Bone conduction control method and device based on high-frequency ceramic vibrator

Abstract

The invention provides a bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic vibrator, and the method comprises the steps: enabling a to-be-detected organism to be fixed, enabling a vibrator sounder to be attached to a skull of the to-be-detected organism, enabling the vibrator sounder to generate vibration according to a stimulation signal, and transmitting the vibration to a skull part; detecting and analyzing an auditory brainstem signal generated by the skull part through vibration to obtain a bone conduction auditory threshold value; and comparing the bone conduction auditory threshold with the air conduction auditory threshold to judge the lesion position. By comparing the bone conduction threshold value with the air conduction threshold value, whether the hearing loss is derived from the middle ear conduction disorder or the inner ear sensorineural disorder can be clearly judged, so that accurate distinguishing of lesion positions is realized, and the limitation that the air conduction test is restricted by the middle ear function is overcome.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of bone conduction, and in particular to a bone conduction control method and device based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator. Background Technology

[0002] Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing is the gold standard for objectively assessing auditory pathway function. In hearing studies using model animals such as mice, conventional ABR testing generally employs air conduction, which generates sound waves through a loudspeaker or plug-in headphones. The sound is transmitted to the inner ear via the animal's external auditory canal, tympanic membrane, and ossicular chain, thus inducing a neural electrical response.

[0003] However, this air conduction-dependent sound delivery method has an inherent limitation: when test results are abnormal, it's impossible to directly determine whether hearing loss stems from conduction disorders in the outer or middle ear, or from sensory disorders in the inner ear or nerves. This is because the effectiveness of air conduction is constrained by both middle and inner ear function. This limitation is particularly pronounced when studying conduction disease models such as otitis media and ossicular malformations. Air conduction ABR cannot provide a "pure" sound stimulus that bypasses the middle ear conduction pathway to independently assess inner ear function, severely limiting the accurate analysis of animal model phenotypes and in-depth exploration of disease mechanisms.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a bone conduction control method and device that can bypass the middle ear and directly stimulate the inner ear, thereby effectively distinguishing between conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, it is necessary to provide a bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator to solve the above problems.

[0006] Embodiments of this application provide a bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator, the control method comprising: Fix the head of the organism to be tested; The vibrator is attached to the skull. The vibrator generates vibrations based on the stimulus signal and transmits the vibrations to the skull. The auditory brainstem signals generated by vibration in the skull were detected and analyzed to obtain the bone conduction auditory threshold. Compare bone conduction hearing thresholds with air conduction hearing thresholds to determine the location of the lesion.

[0007] In at least one embodiment of this application, the step of "comparing bone conduction hearing thresholds with air conduction hearing thresholds to determine the location of the lesion" specifically includes: Acquire air conduction auditory brainstem signals to obtain the air conduction auditory threshold; If the air conduction hearing threshold is higher than the normal reference range and the bone conduction hearing threshold is within the normal reference range, then the lesion is determined to be located in the outer ear or middle ear. If both the air conduction hearing threshold and the bone conduction hearing threshold are higher than the normal reference range, the lesion is determined to be located in the inner ear or auditory nerve pathway.

[0008] In at least one embodiment of this application, the "fixing the head of the organism to be tested" includes the steps of: Place the organism to be tested on a fixed support; Determine the location of the skull in the organism to be tested; Adjust the telescopic rod of the head placement device and place the head of the organism to be tested against the end of the telescopic rod.

[0009] In at least one embodiment of this application, the step of "placing the organism to be tested on the fixed support" specifically includes the following steps: The organism to be tested is placed in the accommodating space enclosed by the body fixation component and the magnetic suction component; Position the neck of the organism to be tested at the neck fixation point.

[0010] In at least one embodiment of this application, the step of "fitting the vibrator sound generator to the skull area" specifically includes the following steps: Adjust the positioning bracket to move the spring telescopic probe so that the vibrator at the end of the spring telescopic probe fits against the skull at a predetermined pressure.

[0011] In at least one embodiment of this application, the step of "the vibrator generating vibrations according to a stimulus signal and transmitting the vibrations to the skull" specifically includes the following steps: The oscillator driver is controlled to output an electrical stimulation signal to the oscillator sound generator, wherein the stimulation signal is a short pure tone signal; Based on the output stimulus signal, the oscillator is driven to produce mechanical vibrations of corresponding frequency and intensity.

[0012] In at least one embodiment of this application, the step of "detecting and analyzing auditory brainstem signals generated by vibration in the skull to obtain bone conduction hearing thresholds" specifically includes the following steps: The auditory brainstem signal was acquired and amplified and converted from analog to digital to obtain the processed auditory brainstem signal. The processed auditory brainstem signals were averaged and superimposed to extract the auditory brainstem response waveform; Analyzing the auditory brainstem response waveforms, we identified the change in wave V as the stimulus intensity decreased; The minimum stimulus intensity at which wave V can no longer be recognized is determined as the bone conduction hearing threshold.

