WO1997017819A1 - Systeme de programmation de protheses auditives programmables et de mise a jour de la base de donnees concernant les patients - Google Patents

Systeme de programmation de protheses auditives programmables et de mise a jour de la base de donnees concernant les patients Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997017819A1
WO1997017819A1 PCT/US1996/016397 US9616397W WO9717819A1 WO 1997017819 A1 WO1997017819 A1 WO 1997017819A1 US 9616397 W US9616397 W US 9616397W WO 9717819 A1 WO9717819 A1 WO 9717819A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
programming unit
programming
inputting
hearing aid
host computer
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/016397
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Todd Putvinski
Original Assignee
Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. filed Critical Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc.
Priority to AU74440/96A priority Critical patent/AU7444096A/en
Publication of WO1997017819A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997017819A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/70—Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Definitions

  • the invention relates to hearing aids, and more particularly relates to hearing aids of the programmable type.
  • the invention relates to apparatus used by an audiology office to program programmable hearing aids and to maintain a computer database of patient information.
  • a programmable hearing aid is pre-programmed by a dispenser to match the needs of the patient.
  • the dispenser when programming a Siemens TRITON aid, the dispenser establishes, for each of three frequency bands, the gain and the automatic gain control; the dispenser also establishes the crossover frequencies between the first and second bands, and between the second and third bands.
  • the dispenser when programming a Siemens INTELIVENIENCE aid, the dispenser establishes the applicable gain for soft sounds, the applicable gain for medium level sounds and the applicable gain for loud sounds, together with an intelligent response modifier.
  • Programmable hearing aids are programmed using a separate programming unit.
  • programmable hearing aids manufactured by Siemens may be programmed using a unit known as the Personal Programmer 2000. This unit makes an electrical connection (as by insertion of a connector) with the aid to be programmed and presents the audiologist with an organized routine by which the necessary (hearing aid type-specific) information is programmed into the aid.
  • audiologist's duties continue after the patient's aid has been programmed.
  • the audiologist must also record the settings for the patient's hearing aid prescription and must update the patient's medical records. For example, if a patient's hearing changes, the patient's prescription must change as well. These changes must be noted, so that the patient's current condition can be immediately known and so that e.g. the deterioration of the patient's hearing can be determined and quantified.
  • patient prescription records are maintained in database form on a personal computer; Siemens distributes CONEXX software adapted to this task.
  • an audiologist does fittings outside the office, substantial time and effort may be involved in reprogramming patients' aids and updating patients' records. For example, when an audiologist visits patients at home, in the hospital or in the workplace, the audiologist tests the patient's hearing and (if necessary) adjusts the patient's prescription to correct for any changes since that patient's last appointment. During this process, the audiologist may need to record many items of information (e.g. new audiological data for the left and right ear and a new prescription for each) . Then, when the audiologist returns to the office, the patient prescription database must be updated with the new information. The effort involved in doing this can be substantial.
  • items of information e.g. new audiological data for the left and right ear and a new prescription for each
  • One object of the invention is to provide method and apparatus for programming programmable hearing aids and for updating a computer database containing patient prescription data.
  • a programming unit is provided.
  • the programming unit is detachably electrically connectable to a programmable hearing aid, and includes means for programming the hearing aid when electrically connected thereto, means for inputting and storing information provided by an audiologist, and means for transmitting, to a receiving location, information stored in the programming unit.
  • the inputting and storing means is capable of operative interaction with said programming means in a manner that information input to the programming unit can be used to program the hearing aid
  • the transmitting means is capable of operative interaction with said inputting and storing means in a manner that information stored in the programming unit can be transmitted to a receiving location.
  • a host computer is provided. Also provided is a means detachably electrically connecting the programming unit to the computer. The detachably electrically connecting means is capable of operative interaction with said transmitting means and host computer in a manner that information stored in the programming unit can be transmitted to the host computer to update information stored in the host computer.
  • the new information when new information is input to the programming unit, the new information can be used to program (or reprogram) the programmable hearing aid and also to update the computer database.
  • the programming unit stores information in an EEPROM and transmits the information to the host computer via an RS-232 serial port and a serial cable.
