TEOAE Contralateral Suppression Detection via Spectral Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting contralateral suppression of transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) are inefficient due to the small level difference between suppressed and unsuppressed recordings, requiring long test times and high accuracy, making them unreliable and inconvenient for fast, automated testing.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that stimulate TEOAE using a click or tone burst stimulus, record with and without suppression in a cycling scheme using two averaging buffers per ear, and apply signal statistical methods to detect suppression, including calculating the difference trace and estimating statistical significance, allowing for faster and more reliable detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional level comparison methods are used to detect TEOAE suppression, then the detection process is simple, but the test time becomes excessively long and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the detection approach from comparing overall sound levels to analyzing the spectral distribution parameters of TEOAE. By examining how suppression affects different frequency components differently, the system achieves more reliable detection with shorter test times, as the spectral pattern changes are more pronounced and easier to detect than subtle overall level differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the simple level comparison method with a spectral analysis-based detection system. This substitution introduces signal processing algorithms that analyze the frequency spectrum of TEOAE, enabling more accurate and faster detection of suppression effects by identifying characteristic spectral pattern changes rather than relying on minimal level differences.
2Measurement precision
If simple sound level comparison is used, then the measurement process is straightforward, but the precision of suppression detection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional overall level comparison to two-dimensional spectral analysis. By examining the frequency spectrum distribution of TEOAE, the system detects suppression through changes in spectral patterns across multiple frequency components, significantly improving measurement precision while the automated processing keeps complexity manageable.
3Measurement precision
If long test durations are used to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming level comparison methods with rapid spectral analysis. The spectral characteristics of suppressed TEOAE exhibit distinct patterns that can be identified quickly through algorithmic analysis, enabling high-precision detection without requiring extended test durations, thus maintaining both accuracy and productivity.
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
This approach enables a fast, reliable, and automated detection of TEOAE contralateral suppression, reducing test time and improving accuracy by using signal statistical methods to verify suppression beyond simple sound level comparisons.
Implementation Method 1
Transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) are acoustic signals generated in the cochlea in response to a click (broad frequency range) or toneburst (brief duration pure tone) stimulus
Implementation Method 2
There is an effect called contralateral suppression in OAE, which means that the OAE that can be recorded at one ear ('ipsilateral') is influenced by acoustic stimulation of the other ear (contralateral). OAE CAS suppression is thought to be caused by the efferent auditory system.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a method of generating and measuring transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) acoustic signals generated in the cochlea using a scheme of stimulating both inner ears simultaneously, left ear alone, and right ears alone with at least two different first and second averaging buffers per ear in a switching scheme with automated detection of contralateral suppression of TEOAE via statistical analysis of the differences of suppressed and unsuppressed responses.