Portable hand-held tympanometer
US4688582A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 1986 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/126
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A portable, hand-held tympanometer that has the capability of performing the tympanometry and of displaying and storing the test results all within the hand-held instrument. A separate unit that is not in any way attached to the tympanometer during the testing is provided to print the test results and to recharge the tympanometer battery. The tympanometer has a body portion and a head portion to which a speculum is attached, the speculum being adapted to engage the canal of the ear being examined in sealed relation thereto. A speaker in the speculum transmits acoustic signals into the ear canal and a microphone in the speculum receives the signals that are reflected back through the canal by the tympanic membrane. A pressure transducer is located in the head portion of the tympanometer, and a miniature pump located in the body portion operates to introduce a range of pressures into the ear canal while the acoustic signals are being transmitted and received. The tympanometer also includes a liquid crystal display in the head portion which indicates the admittance of the tympanic membrane as determined by the speaker and microphone.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.