[0013] This application provides a bone conduction control device based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator, which is applied to the aforementioned bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator.

[0014] In at least one embodiment of this application, the control device includes: A fixation bracket is used to fix the organism to be tested. A positioning and adjusting bracket is disposed adjacent to the fixed bracket; A spring-loaded telescopic probe is mounted on the positioning and adjustment bracket so that the positioning and adjustment bracket can adjust the spring-loaded telescopic probe laterally, longitudinally, and angularly. A vibrator-generated sound source is located at the end of the spring-loaded telescopic probe; In at least one embodiment of this application, the fixing bracket includes: Body fixation components; The magnetic suction component is disposed opposite to the body fixing component and together they enclose a receiving space for accommodating the body part of the organism to be tested. A neck fixation member, disposed adjacent to the body fixation member, is used to fix the neck portion of the organism to be tested; A head placement device is disposed adjacent to the neck fixation device. The head placement device includes a telescopic rod for fixing the head of the organism to be tested.

[0015] The bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator described above fixes the organism under test and directly attaches the oscillator to the skull of the organism. The sound vibration is transmitted directly to the inner ear through bone conduction, bypassing the outer and middle ear, thereby obtaining an independent bone conduction hearing threshold. By comparing the bone conduction threshold with the air conduction threshold, it is possible to clearly determine whether the hearing loss is caused by middle ear conduction disorder or inner ear sensorineural disorder, thus achieving accurate differentiation of the lesion location and overcoming the limitation of air conduction testing being constrained by middle ear function. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a bone conduction control device based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of bone conduction test results in an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Explanation of main component symbols 100. A bone conduction control device based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator; 10. A fixing bracket; 11. A body fixation component; 12. A neck fixation component; 13. A head placement component; 131. A telescopic rod; 20. A positioning adjustment bracket; 30. A spring telescopic probe; 40. An oscillator sound generator. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0019] It should be noted that when a component is considered to be "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or may also have an intervening component. When a component is considered to be "placed" on another component, it can be directly placed on the other component or may also have an intervening component. The terms "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "back," and similar expressions used in this article are for illustrative purposes only.

[0020] Embodiments of this application provide a bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator, the control method comprising: S10. Fix the head of the organism to be tested; S20. Fit the vibrator sound generator to the skull area; S30, The vibrator generates vibrations based on the stimulus signal and transmits the vibrations to the skull. S40. Detect and analyze the auditory brainstem signals generated by vibration in the skull to obtain the bone conduction auditory threshold. S50. Compare bone conduction hearing thresholds with air conduction hearing thresholds to determine the location of the lesion.

[0021] The bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator described above fixes the organism under test and directly attaches the oscillator to the skull of the organism. The sound vibration is transmitted directly to the inner ear through bone conduction, bypassing the outer and middle ear, thereby obtaining an independent bone conduction hearing threshold. By comparing the bone conduction threshold with the air conduction threshold, it is possible to clearly determine whether the hearing loss is caused by middle ear conduction disorder or inner ear sensorineural disorder, thus achieving accurate differentiation of the lesion location and overcoming the limitation of air conduction testing being constrained by middle ear function.

[0022] The following detailed description of some embodiments of this application is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0023] according to Figures 1-3 This application provides a bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator, the control method comprising: S10. Fix the head of the organism to be tested; S20. Fit the vibrator 40 to the skull area; S30, the vibrator 40 generates vibrations according to the stimulation signal and transmits the vibrations to the skull; S40. Detect and analyze the auditory brainstem signals generated by vibration in the skull to obtain the bone conduction auditory threshold. S50. Compare bone conduction hearing thresholds with air conduction hearing thresholds to determine the location of the lesion.

[0024] Specifically, in step S10: the test organism is placed in an adjustable restraint device equipped with a head clamp and body restraint sleeve to ensure the animal's head remains stable during testing and complies with animal ethics requirements. During restraint, the head's orientation is standardized so that the top of the skull is parallel to the horizontal plane, facilitating the subsequent placement of the vibrator generator 40. In this embodiment, the test organism is preferably a mouse.

[0025] S20: The vibrator 40 is a high-frequency ceramic vibrator 40. The vibrator 40 is typically fitted to the temporal bone region or the midline of the skull, where bone density is high, which is beneficial for bone conduction efficiency. In this embodiment, the preferred skull region is the midline of the skull.

