A test system and method for an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument

Abstract

The present application discloses a test system and method for an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument, relating to the technical field of auditory brainstem response measuring instrument testing, and solving the problem that the performance parameters of the physiological electrical response measurement part of the existing auditory brainstem response measuring instrument cannot be tested. The system includes: a signal generation module, an audio amplification module, an acoustic coupler, an attenuation circuit module, a main control module, a display module, and a dual-channel signal acquisition module. The acoustic signal emitted by the air conduction earphone of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument is converted into an electrical signal for triggering the signal generation module to start, so that a sine signal can be automatically output according to the acoustic signal, and after attenuation, it is input to the electrode input interface of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument. By analyzing the waveform and amplitude collected by the dual-channel signal acquisition module, the amplitude measurement error and latency measurement error of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument can be obtained.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of auditory brainstem response measuring instrument testing, and in particular to a testing system and method of an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument. Background Art

[0002] Evoked potential (EP): The bioelectric changes related to external stimulation (such as auditory or visual sensory stimulation) produced by the nervous system. This electrical activity extracted and recorded from the electroencephalogram is called evoked potential.

[0003] Auditory evoked potentials (AEP): Evoked potentials induced by sound waves or vibration stimulation of the auditory system and recorded by electrodes.

[0004] Auditory brainstem response (ABR): A transient auditory evoked potential generated in the inner ear, auditory nerve and brainstem caused by short-term sound or vibration stimulation.

[0005] Objective audiometry is a general term for a type of audiometry that does not require the subject's subjective cooperation. It uses the subject's physiological response to sound stimulation to determine the subject's hearing. The results are not affected by subjective factors such as the subject's age, intelligence, and mental state at the time of the test. The test results are objective and highly accurate.

[0006] The auditory brainstem response meter is one of the important objective audiometric devices, which is widely used in audiological research, hearing disease detection and diagnosis, newborn hearing screening, forensic identification and other fields.

[0007] Examination method: In a quiet or sleeping environment, degrease and clean the forehead, between the eyebrows, and behind the ears of the subject, then stick electrodes on them, connect wires, insert earphones into the ear canals, and stimulate clicking sounds through the earphones. The positive waves that appear in the first 10 seconds are recorded sequentially on the scalp on top of the head, and the latency, peak value, and interval of these waves are observed.

[0008] The principle of the auditory brainstem response meter is to give a specific sound (vibration) stimulation signal to the human ear, and the electroencephalogram detection system records and analyzes the bioelectric response of the auditory nerve and brainstem pathway to achieve an objective hearing test. The auditory brainstem response meter can be divided into two parts in principle: the sound stimulation system and the physiological electrical response measurement system: the sound stimulation part and the physiological electrical response measurement part.

[0009] There are already relatively clear indicator requirements and testing methods for the acoustic parameters of the sound stimulation part in the industry. However, for the physiological electrical (brain electrical) response measurement part of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument, there is no clear testing method and testing system. Among them, latency and amplitude measurement accuracy are important parameters of the physiological electrical response measurement part. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The purpose of this application is to overcome the problem that the performance parameters of the physiological electrical response measurement part of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument in the prior art cannot be tested, and to provide a testing system and method for the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument.

[0011] In the first aspect, a testing system for an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument is provided, including a signal generation module for outputting a sine wave signal with adjustable frequency and amplitude. The trigger terminal of the signal generation module is electrically connected to an audio amplification module. The input terminal of the audio amplification module is electrically connected to an acoustic coupler. The output terminal of the signal generation module is electrically connected to an attenuation circuit module. The control terminal of the attenuation circuit module is electrically connected to a main control module. The main control module is electrically connected to a display module. The main control module is electrically connected to a dual-channel signal acquisition module. Among them, the first channel of the dual-channel signal acquisition module is used to connect to the air conduction headphone input terminal of the device under test, and the second channel of the dual-channel signal acquisition module is used to connect to the output terminal of the attenuation circuit module.

[0012] In some possible implementation manners, the signal generation module is triggered and started by the output electrical signal of the audio amplification module, and both the trigger delay time and the duration of the output after triggering of the signal generation module are adjustable.

[0013] In some possible implementation manners, the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module is adjusted by the main control module, and the attenuation circuit module is used to attenuate the sine wave signal output by the signal generation module into a small signal without changing the signal-to-noise ratio.

[0014] In some possible implementation manners, the display module is used to display the waveforms and amplitudes of the signals collected by the dual-channel signal acquisition module, as well as the test results.

[0015] In some possible implementation manners, the air conduction headphone of the device under test is coupled with the acoustic coupler, and the acoustic coupler is used to convert the acoustic signal into an electrical signal.

[0016] In the second aspect, a method for testing the amplitude measurement accuracy of an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument is provided, including the testing system in any one of the implementation manners in the first aspect above. The method for testing the amplitude measurement accuracy includes:

[0017] S101. Couple the acoustic coupler with the air-conduction earphone of the device under test, and electrically connect the output end of the attenuation circuit module to the electrode input interface of the device under test;

[0018] S102. Set the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module to 1 through the main control module;

[0019] S103. Set the sine wave frequency, amplitude, trigger delay time and duration output by the signal generation module, and record the initial peak-to-peak voltage value L collected on the second channel when the attenuation circuit module is not attenuated. S-0 ;

[0020] S104. Increase the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module, and calculate the amplitude measurement error according to the peak-to-peak voltage value displayed by the device under test and the current attenuation multiple;

[0021] S105. Repeat step S104 until the calculated amplitude measurement error exceeds the preset allowable value or the number of repetitions reaches the preset threshold.

[0022] In some possible implementation manners, the calculation formula of the amplitude measurement error is:

[0023] ΔL X =L M-X -L S-0 / X

[0024] Wherein, ΔL X is the amplitude measurement error of the device under test, L M-X is the peak-to-peak voltage value displayed by the device under test, L S-0 is the initial peak-to-peak voltage value collected on the second channel when the attenuation circuit is not attenuated, and X is the current attenuation multiple.

[0025] In a second aspect, a method for testing the latency measurement accuracy of an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument is provided, including the test system in any one of the implementation manners in the first aspect above. The method for testing the latency measurement accuracy includes:

[0026] S201. Couple the acoustic coupler with the air-conduction earphone of the device under test, and electrically connect the output end of the attenuation circuit module to the electrode input interface of the device under test;

[0027] S202. Set the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module through the main control module;

[0028] S203. Set the sine wave frequency, amplitude, trigger delay time and duration output by the signal generation module;

[0029] S204. Calculate the latency measurement error based on the latency displayed by the device under test and the times when the amplitudes of the first waveforms of the first and second channels displayed by the display module rise to 10% of the peak-to-peak value.

[0030] In some possible implementation manners, set the trigger delay time of the signal generation module to any value in the range of 3 ms to 5 ms.

[0031] In some possible implementation manners, the calculation formula for the latency measurement error is:

[0032] Δt = t M -(t2 - t1)

[0033] where Δt is the latency measurement error, t M is the latency displayed by the device under test, t1 is the time when the amplitude of the first waveform of the first channel displayed by the display module rises to 10% of the peak-to-peak value, and t2 is the time when the amplitude of the first waveform of the second channel displayed by the display module rises to 10% of the peak-to-peak value.

[0034] The present application has the following beneficial effects: It can convert the sound signal emitted by the air-conduction earphone of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument into an electrical signal for triggering the start of the signal generation module, so that a sine signal can be automatically output according to the sound signal, and after attenuation, it is input to the electrode input interface of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument. By analyzing the waveforms and amplitudes collected by the dual-channel signal acquisition module, the amplitude measurement error and latency measurement error of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument can be obtained, filling the gap that the performance parameters of the physiological electrical response measurement part of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument cannot be tested. Description of the Drawings

[0035] The drawings constituting a part of the present application are used to provide a further understanding of the present application. The schematic embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation to the present application.

[0036] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0037] Figure 1 is the structural block diagram of the test system of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument according to Embodiment 1 of the present application;

[0038] Figure 2 is the flowchart of the method for testing the amplitude measurement accuracy of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument according to Embodiment 2 of the present application;

[0039] Figure 3 It is a flowchart of the latency measurement accuracy test method for the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument in Embodiment 3 of the present application;

[0040] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of latency measurement in the latency measurement accuracy test method for the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument in Embodiment 3 of the present application.

[0041] Reference numerals:

[0042] 100, signal generation module; 200, audio amplification module; 201, acoustic coupler; 300, attenuation circuit module; 400, main control module; 500, display module; 600, dual-channel signal acquisition module; 700, device under test; 701, air conduction earphone; 702, electrode input interface. Detailed implementation manners

[0043] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0044] Embodiment 1

[0045] As Figure 1 shown, a test system for an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument according to Embodiment 1 of the present application includes a signal generation module 100. The signal generation module 100 can output a sine wave signal with adjustable frequency and amplitude, and has a trigger start function. The trigger delay time is adjustable, and the duration of the output after each trigger is adjustable; the audio amplification module 200 is used to amplify the input weak electrical signal so that the amplified signal is higher than the trigger level of the signal generation module 100 (so that the signal output by the audio amplification module 200 can trigger the output of the signal generation module 100); the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module 300 can be adjusted by the main control module 400, and is used to attenuate the signal output by the signal generation module 100 into a sufficiently weak small signal without changing the signal-to-noise ratio of the original signal. The dual-channel signal acquisition module 600 is used to synchronously acquire the electrical signal waveforms and amplitudes of two channels and transmit the data to the main control module 400, and display them on the display module 500 in the form of waveforms, such as: a display screen.

[0046] In use, the air-conduction earphone 701 of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument (i.e., the device under test 700) needs to be coupled with the sound coupler 201. The sound coupler 201 converts the sound signal into an electrical signal, and the output of the sound coupler 201 is connected to the input end of the audio amplification module 200; the audio amplification module 200 amplifies the electrical signal and inputs it to the trigger end of the signal generation module 100; the electrical input end on the air-conduction earphone 701 is connected to the first channel of the dual-channel signal acquisition module 600. The output of the signal generation module 100 is connected to the electrode input interface 702 of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument and the second channel of the dual-channel signal acquisition module 600 after passing through the attenuation circuit module 300; the acquisition data of the dual-channel signal acquisition module 600 is sent to the main control module 400, and after processing, the waveform and amplitude are displayed on the display module 500; the main control module 400 can control the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module 300 through the IO port.

[0047] Embodiment 2

[0048] As Figure 2 shown, a method for testing the amplitude measurement accuracy of an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument according to Embodiment 2 of the present application has a test principle as follows: after the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument emits a stimulus sound, the test system emits an electroencephalogram analog signal and inputs it to the electrode input of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument, and checks the measurement indication value of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument for this analog signal. The measurement error can be obtained through analysis and comparison. By continuously reducing the amplitude of the electroencephalogram analog signal, the measurement errors at different amplitudes can be obtained.

[0049] The specific test method is as follows:

[0050] S101. Couple the sound coupler 201 with the air-conduction earphone 701 of the device under test 700, and electrically connect the output end of the attenuation circuit module 300 to the electrode input interface 702 of the device under test 700;

[0051] S102. Set the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module 300 to 1 (i.e., the initial state, no attenuation) through the main control module 400;

[0052] S103. Set the sine wave frequency, amplitude, trigger delay time, and duration output by the signal generation module 100, aiming to make the signal generation module 100 output a sine wave frequency with a specified frequency and amplitude. For example, a sine signal with a frequency of 1 kHz and an amplitude of 100 μV, the trigger delay time is any value between 3 - 5 ms, and the duration is any value between 3 - 5 ms, so that the signal generation module 100 generates an electrical signal equal to or slightly greater than 100 μV on the second channel of the dual-channel signal acquisition module 600. When the trigger terminal of the signal generation module 100 receives a trigger signal, the signal generation module 100 outputs a sine wave signal with a specified duration after the set trigger delay time, and record the initial peak-to-peak voltage value L collected on the second channel when the attenuation circuit module 300 is not attenuated. S-0 ;

[0053] S104. Keep other measurement conditions unchanged, only increase the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module 300, and calculate the amplitude measurement error according to the peak-to-peak voltage value displayed by the device under test 700 and the current attenuation multiple.

[0054] Specifically, the calculation formula for the amplitude measurement error is:

[0055] ΔL X = L M-X - L S-0 / X

[0056] where, ΔL X is the amplitude measurement error of the device under test 700, L M-X is the peak-to-peak voltage value displayed by the device under test 700, L S-0 is the peak-to-peak voltage value collected on the second channel when the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module 300 is set to 1, and X is the current attenuation multiple.

[0057] S105. Repeat step S104 until the calculated amplitude measurement error exceeds the preset allowable value or the number of repetitions reaches the preset threshold. For example, increase the attenuation multiple to 5, calculate the amplitude measurement error at this time according to the formula for the amplitude measurement error: ΔL X = L M-X - L S-0 / X, then increase the attenuation multiple to 10, calculate the amplitude measurement error at this time according to the formula for the amplitude measurement error: ΔL X = L M-X - L S-0 / X, and so on, continue to decrease the amplitude and calculate and record the amplitude measurement error. By continuously decreasing the amplitude of the electroencephalogram analog signal (that is, continuously increasing the attenuation multiple while the output of the signal generator remains unchanged), the amplitude measurement errors at different amplitudes can be obtained.

[0058] It should be noted that for other specific embodiments of the amplitude measurement accuracy test method of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument in this embodiment, reference can be made to the specific embodiments of the test system of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument described above. To avoid redundancy, it will not be elaborated here.

[0059] Embodiment 3

[0060] As Figure 2 shown, for the latency measurement accuracy test method of an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument involved in Embodiment 2 of the present application, the test principle is: the time difference between the moment when the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument emits a stimulus signal and the moment when it recognizes the corresponding brain electrical signal is the latency measurement value of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument. By comparing the latency measurement value of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument with the actual time difference, an error value can be obtained. The time difference between the signals appearing in the first channel and the second channel synchronously collected by the dual-channel signal acquisition module 600 is the actual time difference. In this embodiment, by adjusting the trigger delay time of the signal generation module 100, the actual time difference can be adjusted.

[0061] The specific test method is as follows:

[0062] S201. Couple the acoustic coupler 201 with the air conduction earphone 701 of the device under test 700, and electrically connect the output end of the attenuation circuit module 300 to the electrode input interface 702 of the device under test 700;

[0063] S202. Set the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module 300 through the main control module 400;

[0064] S203. Set the sine wave frequency, amplitude, trigger delay time, and duration output by the signal generation module 100, aiming to make the signal generation module 100 output a sine wave frequency with a specified frequency and amplitude. For example, a sine signal with a frequency of 1 kHz and an amplitude of 100 μV. Set the trigger delay time of the signal generation module 100 to any value within 3 - 5 ms, such as 3 ms, 4 ms, or 5 ms, etc., and the duration is any value within 3 - 5 ms. When the trigger terminal of the signal generation module 100 receives a trigger signal, the signal generation module 100 outputs a sine wave signal with a specified duration after the set trigger delay time;

[0065] S204. Calculate the latency measurement error according to the latency displayed by the device under test 700 and the moments when the amplitudes of the first waveforms in the first channel and the second channel displayed by the display module 500 rise to 10% of the peak-to-peak value. The calculation formula for the latency measurement error is:

[0066] Δt = t M -(t2 - t1)

[0067] where Δt is the latency measurement error, and t M is the latency displayed by the DUT 700 lock, t1 is the moment when the amplitude of the first waveform of the first channel displayed by the display module 500 rises to 10% of the peak-to-peak value, and t2 is the moment when the amplitude of the first waveform of the second channel displayed by the display module 500 rises to 10% of the peak-to-peak value.

[0068] For example:

[0069] 1. Set the attenuation gear of the attenuation circuit module 300 to the initial state (attenuation multiple is 1, i.e., no attenuation), set the output waveform of the signal generator to a sine wave, the frequency is 1 kHz, the trigger delay time is 3 ms, and the duration is 3 ms.

[0070] 2. Adjust the output amplitude of the signal generator to a moderate value A within the range of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument. For example, if the range of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument is 0.5 - 5 μV, then the value of A can be 2 - 3 μV.

[0071] 3. Turn on the measurement of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument. A stimulus tone signal can be first collected in the first channel of the dual-channel signal acquisition module. At the same time, this signal will also trigger the signal generation module 100 to output a small segment (duration is 3 ms) of a 1 kHz sine wave. Then this sine signal can be collected in the second channel of the dual-channel signal acquisition module 600. According to Figure 4 the requirements of t2 and t1 and the above formula for calculating the latency measurement error, calculate the time difference between these two moments: t2 - t1. Compare this time difference with the latency t M displayed by the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument to obtain the latency error value.

[0072] It should be noted that for other specific implementation manners of the amplitude latency measurement accuracy test method of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument in this embodiment, reference can be made to the specific implementation manners of the above-mentioned test system of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument. To avoid redundancy, it will not be elaborated here.

[0073] The above is only a preferred specific implementation manner of the present application; however, the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present application, according to the technical solution of the present application and its improved concept, makes equivalent substitutions or changes, and should be covered by the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A test system for an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument, characterized in that: The invention comprises a signal generating module for outputting a sinusoidal wave signal with adjustable frequency and amplitude, wherein a triggering end of the signal generating module is electrically connected to an audio amplifier module, an input end of the audio amplifier module is electrically connected to an acoustic coupler, an output end of the signal generating module is electrically connected to an attenuation circuit module, a control end of the attenuation circuit module is electrically connected to a main control module, the main control module is electrically connected to a display module, and the main control module is electrically connected to a dual-channel signal acquisition module, wherein a first channel of the dual-channel signal acquisition module is used to connect to an air conduction earphone input end of a device under test, a second channel of the dual-channel signal acquisition module is used to connect to an output end of the attenuation circuit module, the air conduction earphone of the device under test is coupled to an acoustic coupler, the acoustic coupler is used to convert an acoustic signal into an electrical signal, the signal generating module is triggered and started by an output electrical signal of the audio amplifier module, a triggering delay time of the signal generating module and a duration of the output after triggering are both adjustable, an attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module is adjusted by the main control module, and the attenuation circuit module is used to attenuate the sinusoidal wave signal output by the signal generating module into a small signal without changing the signal-to-noise ratio.

2. The test system of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that: The display module is used to display the waveform and amplitude of the signal collected by the dual-channel signal collection module, as well as the test results.

3. A method for testing the amplitude measurement accuracy of an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument, characterized in that: Comprising the test system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, the amplitude measurement accuracy test method comprises: S101, coupling the acoustic coupler to the air conduction earphone of the device under test, and electrically connecting the output end of the attenuation circuit module to the electrode input interface of the device under test; S102, setting the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module to 1 through the main control module; S103, setting the sine wave frequency, amplitude, trigger delay time and duration of the signal generation module output, and recording the initial peak-to-peak voltage value collected in the second channel when the attenuation circuit module is not attenuated; S104, increasing the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module, and calculating the amplitude measurement error according to the peak-to-peak voltage value displayed by the device under test and the current attenuation multiple; S105, repeatedly executing step S104 until the calculated amplitude measurement error exceeds a preset allowable value or the number of repetitions reaches a preset threshold.

4. The method for testing the amplitude measurement accuracy of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument according to claim 3, characterized in that: The calculation formula for amplitude measurement error is: ΔL X =L M-X -L S-0 / X Among them, ΔL X is the amplitude measurement error of the device under test, L M-X is the peak-to-peak voltage value displayed by the device under test, L S-0 is the initial peak-to-peak voltage value collected in the second channel when the attenuation circuit module is not attenuated, and X is the current attenuation multiple.

5. A method for testing the accuracy of latency measurement of an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument, characterized in that: Comprising the test system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, the latency measurement accuracy test method comprises: S201, coupling the acoustic coupler to the air conduction earphone of the device under test, and electrically connecting the output end of the attenuation circuit module to the electrode input interface of the device under test; S202, setting the attenuation multiple of the attenuation circuit module through the main control module; S203, setting the sine wave frequency, amplitude, trigger delay time and duration of the signal generation module output; S204 , calculating the latency measurement error according to the latency displayed by the device under test and the moment when the amplitude of the first waveform of the first channel and the second channel displayed by the display module rises to 10% of the peak-to-peak value.

6. The method for testing the accuracy of latency measurement of the auditory brainstem response measuring instrument according to claim 5, characterized in that: Set the trigger delay time of the signal generation module to any value between 3ms and 5ms.

7. The method for testing the accuracy of latency measurement of an auditory brainstem response measuring instrument according to claim 5, characterized in that: The calculation formula for the latency measurement error is: Δt=t M -(t2-t1) Where Δt is the latency measurement error, t M is the latency displayed by the device under test, t1 is the moment when the amplitude of the first waveform of the first channel displayed by the display module rises to 10% of the peak-to-peak value, and t2 is the moment when the amplitude of the first waveform of the second channel displayed by the display module rises to 10% of the peak-to-peak value.

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