DE102022204857A1 - Method, module system and system for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments (2), wherein sound signal data of a sound signal (12) are recorded by at least one microphone (1), the sound signal data being transmitted to a computing device (4), the computing device (4) Counter-sound signal data (5) are generated using a method based on artificial intelligence, a counter-sound signal (13) being generated by a bone-sound listener (6) based on the counter-sound signal data (5), and the counter-sound signal (13) being combined with the sound signal (12). interacts in such a way that sound pollution is reduced. Furthermore, a module system, a system and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium are described.

Description

The invention relates to a method for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments.

The invention further relates to a modular system for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments.

The present disclosure relates generally to the reduction of sound exposure caused by medical instruments. This can be, for example, drilling noises generated by the turbine of a hand-held dental device.

Corresponding sound exposure leads to fear and discomfort in a large number of patients. For example, it is estimated that in the United States, 50% of the population does not visit the dentist regularly due to these fears and that 15% of urgently needed dental care is missed due to fear. In Germany, 60% of the population say they feel uncomfortable when visiting the dentist, with 8% of the German population avoiding dental visits due to fear.

The fear-causing factors in 33% of cases are feeling the vibration of the drill and in 31% of cases the drilling noise itself.

Another problem that arises from the sound exposure caused by medical instruments is the risk of hearing damage for the user and any assistants due to prolonged exposure to the sound source.

Different concepts are known from practice to allay patients' fears of medical or dental treatments. For example, nitrous oxide provides easy-to-administer sedation. However, this is problematic because patients often refuse to take sedatives and a recovery period is required after taking them.

It is also known to treat patients under hypnosis. However, this does not work for every patient and is also very time-consuming and can only be carried out by a few people who have the appropriate training.

Furthermore, it is known to use conventional in-ear headphones, which have a so-called filter-based Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), to reduce sound pollution. However, there is the disadvantage that a significant part of the ambient noise is muffled for the wearer of the in-ear headphones, so that, for example, conversation is only possible to a very limited extent.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of designing and developing a method in such a way that a reliable reduction in sound exposure caused by medical instruments is achieved using simple means. Furthermore, a modular system for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments is to be specified.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved in relation to the method by the features of claim 1. According to this, a method for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments is specified, wherein sound signal data of a sound signal are recorded by at least one microphone, the sound signal data being transmitted to a computing device, counter-sound signal data being generated by the computing device using a method based on artificial intelligence, wherein a bone conduction listener generates a countersound signal based on the countersound signal data and wherein the countersound signal interacts with the sound signal in such a way that sound exposure is reduced.

In accordance with the invention, it was first recognized that the underlying task can be solved in an amazingly simple manner by generating a counter-sound signal using a bone conduction listener. The counter-sound signal is thus transmitted to the user via bone conduction. The counter-sound signal interacts with the sound signal in the sense of active noise cancellation in such a way that the sound exposure is at least reduced by means of destructive interference. A significant advantage of using a bone conduction listener is that it is extremely effective for generating a counter-sound signal, but the wearer of the bone conduction listener can still perceive ambient noise, for example a conversation, since this is only slightly affected by the counter-sound signal and the ear canal is not blocked. In a further manner according to the invention, it has been recognized that the generation of the counter-sound signal data is made possible in a particularly simple and precise manner if a method based on artificial intelligence is used for this purpose. This means that unwanted noises are specifically suppressed, for which the artificial intelligence process may have been trained in advance. Through corresponding Correspondingly generated counter-sound signal data and the generation of the counter-sound signal via a bone conduction receiver significantly reduces the sound exposure caused by a medical instrument for the user. Another advantage of using the process based on artificial intelligence is that the counter-sound signal is generated dynamically and not statically using a filter. Advantageously, the generation of the counter-sound signal from the bone conduction receiver creates a spherical quiet zone with a diameter of approximately 1 to 4 cm. In the quiet zone, which is located in the area of the inner ear of the wearer of the bone conduction receiver, the sound exposure is minimized or completely eliminated by the counter-sound signal.

In the context of this disclosure, the term “medical instrument” is to be understood in the broadest sense; it can be, for example, a vacuum pump, a turbine, a micromotor, a 3-way syringe, an ultrasonic scaler, a saliva ejector or another sound source acting instrument or device.

In the context of this disclosure, the term “sound exposure” is to be understood as the sound signal generated by the medical instrument and perceived by a person, for example a patient, a doctor or support staff.

According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one vibration sensor could be arranged, which serves to record vibration data. The vibration data can be transmitted to the computing device analogously to the sound signal data and can be used by the computing device in addition to the sound signal data to determine the counter-sound signal data. This has the advantage that, based on the additional data, an improved determination of the counter-sound signal data is possible from the artificial intelligence-based method. The vibration sensor can advantageously be arranged on or in the bone conduction listener, in particular in or on the transducer capsule of the bone conduction listener.

