Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for and method of performing high frequency audiometry

US5105822A · kind A · utility

63Cited by
1References
55Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 16, 1988
Grant dateApr 21, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 16, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/7257
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of applying a selected range of high frequency acoustic energy to the apical end of the eardrum of an ear canal at a predetermined, substantially absolute sound pressure level at any frequency in the range of interest. The selected range of frequencies is generated at a location remote from the ear canal and the sound pressure level of each frequency is varied at the time of generation in accordance with a calibration function to ensure the frequencies reaching the apical end of the eardrum are at the predetermined sound pressure level. The calibration function is calculated by transmitting an acoustic pulse of broad frequency spectrum into the ear canal, measuring the sound pressure of the transmitted acoustic pulse and reflection thereof adjacent the entrance of the ear canal, and removing from the spectrum of the measured sound pressure the destructive interference effects between the transmitted and reflected acoustic pulses. The resultant sound pressure level contains nonuniformities having information regarding the sound transmission characteristics of the ear canal and the acoustic pulse generation and transmission system from which the calibratio…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.