WO2021191301A1

WO2021191301A1 - An audiological test apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2021191301A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/057614
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Geertsen
Original assignee: Vox Medical Aps
Priority date: 2020-03-24
Filing date: 2021-03-24
Publication date: 2021-09-30

Abstract

An audiological test apparatus adapted for performing audiological measurements in a human ear, and comprising an ear probe tip (14) adapted for insertion into the ear canal of the human ear and having an acoustic output port (35) that is acoustically connected via a first air conduit (36) to a loudspeaker (15) for emission of sound into the ear canal, and an acoustic input port (37) that is acoustically connected via a second air (38) conduit to a microphone (16) for reception of sound from the ear canal. The audiological test apparatus further comprises a housing (1) configured to be worn at the human ear and enclosing an air pump (11) and a controller (28), and the air pump (11) is connected via an air duct (18) to a pump output port (39) arranged in the ear probe (14) for providing a pressure to the ear canal, and the controller (28) is configured for providing an output signal to the loudspeaker (15) and for receiving an input signal generated by the microphone (16) in response to the sound from the ear canal.

Description

An audiological test apparatus.

Field of technology:

A new audiological test apparatus is provided.

Background: The present invention relates to audiological testing, and especially to an audiological test apparatus adapted for performing audiological measurements in a human ear.

Such apparatuses are mostly used for clinically examining the status of the middle ear system (tympanic membrane and ossicular chain) by measuring aural acoustic immittance (AAI) at the entrance to the ear canal. Two commonly employed middle ear assessment tests based on AAI measures are tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing. In tympanometry, aural acoustic immittance is measured as air pressure in the ear canal is parametrically varied (e.g., +200 to -300 daPa) and a plot of immittance versus ear canal pressure during the pressure sweep is referred to as a tympanogram. The tympanogram provides a means to indirectly measure pressure in the middle ear cavity, since maximal admittance (or minimal impedance) occurs when ear canal pressure is equal to middle ear pressure. During acoustic reflex testing the ear canal pressure is maintained at the value that produced maximal admittance (minimal impedance) as inferred from the tympanogram, and changes in AAI are monitored as acoustic reflex eliciting stimuli are presented. Prior art audiological apparatuses of this type most often comprises a housing containing the pump for providing the air pressure to the ear canal via an ear probe. In order to isolate the noises e.g. from the pump the ear probe is connected to the housing via a cable.

The ear probe has an acoustic output port that is acoustically connected via a first air conduit to a loudspeaker for emission of sound into the ear canal, and an acoustic input port that is acoustically connected via a second air conduit to a microphone for reception of sound from the ear canal.

The middle ear is the portion of the ear internal to the tympanic membrane and external to the oval window of the inner ear. The middle ear comprises the tympanic membrane also denoted the ear drum, and the ossicles, i.e. the malleus, incus and stapes. The ossicles transfer vibrations of the tympanic membrane into waves in the fluid and membranes of the cochlea in the inner ear.

The primary function of the middle ear is to efficiently transfer acoustic waves in the ear canal incident on the tympanic membrane to fluid- membrane waves within the cochlea. The middle ear efficiency peaks at a frequency of app. 1 kHz. The combined transfer function of the outer ear and middle ear of humans results in peak sensitivity to frequencies between 1 kHz and 3 kHz.

Tympanometry, sometimes also denoted immittance testing, is a well- known method of examining and diagnosing the middle ear. Tympanometry involves recording changes in middle ear admittance, while static pressure in the ear canal is varied. In order to perform tympanometry, an ear probe is inserted in the ear canal in such a way that an air tight seal of the ear canal is provided. The ear probe has a loudspeaker for emission of sound, typically a 226 Hz pure tone, towards the tympanic membrane under varying static pressure in the ear canal inside the seal. The emitted sound causes vibration of the tympanic membrane and the ossicles of the middle ear, which in turn results in the conscious perception of hearing. Some of the emitted sound is reflected and picked up by a microphone of the ear probe. Typically, the ear probe varies the static pressure from - 400 daPa to 200 daPa with 50 - 600 daPa/second sweep pressure rate (1 daPa = 10 Pa).

The tympanometer determines acoustic admittances of the middle ear based on the microphone signal and plots the determined acoustic admittances as a function of static pressure thereby forming a so- called tympanogram.

Normally, the static pressure in the ear canal is the same as ambient pressure since the Eustachian tube opens periodically to ventilate the middle ear and to equalize pressure. In a healthy individual, the maximum sound is transmitted through the middle ear when the static pressure in the ear canal is equal to the pressure in the middle ear also denoted the tympanic peak pressure TPP.

In multi-frequency tympanometry, the frequency of the pure tone is also varied. With the so-called sweep pressure method, the frequency of the pure tone is held constant while the static pressure is varied; and with the so-called sweep frequency method, the static pressure is held constant at specified intervals while the frequency of the pure tone is varied. Experimental data have shown that middle ear pathologies alter tympanogram shapes and shift the resonance frequency of the middle ear. For example, increases in stiffness due to otosclerosis can shift middle ear resonance to a higher-than-normal frequency, and increases in mass (or lack of stiffness) due to ossicular discontinuity can shift middle ear resonance to a lower-than-normal frequency.

An overview of wideband acoustic immittance measurements and reviews of the relationships among different acoustic immittance measurements, including acoustic impedance, acoustic admittance, acoustic reflectance, and acoustic absorbance, are provided by: John J. Rosowski, Stefan Stenfelt, and David Lilly: “An Overview of Wideband Immittance Measurements Techniques and Terminology: You Say Absorbance, I Say Reflectance”, Ear and Hearing 2013; 34; 9S-16S.

