WO2020234892A1 - Audiomètre intégré à une prothèse auditive numérique - Google Patents

Audiomètre intégré à une prothèse auditive numérique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2020234892A1
WO2020234892A1 PCT/IN2019/050638 IN2019050638W WO2020234892A1 WO 2020234892 A1 WO2020234892 A1 WO 2020234892A1 IN 2019050638 W IN2019050638 W IN 2019050638W WO 2020234892 A1 WO2020234892 A1 WO 2020234892A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
dha
hearing aid
digital
digital hearing
hearing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IN2019/050638
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Dr Amrit DIXIT
Prof NAGARKAR (Dr) Nitin M
Dr. Anu NAGARKAR
Original Assignee
Dixit Dr Amrit
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 Dixit Dr Amrit filed Critical Dixit Dr Amrit
Publication of WO2020234892A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020234892A1/fr

Links

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
    • H04R25/50—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
    • H04R25/505—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics using digital signal processing
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04R25/35—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using translation techniques

Definitions

  • the present invention discusses about a low-cost Digital Hearing Aid (DHA). More particularly, the herein disclosed DHA is configured for tuning according to the patient’s audiogram and can be reprogrammed when required.
  • DHA Digital Hearing Aid
  • First in class ideology of Integration of DHA with Audiometer is performed where Audiometer tunes DHA automatically according to AC test results (hearing threshold at individual frequencies). Audiometer communicates to DHA via serial communication.
  • Spirometry Hearing aids are the devices which improve the hearing capability of people, who have hearing loss resulting from loss of hearing cells. These cells are called hair cells and the hearing disability is called sensor neural hearing loss.
  • a hearing aid consists of three basic components: microphone, amplifier and speaker.
  • W Ying and Y Wang [3] implement an algorithm of adjustable filter bank which applies the filter on specific frequencies to adjust noise and amplitude.
  • the effect of hearing aid noise reduction on listening effort in hearing-impaired adults are studied [4] which shows that how an hearing aid helps the impaired to live a natural life with help of it.
  • Other studies from [5-6] shows the requirement, development, usefulness of various algorithms and implementations of the hearing aid which helps the impaired in some or other way.
  • a DHA is a programmable gain amplifier which can adjust the gain level of frequency band according to the user response.
  • Various DHA by Phonok, siemens are available in the market. This DHA can be tuned according to user’s response [11-10], but requires fine tuning which can be performed by experts only.
  • Advanced DHA launched by Siemens (Px-3mi) [8] can be tuned by user only through smartphones.
  • Patent 2005 claim Armstrong, S. W., Sykes, F. E., Brown, D. R., & Ryan, J. G.
  • the primary object of the invention is to provide a digital hearing aid which can tune the received voice in accordance with the user response (frequency shaping), to make it is easy to hear for a user.
  • the device should able to amplify each frequency band separately.
  • Another object of the invention is to perform noise suppression in the received signal, make it more adaptable in outer environment.
  • a further object of the invention is to attenuate the uncomfortable sound level (>90 dB) i.e. amplitude shaping, in order to minimize the damage to the ears.
  • Another object of the invention is to make retuning of DHA possible at user end.
  • Another object of the invention is that it can be tuned with minimal or no help of experts and thus to act as a solution for the places where experts are not present, especially for people living in rural areas.
  • Another object of the invention is to increase the DHA usage by making them more satisfied performance wise.
  • hearing aid due to dissatisfaction about hearing aids, arises mainly due to long procedure of retuning of it.
  • Digital hearing aids vary the amplification for each frequency based on the person’s distinctive hearing capabilities. This allows patient to listen the sound in the manner they want to listen.
  • a low-cost Digital Hearing Aid (DHA) has been invented. All the signal processing is done digitally only, the microphone data is collected and performs various signal conditioning operations involving de-noising for noise suppression, spectral shaping and amplitude shaping and sends the signal out to Audio DAC.
  • Spectral shaping allows amplification of each frequency based on the person’s hearing capabilities.
  • Uncomfortable sound (>90 dB) is also attenuated by performing amplitude shaping in order to minimize the damage to the ears.
