Estimating inner and middle ear pathologies and conditions, such as issues caused by effusion in the ear, from wideband acoustic immittance can be accomplished by use of an analog-electric model of an ear canal and inner ear. The model is utilized to convert acoustic measurements into output data. The output data can be used to train a machine learning network to identify classifiers that would indicate the presence of an issue in the ear, such as the presence and amount of effusion in the ear. The model is based upon ear mechanics and includes a number of inputs from the acoustic measurements that are fit and converted to the output data that can be compared to measured data for hearing loss to train a system to quickly and easily diagnose an estimated effusion volume or other condition, such as via a diagnostic tool.

Estimating conductive hearing loss from wideband acoustic immittance can be accomplished by use of an analog-electric model of an ear canal and inner ear utilized to convert acoustic measurements into output data. The output data can be used to create conductive hearing loss methods for diagnostically estimating hearing loss based upon the acoustic measurements. The model includes a number of inputs from the acoustic measurements that are fit and converted to the output data that can be compared to measured data for hearing loss to train a system to quickly and easily diagnose an estimated hearing loss, such as via a diagnostic tool. The system can also be trained to identify an ear type based upon the transformed acoustic measurement data, and the type of ear can be used to provide additional hearing loss estimation.

A system and method for automatically and dynamically controlling the output (e.g., volume) of an audio headphone device is disclosed, which includes detecting the invocation of the acoustic reflex with an audio headphone device. The disclosed system can measure the response of the tympanic membrane and middle ear to various SPL and frequencies. That information may be used for automated or customized warning or limiting levels either within the headphone, or at the audio playback device.

An electrical transtympanic simulator for auditory processing evaluation is disclosed. The simulator comprises a processor, a digital-to-analog converter, a voltage-to-current convertor, and one or more electrodes. The digital-to-analog converter in communication with the processor and power source is configured to convert digital signals into analogue voltage signals. The voltage-to-current convertor in communication with the digital-to-analog converter via an amplifier is configured to convert the analogue voltage signals to current signals/pulses that are proportional to the analogue voltage signals. The electrodes in communication with the voltage-to-current convertor, configured to locate in the ear canal and on the skin around the skull of a patient, thereby performing the auditory processing evaluation by applying the current pulses to the ear canal and skull in different waveforms at various frequency ranges with parameters. The protection circuit configured to disconnect the power supply to the electrodes if the current value exceeds a threshold value.

A set of one or more processing circuits obtains eye movement-related eardrum oscillation (EMREO)-related measurements from one or more EMREO sensors of a hearing instrument. The EMREO sensors are located in an ear canal of a user of the hearing instrument and are configured to detect environmental signals of EMREOs of an eardrum of the user of the hearing instrument. The one or more processing circuits may perform an action based on the EMREO-related measurements.

Apparatus and method for determining the immittance of a middle ear for clinical- audiometric investigations in a wide range of frequencies at ambient pressure, based on MEMS microphone technology and on measuring the acoustic pressure wave and the corresponding acoustic velocity wave by means of a pressure-pressure probe.

A system having a scope with a longitudinal length extending between a proximal end and a distal end includes a plurality of markers spaced along the longitudinal length. The system also includes a disassociation and positioning device that is configured to enhance unsedated transnasal endoscopic procedures by at least partially occluding the vision of a patient while enabling body cavity access, and optionally record and sense body functions such as temperature, heart rate and oxygenation of the blood stream. The system further includes a sensor integrated into the distraction device, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the markers on the longitudinal length of the scope.

A speculum of an otoscope may include a housing and a seal. The seal may include a surface sized and shaped to interface with an external auditory meatus. In some examples, the seal comprises one or more compressible members deformable to interface with the external auditory meatus. The seal may be configured to retain a volume of fluid within a lumen of the speculum in response to one or more of a negative pressure change or a positive pressure change.

A device for in-ear use is provided. The device includes an in-ear fixture configured to seal an ear canal of a user, an internal microphone coupled to receive an internal acoustic signal, propagating through the ear canal of the user, an external microphone coupled to receive an external acoustic signal, propagating through an environment of the user, and a processor that is coupled to an augmented reality headset, the processor configured to identify a vital sign of the user based on at least one of the internal acoustic signal and the external acoustic signal. A memory storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a method for use of the above device to identify a vital sign of a user, the memory, the processor, and the method are also provided.

A system for noninvasive in vivo functional imaging of the human ear and measurement of nanometer scale motion of the tympanic membrane under various acoustic excitations, and identification of vibration patterns that vary between human subjects in response to sound. By combining spectrally encoded imaging with phase-sensitive spectral-domain interferometry, high-resolution imaging of the membrane surface is obtained within a fraction of a second, through a handheld imaging probe. The detailed physiological data obtained allows measuring a wide range of clinically relevant parameters for patient diagnosis, and provides a new tool for studying middle and inner ear physiology. Use of a line measurement technique, without mechanically scanning the probe beam, enables characteristics of the membrane vibration to be measured, in a time scale of tenths of a second, thereby reducing the possibility of inaccuracy because of movements of the hand-held instrument.