  • the host computer is a master unit and the programming unit is a slave unit, which is controlled by the host computer and transfers data to the host computer.
  • Fig. 1 schematically illustrates conventional apparatus presently used by audiologists to program programmable hearing aids and to maintain patient prescription information in an office computer
  • Fig. 2 shows audiological data of the type audiologists maintain in a computer database on a host computer
  • Fig. 3 shows examples of parameters that may be programmed into programmable hearing aids
  • FIG. 4 schematically illustrates apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operation of apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment
  • Fig. 6 illustrates fields of database information that are advantageously included in a database resident on a computer used in an audiology office.
  • a programmable hearing aid 2 (such as the aids manufactured by Siemens under the TRITON, INFINITI, INTE IVENIENCE and FRONTIER marks) is programmed by a user-operated programming unit 4.
  • the programming unit 4 has a keyboard 6, a display 8, and a programming cable 10.
  • At the distal end of the programming cable 10 is located one or more connectors 12.
  • the connector(s) 12 are adapted to fit into one or more of the aids 2.
  • a connector 12 is plugged into the aid 2
  • the audiologist inputs the necessary information to the programming unit 4 via the keyboard 6 and display 8, and uses the keyboard 6 to program the aid 2. Thereafter, the connector 12 is disconnected from the aid 2.
  • the audiologist also maintains a patient prescription database on a host computer 14.
  • the computer 14 also has a keyboard 16 and a display 18.
  • this database is to be updated (with new information about the patient's hearing or about the prescription information newly programmed into an aid 2) , the new information must be input using the keyboard 16 and display 18.
  • the process of updating the database can be time- consuming, and errors can be introduced when the data is being transcribed. This is because the amount of data can be substantial. For example, let it be assumed that a patient wears a hearing aid in each ear, has undergone a new hearing test, and needs a new prescription for a TRITON aid. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the new test may produce 33 data items (3 for each of 11 frequencies) . Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows that 8 parameters are needed to program the aid. The TRITON aid is designed to be thus programmed for up to 4 situations. Therefore, to update the database for only this single patient, 65 data items (33 audiological data items plus 8 x 4 - 32 prescription data items) must be input to the computer 14.
  • a programming unit 100 has a keyboard 102, a display 104, an EEPROM 106, and an RS-232 serial port 108 and serial cable 110.
  • the programming unit 100 also has a programming cable 112 terminated with one or more connectors 114.
  • a host computer 116 also has a keyboard 118, a display 120, and an RS-232 port 122 to which the serial cable 110 may be connected.
  • the computer 116 When the computer 116 is connected to the programming unit 100 via the serial cable 110, the computer 116 operates as a master unit and the programming unit 100 operates as a slave unit.
  • the preferred embodiment operates in accordance with the flowchart shown in Fig. 5. First, audiological information for the patient is input to the programming unit 100 and the patient's hearing aid is adjusted. Then, once the dispenser decides to save this information, the name of the patient is input to the programming unit 100 (using the keyboard 102 and display 104) . When this information is to be saved, it is stored in the EEPROM 106 and retained.
  • This process may be repeated up to four additional times; the EEPROM 106 of the programming unit 100 is chosen to retain all necessary information for five different patients. If the audiologist attempts to enter information relating to a sixth patient, the display 104 indicates that this cannot be done until the information in the EEPROM 106 has been transferred to the host computer 116.
  • the serial cable 110 is connected between the programming unit 100 and the computer 116. Then, using the keyboard 118 and display 120, the computer 116 locks the keyboard 102 of the programming unit 110 and reads the name of the first patient whose information is stored in the EEPROM 106. The computer 116 then finds the best match between the names in its database and the name just read from the programming unit 110. If the database in the computer 116 has an entry for that patient, the audiologist is prompted to confirm that the patient is the same. If so, the computer 116 causes the corresponding data in the EEPROM 106 to update the information in the computer 116 and to delete this data from the EEPROM 106.
  • the computer 116 advantageously retains the information originally stored therein, so the dispenser can know how the patient's hearing has changed over time. If the information in the EEPROM 106 relates to a patient who is absent from the database in the computer 116, the computer will prompt the audiologist to enter the necessary additional information (e.g. address, telephone, age etc., see Fig. 6) into the database. This process is repeated until all the information in the EEPROM 106 has been transferred to the computer 116. Once all information in the EEPROM 106 of the programming unit 100 has been transmitted to the computer 116, the audiologist exits the program on the computer 116. The EEPROM 106 of the programming unit 100 is emptied, and ready to store information relating to five patients.
  • the necessary additional information e.g. address, telephone, age etc., see Fig. 6