  • the device has been clinically tested at AIIMS Raipur and positive feedback has been received from the patient for good sound quality.
  • a Digital Hearing Aid adapted for integration with an audiometer, comprising of a power supply, a low pass filter, a sampler configured for conversion of analog signal to digital signal, a sound manipulation unit, a microcontroller including audio peripherals i.e. microphone and audio DAC with speaker and further configured for sound manipulation and output digital processed signal wherein the sound manipulation unit further includes a noise reduction filter, a frequency shaper and an amplitude shaper.
  • DHA Digital Hearing Aid
  • Amplitude shaping Attenuation of uncomfortable sound (>90 dB) to save the damage to the ears.
  • Spectral shaping The system changes output voice spectrum acccording to user’s required resonse.
  • a programmable gain amplifier is implemented which can adjust the gain level based on the average intensity level of the received signal. This is very useful in a crowded place where one has to reduce the nose amplification level.
  • Figure 1 illustrates the Working modes of Digital Hearing Aid in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the integration of Digital Hearing Aid (DHA) with Audiometer in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the block diagram of the proposed DHA system in accordance with the present invention
  • the proposed digital hearing aid has two modes of operation i.e. programming and hearing mode as shown in Figure 1.
  • Sliding switch has been provided to the switch the DHA into the programing and Hearing mode.
  • the mode can be selected as per requirement.
  • FIG. 1 discloses the working modes of Digital Hearing Aid.
  • the DHA tunes itself according to audiogram.
  • Audiometer sends AC test results (hearing threshold at individual frequencies) to DHA through serial communication (via data cable).
  • DHA tunes itself according to the information received.
  • the patient’s hearing threshold is stored in the internal ROM of the DHA and that the data is available even after the power reset as shown in Fig 2.
  • special audiometer have been already designed and an Indian patent have been filed and published in December 2018, having patent filed no. 201821043305 A
  • Hearing aid consists of three basic components: microphone, amplifier and speaker.
  • the microphones receive audio signals and convert these to electrical signals which is processed and amplified before reaching speaker.
  • DHA digital hearing aid
  • the disclosed DHA system includes:
  • Noise Reduction Filter There are always environmental noises which interfere with incoming sounds. This ability to distinguish a single sound in a noisy environment is a major concern for the hearing impaired. De-noising is performed by using series of filter bank for removing unwanted frequency content act as a noise in acoustic signal.
  • Frequency Shaper It provide the desire gain to the frequency band which is hard to hear. For each frequency a certain gain is applied based on user specified hearing capabilities obtained from audiogram. This makes it easier to hear the difficult frequency contain at the same time it won’t provide the unnecessary gain to unrequired frequency contain which is easy to listen.
  • the frequency shaper is completely configurable to any user according to its audiogram.
  • Amplitude shaper Frequency Shaper raises the gain of the frequencies that the user has difficulties in hearing to sound pressure levels within his dynamic range of hearing. Therefore, amplitude Shaper check incoming signal and sure that the output power does not exceed a given saturation level, Psat i.e. 90dB. Thus also saves from the damaging of the ears.
  • Table 1 shows the brief description of the materials and their usages
  • Omnidirectional MP45DT02 ST MEMS digital microphone that receives an acoustical Signal and convert it into digital form for its processing.
  • the hearing aid device would consist of a noise cancellation module which could detect the background noise and perform appropriate suppression upon background noise.
  • Frequency shaping retunes the frequency response of the received digital signal to match with the desired user response, which is identified from audiogram.
  • the device has hearing level of 0-90dB. Amplitude shaping attenuates the uncomfortable sound that are >90 dB, to save the damage to the ears.
  • a speaker is coupled with DAC of microcontroller which converts digital signal to an acoustical signal that is directed into the ear canal of the DHA user.
  • the device is self-tuned via audiometer in programing mode. Thus doesn’t require constant consultancy of audiologist for retuning, causing saving of time, money an energy.
  • the device has sound resolution of ⁇ 5 dB. • The device works on hearing mode (hearing) and programing mode (retuning of DHA). A switch is provided for changing the mode of DHA.