[0026] When attaching the transducer 40 to the skull, the mouse skull is first cleaned to remove hair and impurities to ensure good contact between the transducer 40 and the skull. A suitable-sized high-frequency ceramic transducer 40 is selected, with its frequency range and vibration set as needed to meet experimental requirements. The transducer 40 is placed on a relatively flat area at the top of the mouse skull, ensuring a tight fit between the transducer 40 and the skull to guarantee efficient vibration transmission.

[0027] S30: The stimulus signal is generated by a digital signal generator. In this embodiment, the stimulus signal is a short pure tone signal.

[0028] In the step where the oscillator 40 vibrates according to the stimulus signal and transmits the vibration to the skull, the stimulus signal is generated by a dedicated signal generator. The signal generator can precisely control parameters such as the frequency, intensity, and duration of the stimulus signal according to experimental requirements. The signal generator is connected to the oscillator 40 via a suitable connection line, and the signal generator is activated to output the preset stimulus signal. Upon receiving the stimulus signal, the internal ceramic material of the oscillator 40 deforms under the influence of an electric field, thereby generating vibration, which is then transmitted to the skull through the contact surface with the skull.

[0029] S40: To detect and analyze auditory brainstem signals generated by vibrations in the skull and obtain the bone conduction hearing threshold, a specialized auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing device is used. The electrodes of the testing device are placed in the relevant areas of the mouse's head and neck according to standard positions to accurately collect the neural electrical signals generated by vibrations in the skull. The ABR testing device is activated; the device amplifies, filters, and digitizes the collected signals, and then analyzes these signals using a specific algorithm to obtain the bone conduction hearing threshold.

[0030] S50: When comparing bone conduction hearing thresholds with air conduction hearing thresholds to determine lesion location, the air conduction hearing threshold of mice needs to be obtained first using a standard air conduction ABR test. The air conduction ABR test uses a loudspeaker or in-ear headphones to generate sound waves, and is performed according to standard air conduction testing procedures. The obtained bone conduction and air conduction hearing thresholds are then compared and analyzed. If the bone conduction hearing threshold is normal, but the air conduction hearing threshold is abnormal, it indicates that the hearing loss may originate from a conduction disorder in the outer or middle ear. If both bone and air conduction hearing thresholds are abnormal, and the increase in bone conduction threshold is relatively small compared to air conduction threshold, it may suggest that the hearing loss originates from a sensory disorder in the inner ear or nerves.

[0031] In summary, fixing the head of the test organism effectively avoids the impact of head movement on the experimental results, improving the stability and reliability of the experimental data. For example, in mouse experiments, stable head fixation allows for more precise contact between the vibrator generator 40 and the skull, resulting in more efficient vibration transmission and reduced signal interference caused by head movement.

[0032] The vibrator 40 is tightly fitted to the skull, and the high-frequency ceramic vibrator 40 vibrates according to the stimulus signal and transmits it to the skull, successfully bypassing the conduction pathways of the outer and middle ear to achieve direct stimulation of the inner ear. This bone conduction method can obtain an independent bone conduction hearing threshold, overcoming the limitations of traditional air conduction tests that are constrained by middle ear function. In studying conduction disease models such as otitis media and ossicular malformation, it can provide "pure" sound stimulation to assess inner ear function independently, providing strong support for in-depth research into disease mechanisms.

[0033] By detecting and analyzing the auditory brainstem signals generated by vibration in the skull, the bone conduction hearing threshold is obtained and compared with the air conduction hearing threshold. This allows for a clear determination of whether hearing loss originates from middle ear conduction disorders or inner ear sensorineural disorders, thus enabling the differentiation of lesion location.

[0034] In one specific embodiment, "S50: Comparing bone conduction hearing thresholds with air conduction hearing thresholds to determine lesion location" specifically includes the following steps: S51. Obtain air conduction auditory brainstem signals to obtain the air conduction auditory threshold. S52. If the air conduction hearing threshold is higher than the normal reference range and the bone conduction hearing threshold is within the normal reference range, then the lesion is determined to be located in the outer ear or middle ear. S53. If both the air conduction hearing threshold and the bone conduction hearing threshold are higher than the normal reference range, the lesion is determined to be located in the inner ear or auditory nerve pathway.

[0035] Specifically, in the embodiments of this application, the acquired air conduction auditory brainstem signals are typically obtained independently before or after bone conduction testing. This determination relies on pre-established normal reference ranges for healthy mice of the same strain and age (e.g., at 12 kHz, the normal air conduction threshold range is 15-30 dB SPL, and the normal bone conduction threshold range is 10-25 dB FL).

[0036] As shown in the attached figure, the obtained bone conduction waveforms are shown. The upper waveform represents the response under high-intensity 80 dB SPL stimulation, and the lower waveform represents the response under low-intensity 20 dB SPL stimulation. The horizontal axis represents time (15 ms), and the vertical axis represents the amplitude of recorded neural electrical activity.

