Audiometric Transducer Mounting With Occlusion-Aware Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audiometry systems face challenges in accurately calibrating and positioning audiometric transducers for air and vibratory stimulation due to the occlusion effect caused by simultaneous use, leading to inconsistent and uncomfortable testing conditions, especially in remote or automated settings.
Innovation Solution
A system for attaching audiometric transducers that allows simultaneous and secure positioning of air and vibratory stimulation devices without repositioning, featuring adjustable support systems and calibration methods to compensate for occlusion effects, ensuring accurate and comfortable testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air conduction headphones and bone conduction vibrators are used simultaneously for binaural audiometry, then comprehensive hearing testing capability is improved, but the occlusion effect causes calibration inaccuracies and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration measurements to detect the occlusion effect caused by simultaneous use of air and bone conduction transducers. Based on these measurements, calibration compensation values are calculated and stored before the actual audiometry test, ensuring accurate results despite the occlusion effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the calibration parameters by applying frequency-dependent compensation adjustments to account for the occlusion effect. The calibration is dynamically adjusted based on the specific configuration of transducers being used, allowing accurate measurements across different testing modes.
2Productivity
If transducers are repositioned during the examination to test different ears, then testing completeness is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates and human intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses separate independent transducers for each ear that can be independently activated or deactivated. This allows the examiner to test different ears by controlling which transducers are active, rather than physically repositioning devices, thereby maintaining patient comfort while achieving complete binaural testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically configures which transducers are active based on the current testing requirements. The audiometer can selectively activate left or right ear transducers without requiring physical repositioning, allowing flexible adaptation to different testing protocols while maintaining a fixed, comfortable transducer arrangement.
3Measurement precision
If the vibrator transducer is positioned to leave the auditory canal open, then vibratory stimulation accuracy is improved, but air stimulation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses separate dedicated transducers for air conduction and bone conduction stimulation. The air conduction headphones can be positioned to occlude the auditory canal for effective air stimulation, while the bone conduction vibrator is positioned independently on the skull to provide accurate vibratory stimulation without requiring the canal to remain open.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges air conduction and bone conduction transducers into a single integrated audiometry system with a common control unit. This allows both types of stimulation to be delivered simultaneously or independently through optimally positioned transducers, resolving the conflict between the positioning requirements of each transducer type.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for attaching transducers to the head of a user for performing audiometry using air stimulation and vibratory stimulation includes support systems for two audiometric transducers for air stimulation, each of which can be positioned at the level of one of the auditory pinnae or the external auditory canal, and at least one audiometric transducer for vibratory stimulation, that can be positioned at the level of the desired stimulation zone depending on the chosen conduction mode (for example, one of the mastoids of the skull, the forehead, soft tissues). A method for calibrating vibratory stimulation transducers attached to a support system is described.