4057051A
Cited
US4201225A
Cited
US4374526A
Cited
WO1979000614A1
Cited
US4378809A
Cited
US4326416B1
Cited
US4326416A
Cited
US4251686A
Cited
US4289143A
Cited
US4237905A
Cited
US4601295A
Cited
US4586194A
Cited
US4674123A
Cited
USD286814S
Cited
US4763753A
Cited
US4677679A
Cited
US4754748A
Cited
US4615007A
Cited
US4596252A
Cited
US4748598A
Cited
US4819753A
Cited
US5699809A
Cited
US4688582A
Cited
US4841986A
Cited
US4966160A
Cited
US5179079A
Cited
US4884447A
Cited
US4809708A
Cited
US4813430A
Cited
US5105822A
Cited
US5063946A
Cited
US5526819A
Cited
US5666960A
Cited
US5267571A
Cited
US5413114A
Cited
US5348002A
Cited
US5230344A
Cited
US5402493A
Cited
US5372142A
Cited
US5316002A
Cited
US5421818A
Cited
US5445144A
Cited
US5594174A
Cited
US5651371A
Cited
US5601091A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-08 | 2002-08-10 | 2003-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-08 | 2006-08-10 | 2007-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-08 | 2010-08-10 | 2011-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |