Active Noise Damping Probe for Otoacoustic Emission Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring otoacoustic emissions (OAE) in noisy environments, such as baby wards, suffer from reduced specificity due to low signal-to-noise ratios, especially in the low-frequency range, and are challenging to implement in newborns due to anatomical constraints and discomfort with existing noise-reducing headphones.
Innovation Solution
A probe designed for partial insertion into the auditory canal, equipped with excitation means for stimulating OAE, measuring means for detecting OAE, and damping means for active sound damping, using sensors and loudspeakers to calculate and emit counter-noise that destructively interferes with ambient noise, thereby improving measurement specificity and comfort during testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If passive sound attenuation with sound filters or active sound attenuation with headphones is used to reduce ambient noise during OAE measurement, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves, but the positioning becomes problematic and causes discomfort to infants due to their filigree anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful ambient noise is extracted and targeted specifically at the ear canal entrance region, rather than requiring full-headphone coverage. The damping means is positioned locally where it is most needed, eliminating the need for problematic circumaural headphone positioning on infants with small heads
Solution Approach 2:
A probe serves as an intermediary device that delivers both the excitation signal and the damping function directly to the ear canal. This intermediary approach bypasses the need for uncomfortable headphones while maintaining effective noise reduction at the measurement location
2Reliability
If ambient noise is reduced using existing noise protection methods, then measurement specificity improves, but the device complexity and positioning requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The excitation function, measurement function, and damping function are merged into a single integrated probe device. This combination eliminates the need for separate headphone systems and simplifies positioning to a single insertion into the ear canal, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement specificity
Solution Approach 2:
The probe serves multiple functions simultaneously: it delivers excitation signals to stimulate OAE, records the emitted signals with a microphone, and provides active noise damping. This multi-functionality in a single device reduces positioning requirements and simplifies the measurement setup
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The probe effectively reduces ambient noise at the auditory canal entrance, allowing for precise measurement of OAE with high specificity, even in noisy conditions, and enables measurement in the low-frequency range below 1 kHz, enhancing the accuracy of hearing assessments in newborns and other subjects.
Implementation Method 1
using sensors and loudspeakers to calculate and emit counter-noise that destructively interferes with ambient noise
Implementation Method 2
where they can be recorded with a measuring microphone
Data Source
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AI summary
A probe for measuring otoacoustic emission has a probe body (112), wherein the probe body (112) is formed such that it can be introduced partially along an introduction direction (201) into an ear canal (102) of a test subject and the probe body (112) has an excitation means (108) for exciting otoacoustic emission, a measuring means (109) for measuring the otoacoustic emission and an absorption means (117) for the active sound absorption.