Advantageously, the artificial intelligence method can be based on a recurrent neural network (RNN), in particular using long short-term memory technology. These are models that can recognize and understand sequential data, such as audio data, text data, or the position of an object over time. Recurrent neural networks have the advantage that they can be used particularly effectively to generate countersonic signal data because they recognize patterns over time. This results in dynamic counter-sound generation based on artificial intelligence.

In a further advantageous manner, the sound signal can be in a frequency range from 1.5 kHz to 25 kHz, in particular from 2 kHz to 20 kHz. Since the frequencies of sound exposure caused by medical instruments lie in this range, this noise is effectively reduced, whereas other ambient noises that lie outside or below these frequency ranges can still be heard by the wearer of the bone conduction headphones.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the computing device could be designed as a distributed computing unit. In other words, the computing unit can be a cloud. This has the advantage that the computationally intensive generation of counter-sound signal data can be carried out decentrally and in a timely manner. It is also conceivable and advantageous for the sound signal data and the counter-sound signal data to be exchanged with the computing device via a local computing unit, for example a mobile terminal or a personal computer. For this purpose, the local computing unit could have a corresponding, preferably mobile, application (app) and a programming interface (API) could be designed on the computing device in order to manage the communication between the artificial intelligence-based method and the application. Furthermore, a library with audio files could be stored on the local computing unit, which can be played by the bone conduction listener if necessary. For example, the recorded sound signal data can be transmitted wirelessly (via Bluetooth or another standard) or wired to a cell phone or tablet that serves as a computing unit. The computing unit is in turn connected to the computing device, in particular a cloud, for example via the Internet, and can transmit the sound signal data to the computing device. The computing device then transmits the counter-sound signal data generated using artificial intelligence and transmits this to the computing unit. This uses the countersonic signal data to control the bone conduction listener so that the countersonic signal can be generated.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the computing device is designed as a local computer, for example as a mobile device (cell phone, tablet computer, lap-top computer, etc.) or as a desktop computer. This has the advantage that there only needs to be a data connection between the local computer and the microphone or the bone conduction listener. Thus the user is does not necessarily rely on a connection to an external network, such as the Internet. The counter-sound signal data is generated using the artificial intelligence process on the local computer.

In a further advantageous manner, electrocardiography data could be recorded by at least one electrocardiography sensor and/or body temperature data could be recorded by at least one body temperature sensor and/or electrodermal data could be recorded via an electrodermal sensor. The acquisition of the electrocardiography data, the body temperature data and the electrodermal data makes it possible to obtain further values from the user of the method, which enable conclusions to be drawn about the user's stress level. The electrodermal data describes the electrical skin resistance, i.e. the so-called skin conductivity. When there is increased emotional stress, there is usually increased sweat secretion, which affects skin conductivity. In addition, it is conceivable that the electrocardiography data and/or the body temperature data and/or the electrodermal data are transmitted to the computing device and that stress management data is transmitted from the computing device based on the electrocardiography data and/or the body temperature data and/or the electrodermal data using the algorithm based on artificial intelligence be generated. The stress management data can be used to initiate explicit measures to reduce the user's feelings of stress. For example, a display of virtual reality glasses could be controlled using the stress management data. In this case, the virtual reality glasses would be worn by the user, for example a patient, and would represent a calming environment, etc. Alternatively or additionally, sound emission from the bone conduction listener could be controlled based on the stress management data, for example relaxing sounds or music could be played.

With regard to the device, the task is solved by the features of claim 10. This means that a module system for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments, in particular for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 9, is claimed, with at least one interface for establishing a data connection with a computing device and / or for establishing a data connection with a computing unit and with at least one electrocardiography sensor for acquiring electrocardiography data and/or at least one body temperature sensor for acquiring body temperature data and/or at least one electrodermal sensor for acquiring electrodermal data.

It has been recognized that a commercially available bone conduction listener can be expanded by the modular system according to the invention into a system that is ideally suited to reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments and, moreover, generally to managing stress for the user, in particular a patient. can serve. It is conceivable that at least one connecting element is provided in order to establish a physical connection between the module system and a bone conduction listener.

It should be noted that the method according to the invention described above includes features that have a device-specific characteristic. These features and the associated advantages can explicitly be part of the claimed modular system.

Virtual reality glasses can advantageously be arranged. This makes it possible to present calming visual content to the user or wearer of the glasses in order to reduce stress. Alternatively or additionally, a microphone can be arranged so that a sound signal can be detected. This structural design is particularly advantageous if the bone conduction listener used does not have a microphone or a microphone of sufficient quality.