[0037] Under 80 dB stimulation, a typical ABR waveform (usually containing characteristic waves such as waves I, III, and V) can be clearly observed, indicating that the auditory pathway responds normally to strong stimulation. Under 20 dB stimulation, the waveform is basically flat and indistinguishable from the baseline, indicating that this intensity is below the mouse's auditory threshold at this frequency.

[0038] By systematically testing different sound intensities (e.g., starting from 80 dB and decreasing in 5 dB or 10 dB increments), we can find the lowest stimulus intensity that can induce a repeatable ABR waveform.

[0039] In this case, the mouse's air conduction threshold was measured at 40 dB SPL (above the normal upper limit of 30 dB SPL), while its bone conduction threshold was measured at 20 dB FL (within the normal range of 10-25 dB FL). This result pattern indicates that sound conduction via the air conduction pathway (through the outer and middle ear) is impaired (elevated threshold), but function is normal when the inner ear is directly stimulated via the bone conduction pathway (normal threshold). This clearly points to a lesion obstructing the mechanical conduction of sound, therefore the lesion is determined to be located in the outer or middle ear, indicating conductive hearing loss.

[0040] Assuming the mouse in this case had an air conduction threshold of 50 dB SPL and a bone conduction threshold of 35 dB FL (both significantly higher than their respective upper limits of normal reference range), this result pattern indicates that even when bone conduction bypasses the middle ear and acts directly on the skull, the inner ear and / or auditory nerve still require stronger stimulation to produce a response. This demonstrates a defect in sensorineural or neural function itself, thus determining the lesion to be located in the inner ear or auditory nerve pathway, indicating sensorineural hearing loss.

[0041] In one specific embodiment, "S10: Fixing the head of the organism to be tested" includes the following steps: S11. Place the organism to be tested on the fixed support 10; S12. Determine the location of the skull of the organism to be tested; S13. Adjust the telescopic rod 131 of the head placement component 13 and bring the head of the organism to be tested against the end of the telescopic rod 131.

[0042] Specifically, S11: The fixation frame 10 is a three-dimensional frame, typically constructed of materials such as aluminum alloy or high-strength engineering plastics. The base of the frame is equipped with a body-accommodating space for placing the test organism, the shape of which is adapted to the torso contour of the mouse or other test organism. During the procedure, the test organism, under appropriate anesthesia, is placed in the accommodating space in a prone or supine position, allowing its body to stretch naturally. Adjustable chest and abdominal straps are used for restraint, effectively limiting torso movement and preventing interference during testing, while ensuring the animal's breathing remains unaffected, complying with animal experimentation ethics.

[0043] S12: After the body is stabilized, the skull position for attaching the vibrator generator 40 needs to be identified. The operator must manually position the head of the organism under test, typically choosing the parietal bone region along the midline of the skull or the temporal bone regions on both sides (located behind the auricles). These areas have thicker and relatively flat bones, which is conducive to the effective transmission and coupling of bone conduction vibrations. During the positioning process, local hair may need to be gently shaved to ensure subsequent contact quality and signal transmission efficiency.

[0044] S13: The head placement component 13 is a fine-tuning mechanism, typically featuring a telescopic rod 131 with threaded or gear-driven transmission. The end of the telescopic rod 131 is fitted with a soft, biocompatible abutment head made of a material such as medical-grade silicone or soft foam. The operator controls the telescopic rod 131 to advance along its axis by rotating a fine-tuning knob until the soft abutment head at its end contacts the head of the organism under test. This limits the stability of the organism during the test and prevents its movement from affecting the test results.

[0045] In summary, the fixation brace 10 reduces macroscopic body movement at its source by restraining the body, while the adjustment of the head placement component 13 and the telescopic rod 131 achieves microscopic fixation of the head. This dual fixation mechanism effectively eliminates motion artifacts caused by voluntary or unconscious movements of the animal (which can occur even under anesthesia), which is crucial for acquiring high-quality, low-noise auditory brainstem signals (ABR), thereby improving the accuracy and signal-to-noise ratio of bone conduction auditory threshold measurement.

[0046] In one specific embodiment, "S11, placing the organism to be tested on the fixed support 10" specifically includes the following steps: S111, Place the organism to be tested in the accommodating space enclosed by the body fixation component 11 and the magnetic suction component; S112. Position the neck of the organism to be tested at the neck fixation piece 12.

[0047] Specifically, the main body of the fixation bracket 10 consists of a U-shaped body fixation member 11, whose concave surface is adapted to the torso contour of the organism to be tested (such as a mouse). A matching arc-shaped cover plate serves as a movable part, with permanent magnets or magnetically attracted metal plates embedded in its edges, forming a magnetic attraction assembly (not shown in the figure). It should be noted that the body fixation member 11 also has corresponding magnetic attraction assemblies at corresponding positions.