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)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une prothèse auditive numérique conçue pour intégrer un audiomètre, comprenant une alimentation électrique, un filtre passe-bas, un échantillonneur conçu pour convertir un signal analogique en un signal numérique, une unité de manipulation sonore, un microcontrôleur comprenant des périphériques audio, c'est-à-dire un microphone et un convertisseur numérique-analogique audio avec haut-parleur, et conçu en outre pour la manipulation sonore et la sortie d'un signal numérique traité, l'unité de manipulation sonore comprenant en outre un filtre de réduction de bruit, un dispositif de mise en forme de fréquence et un dispositif de mise en forme d'amplitude.
PCT/IN2019/050638 2019-05-20 2019-09-05 Audiomètre intégré à une prothèse auditive numérique WO2020234892A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IN201921019874 2019-05-20
IN201921019874 2019-05-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020234892A1 true WO2020234892A1 (fr) 2020-11-26

Family

ID=73458453

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IN2019/050638 WO2020234892A1 (fr) 2019-05-20 2019-09-05 Audiomètre intégré à une prothèse auditive numérique

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2020234892A1 (fr)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6396930B1 (en) * 1998-02-20 2002-05-28 Michael Allen Vaudrey Active noise reduction for audiometry
US6876750B2 (en) * 2001-09-28 2005-04-05 Texas Instruments Incorporated Method and apparatus for tuning digital hearing aids

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6396930B1 (en) * 1998-02-20 2002-05-28 Michael Allen Vaudrey Active noise reduction for audiometry
US6876750B2 (en) * 2001-09-28 2005-04-05 Texas Instruments Incorporated Method and apparatus for tuning digital hearing aids

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9560458B2 (en) Configurable hearing instrument
US4837832A (en) Electronic hearing aid with gain control means for eliminating low frequency noise
EP1640972A1 (fr) Système et méthode pour séparer la voix d'un utilisateur de le bruit de l'environnement
US20070206825A1 (en) Noise reduction circuit for hearing aid
EP3701525A1 (fr) Dispositif électronique mettant en uvre une mesure composite, destiné à l'amélioration du son
EP2717597A1 (fr) Dispositif d'aide auditive avec un traitement audio dépendant des ondes cérébrales
EP3337190B1 (fr) Procédé de réduction de bruit dans un dispositif de traitement audio
KR102023456B1 (ko) Rit를 사용한 귀걸이형 보청기
CN108206979B (zh) 一种多功能骨传导助听系统及其使用方法
CN104822119A (zh) 用于确定耳蜗死区的设备
KR100678770B1 (ko) 궤환 신호 제거 기능을 구비한 보청기
KR100603042B1 (ko) 잡음 제거 기능을 구비한 디지털 보청기 및 잡음 제거 방법
US9232326B2 (en) Method for determining a compression characteristic, method for determining a knee point and method for adjusting a hearing aid
US20120076331A1 (en) Method for reconstructing a speech signal and hearing device
KR20050119758A (ko) 잡음 및 궤환 신호 제거 기능을 구비한 디지털 보청기 및신호 처리 방법
WO2020234892A1 (fr) Audiomètre intégré à une prothèse auditive numérique
CN102469399A (zh) 降噪助听器
Rawandale et al. Study of Audiogram for Speech Processing in Hearing Aid System
US20190327565A1 (en) Method of operating a hearing aid system and a hearing aid system
Kąkol et al. A study on signal processing methods applied to hearing aids
AU2010358921B2 (en) Method for operating a hearing aid and corresponding hearing aid
US10051382B2 (en) Method and apparatus for noise suppression based on inter-subband correlation
US20130195281A1 (en) Assisting listening device having audiometry function
US20210027797A1 (en) Telecommunication Device that Provides Improved Understanding of Speech in Noisy Environments
EP4124060A1 (fr) Instrument auditif

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 19929946

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 19929946

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 19929946

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

32PN Ep: public notification in the ep bulletin as address of the adressee cannot be established

Free format text: NOTING OF LOSS OF RIGHTS PURSUANT TO RULE 112(1) EPC (EPO FORM 1205A DATED 03.11.2022)

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 19929946

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1