Furthermore, the underlying task according to claim 12 is solved by a system with a module system according to claim 10 or 11 and a bone conduction listener. With regard to the advantages of such a system, reference is made to the above description and the following description of the figures.

The underlying invention further relates to a non-transitory, computer-readable medium for storing instructions that cause the computer to use a method for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments, wherein sound signal data of a sound signal are recorded by at least one microphone, the sound signal data being sent to a computing device are transmitted, wherein counter-sound signal data are generated by a computing device using a method based on artificial intelligence, a counter-sound signal is generated by a bone-conduction listener based on the counter-sound signal data and the counter-sound signal interacts with the sound signal in such a way that sound exposure is reduced.

The non-volatile, computer-readable medium can be, for example, a solid-state drive (SSD), a Blu-ray disc, DVD, CD, a magneto-optical tape, a USB stick, an SD card, a memory stick, etc . act.

• 1 in einer schematischen Darstellung ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,
• 2 in einer schematischen Darstellung ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, wobei auch eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung dargestellt ist.
• 3 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems,
• 4 das in 3 dargestellte System, das zusätzlich eine Virtual Reality Brille aufweist, und
• 5 in einer schematischen Darstellung den Aufbau eines menschlichen Ohres.

There are now various ways to advantageously design and develop the teaching of the present invention. On the one hand, reference should be made to the claims subordinate to claims 1 and 10 and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention based on the drawing. In connection with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching are also explained. Show in the drawing

• 1 in a schematic representation an embodiment of a method according to the invention,
• 2 in a schematic representation an embodiment of a method according to the invention, whereby a device according to the invention is also shown.
• 3 an embodiment of a system according to the invention,
• 4 this in 3 system shown, which also has virtual reality glasses, and
• 5 a schematic representation of the structure of a human ear.

In the figures, the same elements are given the same reference numbers. Furthermore, not all elements in every figure are provided with a reference number in order to improve clarity.

1 shows a schematic representation of the sequence of a method according to the invention. A microphone 1 then detects the sound signal data 2 of a sound signal generated by a medical instrument 2. The medical instrument 2 can be, for example, a dentist's handheld device. The sound signal data 2 are transmitted to a computing unit 3, for example via a wireless interface such as Bluetooth. In this exemplary embodiment, the computing unit 3 is a local computer, for example a cell phone or a tablet computer. The computing unit 3 transmits the sound signal data 2 to a computing device 4, for example via the Internet to a distributed computing unit, such as a cloud.

In the cloud, using a method based on artificial intelligence, counter-sound signal data 5 is generated based on the sound signal data 2, which is transmitted to the computing unit 3. The computing unit 3 transmits the countersonic signal data 5 to a bone conduction receiver 6 or uses the countersonic signal data 5 to control the bone conduction receiver 6 so that it generates a countersonic signal that counteracts the sound signal of the medical instrument 2. It is important that the counter-sound signal is structure-borne sound. Furthermore, in 1 It can be seen that a vibration sensor 21 is arranged on or in the bone conduction receiver 6. This records vibrations generated by the instrument 2, for example a drill, as vibration data. The vibration data is also transmitted to the computing device 4 and taken into account when determining the counter-sound signal data 5. It should be noted that the vibration sensor 21 does not necessarily have to be arranged, but is advantageous. The counter-sound signal data 5 can also be generated exclusively on the basis of the sound signal data.

2 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention, with a device according to the invention also being shown. The procedure according to 2 essentially corresponds to that in 1 procedures presented. This is in 1 Additionally shown that the bone conduction listener 6 is worn on the user's head.

Furthermore, a module system according to the invention is shown with an interface 7 for establishing a data connection with the computing unit 4, an electrocardiography sensor 8, a body temperature sensor 9 and an electrodermal sensor 10. The electrocardiography data, body temperature data and electrodermal data obtained from these sensors 8, 9, 10 are transmitted to the computing unit 4 via the interface 7. The computing unit 4 in turn transmits this data to the computing device 4, which generates stress management data using artificial intelligence. The stress management data can be used, for example, to have a relaxing audio signal played by the bone conduction listener 6.

The counter-sound signal is generated in the same way as in accordance with 1 described procedure. It should be noted that the local computer, for example a mobile phone or a tablet computer, can also be designed as a computing device 4 comprising artificial intelligence.

It is also conceivable that stress indices are calculated based on the electrocardiography data, body temperature data and electrodermal data and displayed on the local computer so that the patient's stress level can be represented.

Furthermore, in 2 the ambient noise 11, the sound signal 12 of the medical instrument 2 and the counter-sound signal 13 are shown. The sound signal 12 is transmitted both through the air and through structure-borne noise when the instrument 1 is in contact with the teeth, for example. Since the ambient noise 11 is usually in a frequency range of less than 1.5 kHz and the sound signal 12 and the counter-sound signal 13 are in a frequency range of approximately 2 kHz to 20 kHz, the ambient noise 11 remains audible to the patient, whereas the sound exposure is caused by the sound signal 12 is at least reduced or completely eliminated.