[0048] During operation, the organism to be tested is first placed prone in the groove of the body fixation component 11, aligning its long axis with the long axis of the groove. Then, the arc-shaped cover of the magnetic assembly is placed over the animal's torso, and through magnetic attraction, it forms a completely enclosed, appropriately sized accommodating space together with the body fixation component 11. This magnetic connection method allows for quick opening and closing, facilitating the placement and removal of the animal, while providing uniform and moderate lateral restraint, effectively limiting the animal's lateral swaying and turning without causing compression.

[0049] At the front end of the body fixation component 11, there is a dedicated neck fixation component 12. This component is typically a shallow groove or two parallel soft pads slightly lower than the bottom of the body fixation component 11, designed to naturally accommodate and position the animal's neck. During operation, after placing the torso, the animal's head position needs to be slightly adjusted manually or with the aid of a gentle tool so that its neck is accurately resting on the neck fixation component 12. This provides support for the animal's neck, allowing the head to naturally tilt slightly upward, thus providing a stable and repeatable mechanical fulcrum for the subsequent support of the head placement component 13, while avoiding discomfort or airway obstruction that may result from prolonged neck suspension.

[0050] In one specific embodiment, "S20, attaching the vibrator 40 to the skull area" specifically includes the following steps: S21: Adjust the positioning adjustment bracket 20 to move the spring telescopic probe 30 so that the vibrator 40 at the end of the spring telescopic probe 30 fits against the skull with a predetermined pressure.

[0051] Specifically, in this embodiment, the adjustment and positioning bracket 20 is a mechanical structure with multiple degrees of freedom adjustment, typically consisting of a base guide rail, a vertical column, and a horizontal arm, with locking knobs at each joint. By releasing the corresponding knobs, the end effector of the bracket, i.e., the spring telescopic probe 30, can be manually coarsely positioned in three-dimensional space, so that it is roughly aligned with the target skull region (such as the parietal bone) of the fixed organism to be tested.

[0052] The spring-loaded telescopic probe 30 is a core force control component, containing a spring and a sliding shaft. After coarse positioning, the vibrator 40 at the end of the spring-loaded telescopic probe 30 is gradually brought closer to and until it contacts the skull surface by fine-tuning the positioning adjustment bracket 20. Once the vibrator 40 contacts the skull, further fine-tuning will compress the shaft of the spring-loaded telescopic probe 30 and cause it to retract, at which point the spring is compressed.

[0053] When an animal makes extremely small movements or its head experiences nanoscale drift, the extension and contraction of the spring can adaptively buffer this displacement, maintaining a constant predetermined pressure and preventing contact loss or a sudden increase in pressure. This ensures the continuity of the test signal and prevents potential local pressure damage.

[0054] In one specific embodiment, the step of "S30, the vibrator 40 vibrates according to the stimulation signal and transmits the vibration to the skull" specifically includes the following steps: S31. Control the oscillator driver to output an electrical stimulation signal to the oscillator sound generator 40, wherein the stimulation signal is a short pure tone signal; S32. Based on the output stimulus signal, drive the oscillator generator 40 to generate mechanical vibrations of corresponding frequency and intensity.

[0055] Specifically, the oscillator driver generates a specific electrical stimulation signal to the oscillator generator 40 connected to the oscillator driver. The output short pure tone signal has a specific center frequency (e.g., 8 kHz or 16 kHz) and is shaped by a Blackman window or other type of envelope function to achieve a rapid rise or fall time (typically 1 ms) and a certain plateau period (e.g., 2 ms). This signal form can generate a single-frequency sine wave signal, allowing for independent evaluation of the hearing threshold at different frequency points. The generated digital signal is output as a weak analog electrical signal by a digital-to-analog converter and then fed into the oscillator driver. The driver amplifies the signal in both voltage and current to provide sufficient power to drive the high-frequency ceramic oscillator.

[0056] The amplified electrical stimulation signal is applied to the electrodes of the oscillator generator 40, i.e., the high-frequency ceramic piezoelectric oscillator. The piezoelectric ceramic material will produce mechanical deformation of the same frequency and amplitude as the applied electrical signal. Specifically, the frequency of the electrical signal determines the frequency of the mechanical vibration, while the intensity of the electrical signal determines the amplitude of the mechanical vibration, which is then transmitted to the skull of the organism being tested through the oscillator end face that has been previously attached to the skull.

