TWI549657B - Can be used to detect the middle ear water device - Google Patents

Description

Device for detecting middle ear water

The invention relates to a device which can be used for detecting water in the middle ear, in particular to a device for detecting water in the middle ear by ultrasonic waves.

Middle ear water is a kind of otitis media, and its pathogenesis is relatively chronic, vague and less noticeable. It is usually found when the patient is examined for a cold or sinusitis. It is also good for preschool children, but it is not as fast or painful as acute otitis media. It usually does not have earaches, but it is a vague feeling that the child's hearing is not very good. If you want to call him a few times, he will respond or watch the TV. The volume is louder and audible, so it is difficult to find at first. .

Computed Tomography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging are currently the main methods for detecting water accumulation in the middle ear. However, computed tomography has the problem of generating radiation, and the measurement time required by the above two methods. Longer, combined with a more confined measurement environment, is prone to resistive reactions in patients with otitis media, especially children; in addition, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are limited by device size, time and location. limit.

Compared to computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound provides a convenient and instant measurement method. At present, U.S. Patent No. 7,713,946 and U.S. Patent No. 20100069752 disclose the use of an ultrasonic probe to penetrate the ear canal to detect middle ear water, but the existing patented method is still invasive, and is particularly unsuitable for children's middle ear water. measuring.

Journal of the journal ("Using 1MHz pulse-echo ultrasound externally applied to detect mastoid effusion: cadaver experiments," Ultrasonics, Vol. 52, No. 5, pp. 663-667, 2012) discloses ultrasonic non-invasive measurement of middle ear hydrocephalus The technique uses the signal amplitude difference of the accumulated water to distinguish the water level. However, when the ultrasonic probe is placed on the surface of the human body for measurement, the probe excitation signal will overlap with the echo signal, resulting in the signal amplitude not being analyzed, especially The actual case of affecting children's middle ear water is very large.

Therefore, how to design a non-invasive, non-radiative, suitable for any location and any time, and can be applied to both actual adult and child measurements, and can be used to assess the water in the ear before and after surgery, become the relevant manufacturers and The goal of the joint efforts of relevant research and development personnel.

The present inventors have actively pursued development in view of the conventional drawbacks of detecting the middle ear water accumulation method, such as radiation generation, time of use, location, and unsuitable child measurement, in order to improve the above-mentioned disadvantages.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a device that is non-invasive, non-radiative, suitable for use anywhere, at any time, and that can be used for both adult and child measurements, and for assessing middle and ear water before and after surgery.

In order to achieve the above object, the device for detecting water in the middle ear of the present invention is used for detecting water in the middle of a user, including an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmitting receiver, and an analog-to-digital converter. And an analysis unit.

The ultrasonic probe is attached to the user's ear and corresponding to the mastoid as a sound window for non-invasive measurement, and generates an ultrasonic echo signal according to the water content of the user's middle ear. The ultrasonic transmitter receiver is coupled to the ultrasonic probe to receive the ultrasonic echo signal. The analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the ultrasonic transmitter receiver, receives the ultrasonic echo signal, and converts the ultrasonic echo signal into a digital signal. The analysis unit is connected to the analog digital converter, and quantizes the water content of the ear in the user according to the ultrasonic signal converted to the digital signal and its probability density.

Through the above structure and probability density function calculation, the invention is non-invasive, does not allow the subject to react, and is suitable for actual adult and child measurement, and the invention has no radiation and does not harm the human body, and is applicable to any The location is measured at any time. In addition, if the present invention is used to measure the middle ear water condition of the user before and after surgery, it can be used to assess whether the ear water is removed before and after the operation.

(1) ‧‧‧A device that can be used to detect water in the middle ear

(10)‧‧‧Ultrasonic probe

(11)‧‧‧ Ultrasonic Transmitter Receiver

(12)‧‧‧ Analog Digital Converter

(13)‧‧‧Analysis unit

The first figure is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of the present invention which can be used to detect water in the middle ear.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to the first figure, the device (1) of the present invention for detecting middle ear water is used for detecting a user's middle ear water, including an ultrasonic probe (10), and an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving. The device (11), an analog-to-digital converter (12) and an analysis unit (13).

The ultrasonic probe (10) is attached to the user's ear and corresponding to the mastoid as a sound window for non-invasive measurement, and generates an ultra according to the user's middle ear water condition. Sound echo signal. The ultrasonic transmitting receiver (11) is connected to the ultrasonic probe (10) to receive the ultrasonic echo signal. The analog digital converter (12) is connected to the ultrasonic transmitting receiver (11), receives the ultrasonic echo signal, and converts the ultrasonic echo signal into a digital signal. The analyzing unit (13) is connected to the analog digital converter (12), and quantizes the water content of the ear in the user according to the ultrasonic signal converted into the digital signal and its probability density.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic probe (10) is a low frequency delay probe, so that the measurement signal and the excitation pulse can be separated, and the measurement signal and the probability density can be increased. The accuracy of the function analysis. Attached to the back of the ear during detection, it is a non-invasive detection method, and is more suitable for detecting water in the ear of children and infants. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the analysis unit (13) is a personal computer.

Through the above structure, since the present invention is non-invasive, it does not allow the subject to resist the reaction, and is suitable for actual adult and child measurement; the present invention produces no radiation and does not harm the human body; and since the present invention is small in size It can be applied to any place and any time; in addition, if the present invention is used to measure the middle ear water condition of the user before and after surgery, it can be used to evaluate whether the ear water is removed before and after the operation. Moreover, its structural form is not easily reached by those skilled in the art, and it is novel and progressive.

Through the above detailed description, it can fully demonstrate that the object and effect of the present invention are both progressive in implementation, highly industrially usable, and are new inventions not previously seen on the market, and fully comply with the invention patent requirements. , 提出 apply in accordance with the law. The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. That is, the equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the invention shall fall within the scope covered by the patent of the present invention. Inside, I would like to ask your review board member to give a clear explanation and pray for it. It is the prayer.

(1) ‧‧‧A device that can be used to detect water in the middle ear

(10)‧‧‧Ultrasonic probe

(11)‧‧‧ Ultrasonic Transmitter Receiver

(12)‧‧‧ Analog Digital Converter

(13)‧‧‧Analysis unit

Claims (2)

The utility model relates to a device for detecting water in the middle ear, which is used for detecting water in the middle ear of a user, which comprises: an ultrasonic probe attached to the back of the user's ear and corresponding to the mastoid as a sound window. Non-invasive measurement, and according to the user's middle ear water condition, generate an ultrasonic echo signal; an ultrasonic transmitter receiver is connected to the ultrasonic probe, and receives the ultrasonic echo signal; a analog-to-digital conversion And connecting to the ultrasonic transmitter receiver, receiving the ultrasonic echo signal, and converting the ultrasonic echo signal into a digital signal; and an analyzing unit connected to the analog digital converter and converted to a digital position The ultrasonic signal of the signal and its probability density determine the amount of water in the ear of the user; wherein the ultrasonic probe is a low frequency delay probe. The device for detecting the middle ear water as described in claim 1 of the patent application, wherein the analysis unit is a personal computer.