3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention. This indicates that in 2 described module system and a bone conduction listener 6. A microphone 1 can be arranged on the module system and/or on the bone conduction receiver 6. Furthermore, a connecting element (not shown) could be arranged on the module system in order to create a physical connection between the module system and the bone conduction listener 6.

4 shows that in 3 system shown, which additionally has virtual reality glasses 19. This can be used to display visual, stress-reducing signals to the wearer, for example landscape images, instructions for hypnosis, etc. It can be seen that the glasses 19 have an attachment 20 in order to protect the glasses 19 from contamination. The attachment 20 can advantageously be sterilized and/or autoclaved and can, for example, be made of a plastic, in particular polyurethane. As shown, there can be a wired connection to the local computer serving as a computing unit 3 or as a computing device 4, or a wireless interface can be used, for example Bluetooth.

5 shows a schematic representation of the structure of a human ear with external auditory canal 14, Eustachian tube 15, semicircular canals 16 and cochlea 17. Furthermore, a spherical rest zone 18 is shown, which has a diameter of approximately 1 cm to 4 cm. In the quiet zone 18, the sound signal 12 is reduced or extinguished by the counter-sound signal 13 generated by the bone conduction receiver 6, so that there is at most a slight sound exposure for the user.

With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the teaching according to the invention, in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the attached claims.

Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiments of the teaching according to the invention described above only serve to discuss the claimed teaching, but do not limit it to the exemplary embodiments.

Reference symbol list

1

microphone

2

instrument

3

Computing unit

4

Computing facility

5

Countersound signal data

6

Bone conduction listener

7

interface

8th

Electrocardiography sensor

9

Body temperature sensor

10

Electrodermal sensor

11

Ambient noise

12

sound signal

13

Countersound signal

14

ear canal

15

Eustachian tube

16

semicircular canals

17

Cochlea

18

Quiet area

19

Virtual reality glasses

20

Essay

21

Vibration sensor

Claims (13)

Method for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments (2), wherein sound signal data of a sound signal (12) are recorded by at least one microphone (1), the sound signal data being transmitted to a computing device (4), wherein from the computing device (4). Use of a process based on artificial intelligence rens counter-sound signal data (5) are generated, a counter-sound signal (13) being generated by a bone-sound listener (6) based on the counter-sound signal data (5), and the counter-sound signal (13) interacting with the sound signal (12) in such a way that sound exposure is reduced becomes. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the artificial intelligence method is based on a recurrent neural network (RNN), in particular using long short-term memory technology. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the sound signal (12) is in a frequency range of 1.5 kHz to 25 kHz, in particular 2 kHz to 20 kHz. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the computing device (4) is designed as a distributed computing unit (3). Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the sound signal data and the counter-sound signal data (5) are exchanged with the computing device (4) via a local computing unit (3), for example a mobile hand-held device or a personal computer. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the computing device (4) is designed as a local computer, for example as a mobile terminal or as a personal computer. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that electrocardiography data is recorded by at least one electrocardiography sensor (8) and/or that body temperature data is recorded by at least one body temperature sensor (9) and/or that electrodermal data is recorded via an electrodermal sensor (1). Procedure according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the electrocardiography data and / or the body temperature data and / or the electrodermal data are transmitted to the computing device (4) and that based on the electrocardiography data and / or the electrodermal data and / or the body temperature data from the computing device (4) using the on Stress management data is generated using an algorithm based on artificial intelligence. Procedure according to Claim 8 , characterized in that a display of virtual reality glasses (19) is controlled based on the stress management data and/or a sound emission of the bone conduction receiver (6) is controlled. Modular system for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments (2), in particular for carrying out a method according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , with at least one interface (7) for establishing a data connection with a computing device (4) and / or for establishing a data connection with a computing unit (3) and with at least one electrocardiography sensor (8) for recording electrocardiography data and / or at least one body temperature sensor ( 9) for recording body temperature data and/or at least one electrodermal sensor (10) for recording electrodermal data. modular system Claim 10 , characterized in that virtual reality glasses (19) are arranged and/or that a microphone (1) is arranged. System with a modular system Claim 10 or 11 and a bone conduction listener. Non-volatile computer-readable medium for storing instructions that cause the computer to use a method for reducing sound exposure caused by medical instruments (2), wherein sound signal data of a sound signal (12) are recorded by at least one microphone (1), the sound signal data being sent to a computing device (4). and wherein the counter-sound signal (13) interacts with the sound signal (12) in such a way that sound exposure is reduced.

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