[0057] In one specific embodiment, the step "S40, detecting and analyzing the auditory brainstem signal generated by vibration in the skull to obtain the bone conduction hearing threshold" specifically includes the following steps: S41. Acquire the auditory brainstem signal and amplify and perform analog-to-digital conversion to obtain the processed auditory brainstem signal; S42. The processed auditory brainstem signals are averaged and superimposed to extract the auditory brainstem response waveform. S43. Analyze the auditory brainstem response waveform and identify the change of wave V as the stimulus intensity decreases; S44. The minimum stimulus intensity at which wave V can no longer be recognized is determined as the bone conduction hearing threshold.

[0058] Specifically, S41: In this embodiment, after the vibrator 40 applies bone conduction vibration with a short pure tone of 12kHz (duration 3-10ms) and an intensity of 80dB, a weak raw neural electrical signal is acquired through the electrodes of the vibrator 40. This signal is amplified by a bioelectric amplifier to effectively suppress environmental common-mode interference; subsequently, a 24-bit high-precision ADC performs analog-to-digital conversion at a sampling rate of 384kHz to ensure the fidelity and timing accuracy of the raw signal, laying the foundation for subsequent analysis.

[0059] S42: As shown in the attached figure, the transformed signals corresponding to multiple stimuli are time-locked and aligned, and then digitally averaged. This process significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio, ultimately extracting a recognizable auditory brainstem response waveform. The attached figure shows a clear ABR waveform (containing characteristic waves such as waves I, III, and V) after averaging at an intensity of 80 dB, while at an intensity of 20 dB, the averaged waveform tends to flatten, indicating that the response has disappeared.

[0060] S43: Wave V is the most prominent and stable waveform component in ABR. Operators or analysis algorithms systematically examine the averaged waveform at various intensities starting from 80 dB and decreasing in 5 dB or 10 dB steps. As shown in the attached figure, as the stimulus intensity decreases from 80 dB, the latency of wave V gradually lengthens and the amplitude gradually decreases until it becomes reliably indistinguishable from background noise at a certain intensity (e.g., around 20 dB as indicated in the attached figure).

[0061] S44: Referring to the example in the attached figure, if a repeatable wave V can still be observed at 25dB stimulation, but the wave V disappears (the waveform is flat) at 20dB stimulation, then the bone conduction hearing threshold of the mouse at 12kHz is determined to be 25dB (with an acceleration of 1cm / s² as the 0dB reference). This objective threshold is the core basis for subsequent comparison with the air conduction threshold and for lesion localization.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a high sampling rate (384kHz) and high common-mode rejection ratio (>94dB) acquisition system is used to ensure that microvolt-level auditory brainstem signals can be recorded with high fidelity, minimizing signal distortion and environmental interference. This provides a high-quality data foundation for accurately tracking minute changes in wave V within a wide dynamic range (0-80dB).

[0063] Furthermore, by observing the critical point of the "appearance" and "disappearance" of wave V, the auditory threshold can be clearly defined, effectively avoiding errors caused by signal noise or inconsistent interpretation standards.

[0064] This application provides a bone conduction control device 100 based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator, which is applied to a bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator. Further details are omitted.

[0065] In one specific embodiment, the control device includes: Fixing bracket 10 is used to fix the organism to be tested; The positioning and adjusting bracket 20 is disposed adjacent to the fixed bracket 10; A spring telescopic probe 30 is mounted on the positioning adjustment bracket 20 so that the positioning adjustment bracket 20 can adjust the spring telescopic probe 30 laterally, longitudinally, and angularly. The vibrator sound generator 40 is located at the end of the spring telescopic probe 30; An oscillator driver, connected to the oscillator transmitter 40, is used to send stimulation signals to the oscillator transmitter 40.

[0066] Specifically, the fixation bracket 10 secures the test organism (such as a mouse). This bracket typically employs a three-dimensional frame structure, equipped with adjustable body space and head restraint mechanisms to ensure that the animal maintains a standard position and its head remains stationary during testing, providing a stable foundation for subsequent precision operations.

[0067] The positioning and adjustment bracket 20, located adjacent to the fixed bracket 10, is a multi-degree-of-freedom mechanical platform, typically composed of a three-dimensional translational slide and a rotation adjustment mechanism. Its core function is to support and precisely adjust the spring-loaded telescopic probe 30 laterally, longitudinally, and angularly. By fine-tuning each direction, the operator can align and move the transducer 40 at the end of the probe to a specific target area (such as the parietal bone) of the skull of the organism being tested.

[0068] Mounted at the end of the positioning and adjustment bracket 20 is a spring-loaded telescopic probe 30. This probe is a key force control component, containing a precision spring and a sliding shaft. Its design aims to ensure that the end-mounted oscillator can adhere to the skull surface with a constant, predetermined pressure. When the probe contacts the skull under the drive of the positioning bracket, the spring mechanism automatically buffers and maintains a constant contact force, ensuring efficient vibration transmission while preventing damage from overpressure.