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Medical Treatment And Welfare Office Work (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un programmateur servant à programmer des prothèses auditives programmables. L'information stockée dans ledit programmateur est transférée électriquement vers un ordinateur qui procède à la mise à jour de la base de données concernant les ordonnances propres à tel ou tel patient.
PCT/US1996/016397 1995-11-07 1996-10-11 Systeme de programmation de protheses auditives programmables et de mise a jour de la base de donnees concernant les patients WO1997017819A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU74440/96A AU7444096A (en) 1995-11-07 1996-10-11 System for programming programmable hearing aids and updating database of patient information

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US55312495A 1995-11-07 1995-11-07
US08/553,124 1995-11-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997017819A1 true WO1997017819A1 (fr) 1997-05-15

Family

ID=24208228

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1996/016397 WO1997017819A1 (fr) 1995-11-07 1996-10-11 Systeme de programmation de protheses auditives programmables et de mise a jour de la base de donnees concernant les patients

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU7444096A (fr)
WO (1) WO1997017819A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002035884A2 (fr) * 2000-10-23 2002-05-02 Audia Technology, Inc. Procede et systeme de mise a niveau a distance d'un dispositif de correction auditive
EP1353530A1 (fr) * 2002-04-12 2003-10-15 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Entraínement individuel de l'ouie pour des porteurs de prothèses auditives
EP1353529A1 (fr) * 2002-04-12 2003-10-15 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Auralisation basée sur internet de la déficience auditive
US6895345B2 (en) * 1998-01-09 2005-05-17 Micro Ear Technology, Inc. Portable hearing-related analysis system
EP2299733A1 (fr) * 1998-05-19 2011-03-23 GN Resound A/S Dispositif de suppression de rétroaction
US9344817B2 (en) 2000-01-20 2016-05-17 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Hearing aid systems

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4284847A (en) * 1978-06-30 1981-08-18 Richard Besserman Audiometric testing, analyzing, and recording apparatus and method
EP0341903A2 (fr) * 1988-05-10 1989-11-15 3M Hearing Health Aktiebolag Interface et méthode de programmation pour prothèse auditive
US4947433A (en) * 1989-03-29 1990-08-07 Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. Circuit for use in programmable hearing aids
DE4023785A1 (de) * 1990-07-26 1992-01-30 Mueller & Sebastiani Elek Gmbh System zur speicherung, bereitstellung und aktualisierung von festen und/oder variablen patienten- und behandlungsdaten

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4284847A (en) * 1978-06-30 1981-08-18 Richard Besserman Audiometric testing, analyzing, and recording apparatus and method
EP0341903A2 (fr) * 1988-05-10 1989-11-15 3M Hearing Health Aktiebolag Interface et méthode de programmation pour prothèse auditive
US4947433A (en) * 1989-03-29 1990-08-07 Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. Circuit for use in programmable hearing aids
DE4023785A1 (de) * 1990-07-26 1992-01-30 Mueller & Sebastiani Elek Gmbh System zur speicherung, bereitstellung und aktualisierung von festen und/oder variablen patienten- und behandlungsdaten

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6895345B2 (en) * 1998-01-09 2005-05-17 Micro Ear Technology, Inc. Portable hearing-related analysis system
EP2299733A1 (fr) * 1998-05-19 2011-03-23 GN Resound A/S Dispositif de suppression de rétroaction
US9344817B2 (en) 2000-01-20 2016-05-17 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Hearing aid systems
US9357317B2 (en) 2000-01-20 2016-05-31 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Hearing aid systems
WO2002035884A2 (fr) * 2000-10-23 2002-05-02 Audia Technology, Inc. Procede et systeme de mise a niveau a distance d'un dispositif de correction auditive
WO2002035884A3 (fr) * 2000-10-23 2003-02-13 Audia Technology Inc Procede et systeme de mise a niveau a distance d'un dispositif de correction auditive
US7200237B2 (en) 2000-10-23 2007-04-03 Apherma Corporation Method and system for remotely upgrading a hearing aid device
EP1353530A1 (fr) * 2002-04-12 2003-10-15 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Entraínement individuel de l'ouie pour des porteurs de prothèses auditives
EP1353529A1 (fr) * 2002-04-12 2003-10-15 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Auralisation basée sur internet de la déficience auditive
US7221765B2 (en) 2002-04-12 2007-05-22 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh System and method for individualized training of hearing aid users

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7444096A (en) 1997-05-29

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