[0069] The oscillator 40, located at the end of the spring-loaded telescopic probe 30, is typically a high-frequency ceramic piezoelectric element. This oscillator is responsible for directly converting the electrical stimulation signal into mechanical vibration. Its compact design allows it to be directly and tightly coupled to the skull through the end of the probe.

[0070] The oscillator driver is connected to the oscillator generator 40 via wires. A stimulation signal with sufficient driving capability is sent to the oscillator generator 40 to control the oscillator to produce mechanical vibrations of a specific frequency and intensity.

[0071] Furthermore, through the synergy of the fixed support 10 and the positioning adjustment support 20, precise and repeatable positioning of the relative spatial position between the oscillator 40 and the target area of ​​the skull is achieved. The fixed support 10 eliminates the variables caused by the macroscopic movement of the organism, while the multi-degree-of-freedom positioning adjustment support 20 provides alignment accuracy, ensuring that the vibration is applied to the same optimal position of the skull in each test, which greatly improves the consistency and repeatability of the experiment.

[0072] Furthermore, the combination of the spring-loaded telescopic probe 30 and the oscillator generator 40 creates a dynamically stable and safe vibration coupling interface. The probe's constant-pressure mechanism automatically compensates for minor positional deviations, ensuring efficient and stable transmission of vibrational energy from the oscillator to the skull, a prerequisite for obtaining reliable, low-noise bone-conducted ABR signals. Simultaneously, this design effectively prevents excessive pressure on the skull due to improper operation, balancing testing accuracy with animal welfare.

[0073] Furthermore, the matching of the oscillator driver and the oscillator generator 40 enables high-fidelity power amplification and electromechanical conversion of the stimulus signal. This ensures that the stimulus parameters (frequency, intensity) set in the software can be accurately converted into physical vibrations acting on the skull, providing a clean, controllable, and known acoustic stimulus source for subsequent threshold analysis.

[0074] In one specific embodiment, the fixing bracket 10 includes: Body fastener 11; The magnetic suction component is disposed opposite to the body fixing component 11 and together they enclose a receiving space for accommodating the body part of the organism to be tested. The neck fixation member 12 is disposed adjacent to the body fixation member 11 and is used to fix the neck part of the organism to be tested; The head placement component 13 is disposed adjacent to the neck fixing component 12. The head placement component 13 includes a telescopic rod 131, which is used to fix the head of the organism to be tested.

[0075] Specifically, the body fixation component 11 is a base with a U-shaped groove, the concave surface of which is designed to fit the torso contour of the organism to be tested (such as a mouse), providing initial positioning and support for the body.

[0076] A magnetic suction assembly is disposed opposite to the body fixation member 11. This assembly typically consists of two parts: one part is embedded in the side edge of the body fixation member 11, and the other part is disposed on an openable arc-shaped cover. When the cover is placed over the animal's torso in the groove of the body fixation member 11, the magnets on both sides attract each other, causing the cover and the body fixation member 11 to together enclose and form an accommodating space for accommodating the body parts of the organism to be tested. The magnetic force provides uniform and moderate lateral restraint, effectively limiting torso movement, while also enabling quick opening and closing, facilitating the placement and removal of the animal.

[0077] The neck fixation element 12 is typically a shallow groove slightly lower than the bottom of the body fixation element 11, or a V-shaped bracket made of soft material. Its core function is to fix the neck of the organism being tested. Once the animal's torso is restrained within the accommodating space, its neck is placed in this groove, thus obtaining stable support and positioning, ensuring the standardization of the angle between the head and torso, and preventing the neck from being suspended in the air.

[0078] Furthermore, the head placement component 13 is crucial for achieving head fixation, and its core is an adjustable telescopic rod 131. This telescopic rod 131 typically achieves linear movement via a threaded transmission mechanism, and its end may be fitted with a soft, biocompatible material (such as medical-grade silicone). By finely adjusting the extension length of the telescopic rod 131, its end can be pressed against the animal's nose or forehead with a constant and gentle force, thereby fixing the head of the test subject and completing the final constraint on the entire head, ensuring its complete stability during testing.

[0079] Furthermore, the accommodating space formed by the body fixation component 11 and the magnetic assembly enables rapid, stable, and non-invasive restraint of the animal's torso. The magnetic design greatly improves operational efficiency while avoiding the risks of compression or entanglement that may be caused by traditional straps, providing a stable basic platform for the entire testing process.

[0080] Furthermore, the combination of the neck fixation member 12 and the head placement member 13 achieves precise positioning and rigid fixation of the animal's head and neck. The neck fixation member 12 provides a crucial fulcrum, while the telescopic rod 131 of the head placement member 13 provides the final locking force. This design ensures that the animal's head maintains a highly consistent and completely stable position and posture in three-dimensional space.

[0081] Therefore, the bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator provided above fixes the organism under test and directly attaches the oscillator generator 40 to the skull of the organism under test. The sound vibration is transmitted directly to the inner ear through bone conduction, bypassing the outer and middle ear, thereby obtaining an independent bone conduction hearing threshold. By comparing the bone conduction threshold with the air conduction threshold, it is possible to clearly determine whether the hearing loss is caused by middle ear conduction disorder or inner ear sensorineural disorder, thereby achieving accurate differentiation of the lesion location and overcoming the limitation of air conduction testing being restricted by middle ear function.

[0082] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make improvements without departing from the inventive concept of this application, but these improvements all fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0083] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make improvements without departing from the inventive concept of this application, but these improvements all fall within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator, characterized in that, The control method includes: Fix the head of the organism to be tested; The vibrator is attached to the skull. The vibrator generates vibrations based on the stimulus signal and transmits the vibrations to the skull. The auditory brainstem signals generated by vibration in the skull were detected and analyzed to obtain the bone conduction auditory threshold. Compare bone conduction hearing thresholds with air conduction hearing thresholds to determine the location of the lesion.

2. The bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The phrase "comparing bone conduction hearing thresholds with air conduction hearing thresholds to determine lesion location" specifically includes: Acquire air conduction auditory brainstem signals to obtain the air conduction auditory threshold; If the air conduction hearing threshold is higher than the normal reference range and the bone conduction hearing threshold is within the normal reference range, then the lesion is determined to be located in the outer ear or middle ear. If both the air conduction hearing threshold and the bone conduction hearing threshold are higher than the normal reference range, the lesion is determined to be located in the inner ear or auditory nerve pathway.

3. The bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of "fixing the head of the organism to be tested" includes the following steps: Place the organism to be tested on a fixed support; Determine the location of the skull in the organism to be tested; Adjust the telescopic rod of the head placement device and place the head of the organism to be tested against the end of the telescopic rod.

4. The bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator according to claim 3, characterized in that, The specific steps of "placing the organism to be tested on the fixed support" include: The organism to be tested is placed in the accommodating space enclosed by the body fixation component and the magnetic suction component; Position the neck of the organism to be tested at the neck fixation point.

5. The bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The specific steps of "fitting the vibrator sound generator to the skull area" include: Adjust the positioning bracket to move the spring telescopic probe so that the vibrator at the end of the spring telescopic probe fits against the skull at a predetermined pressure.

6. The bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of "the vibrator generating vibrations based on stimulation signals and transmitting these vibrations to the skull" specifically includes the following steps: The oscillator driver is controlled to output an electrical stimulation signal to the oscillator sound generator, wherein the stimulation signal is a short pure tone signal; Based on the output stimulus signal, the oscillator is driven to produce mechanical vibrations of corresponding frequency and intensity.

7. The bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The specific steps of "detecting and analyzing auditory brainstem signals generated by vibration in the skull to obtain the bone conduction auditory threshold" include: The auditory brainstem signal was acquired and amplified and converted from analog to digital to obtain the processed auditory brainstem signal. The processed auditory brainstem signals were averaged and superimposed to extract the auditory brainstem response waveform; Analyzing the auditory brainstem response waveforms, we identified the change in wave V as the stimulus intensity decreased; The minimum stimulus intensity at which wave V can no longer be recognized is determined as the bone conduction hearing threshold.

8. A bone conduction control device based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator, characterized in that, A bone conduction control method based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator, applicable to claims 1-7 above.

9. A bone conduction control device based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator according to claim 8, characterized in that, The control device includes: A fixation bracket is used to fix the organism to be tested. A positioning and adjusting bracket is disposed adjacent to the fixed bracket; A spring-loaded telescopic probe is mounted on the positioning and adjustment bracket so that the positioning and adjustment bracket can adjust the spring-loaded telescopic probe laterally, longitudinally, and angularly. A vibrator-generated sound source is located at the end of the spring-loaded telescopic probe; An oscillator driver, connected to the oscillator transmitter, is used to send stimulation signals to the oscillator transmitter.

10. A bone conduction control device based on a high-frequency ceramic oscillator according to claim 9, characterized in that, The fixing bracket includes: Body fixation components; The magnetic suction component is disposed opposite to the body fixing component and together they enclose a receiving space for accommodating the body part of the organism to be tested. A neck fixation member, disposed adjacent to the body fixation member, is used to fix the neck portion of the organism to be tested; A head placement device is disposed adjacent to the neck fixation device. The head placement device includes a telescopic rod for fixing the head of the organism to be tested.

Images