Typically, in a prior art audiological apparatus, the ear probe is connected to a so-called tympanometer with a cable. The tympanometer controls the measurement procedure and records the measurement results. Typically, the cable includes electrical conductors for interconnection of microphone, loudspeaker and switches and possible indicators, respectively, of the ear probe with the tympanometer. The cable also has an air conduit for interconnection with a pump of the tympanometer for control of the static pressure in the ear canal subjected to the measurements.

An example of an audiological test apparatus of the above-mentioned type is disclosed in EP patent no. 3053522.

Another example of a prior audiological test apparatus is known from US 4688582, showing a hand held device. Object of the invention: It is the object of the present invention to provide an audiological test apparatus that facilitates operation of the audiological test apparatus during performance of audiological measurements in the human ear.

This is obtained by and audiological test apparatus comprising an ear probe adapted for insertion into the ear canal of the human ear and having an acoustic output port that is acoustically connected via a first air conduit to a loudspeaker or receiver for emission of sound into the ear canal and an acoustic input port that is acoustically connected via a second air conduit to a microphone for reception of sound from the ear canal.

According to the invention the audiological test apparatus further comprises a housing having a probe tip that is adapted for insertion into the ear canal of the human ear, and where the housing is configured to be worn by the human ear and having an air pump arranged in the housing, and where the air pump is connected via an air duct to a pump output port arranged in the ear probe for providing a pressure to the ear canal above or below ambient/atmospheric pressure.

Thereby the handling of the apparatus is made much easier for the operator who is not required to be aware of wiring or cables forming part of the apparatus or to avoid any relative movements between the patient and the operator or desk apparatus is avoided. Furthermore noises stemming from e.g. unintended moving or touching the cable connecting prior art probes to the desktop devices or from unintended relative movement between the patient and the operator holding a hand held device is eliminated.

At least part of the ear probe housing may be configured for accommodation in the concha of the ear of the human when the probe tip has been inserted into the ear canal.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a controller is further arranged in the housing, and configured for providing an output signal to the loudspeaker and for receiving an input signal generated by the microphone.

Furthermore, the controller may advantageously be configured for controlling the air pump to provide and maintain a selected static pressure in the ear canal above or below ambient/atmospheric pressure.

Furthermore, the controller may advantageously be configured for controlling the air pump to provide a continuously varying pressure in the ear canal from above to below ambient/atmospheric pressure and vice versa.

In an especially advantageous embodiment of the invention, the air pump may be a diaphragm pump, and especially an electromagnetically driven diaphragm pump, whereby the noise from the air pump is efficiently reduced. In this relation the term diaphragm pump shall be understood to cover any pump construction having an elastic of flexible part, such as a diaphragm, a membrane or a bellow part, enclosing a pump volume so that deformation of the elastic or flexible part changes the pump volume. The noise from the air pump may be further reduced in a preferred embodiment where the diaphragm pump has a stroke volume allowing the pump to provide the selected static pressure in the human ear by a single stroke. According to this embodiment of the invention the pump volume is advantageously higher than 100mm3 and preferably higher than 150mm3 and it may be lower than 500mm3 in order to provide a compact pump housing.

The pump housing may be made from soft silicone or a similar material or may be a rigid pump housing with a soft foil. One or more disks made from a magnetic or a magnetizable e.g. ferromagnetic material may be attached to the diaphragm e.g. by gluing or by molding the diaphragm onto the disks. Alternatively, the disks may be spot welded to each other with the diaphragm arranged in between.

On one or both sides of the diaphragm a number of electromagnets may be arranged. First electromagnet may comprise an inner magnetic core with a wound wire shaped as a coil and a press fit outer magnetic core. Inner magnetic core in the first electromagnet may have a center hole leading out to the ambient pressure. Second electromagnet may comprise an inner magnetic core with a wound wire shaped as a coil and a press fit outer magnetic core. Inner magnetic core in second electromagnet may have a center hole for fluid connection of the air pump to the air duct leading from the air pump to the pump output port at the end of the probe tip.

Both the first and the second electromagnet may be a single electromagnet or may be a group of two or more electromagnets together controlling the movement of the membrane with the attached ferromagnetic disks in accordance with the voltage applied to the coils from the controller. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pressure transducer is arranged in the air duct, and the controller is configured for receiving and controlling the air pump based upon an input signal generated by the pressure transducer.

In a further preferred embodiment the audiological test apparatus may, also be equipped with a pressure relief valve and preferably also a vacuum relief valve that is arranged in the air duct, so that the pressure relief valve ensures that the pressure in the air duct does not exceed a certain high pressure and the vacuum relief valve ensures that the pressure in the air duct does not fall below a certain low pressure, preferably both with respect to the ambient/atmospheric pressure.

The pressure and vacuum relief valve may be integrated in a single unit comprising a valve housing that may e.g. be made from a ferromagnetic material. The valve housing may accommodate a magnetic core with an electric wire coil. Valve housing, coil and magnetic core may be glued together so that the glue provides an airtight sealing and keeps the components in place.

The magnetic core may have two channels going from the inside pressure chamber forming part of the air duct to the ambient pressure side of the valve. A grove may be milled inside the pressure chamber around one of the channels and on the outside a similar grove may be milled around the other channel. In the inside grove a gasket may be arranged and in the outside grove a gasket may be arranged. In this relation, the controller is preferably configured for selectively opening the pressure relief valve and/or the vacuum relief valve based upon an input signal generated by the pressure transducer.

Preferably, the housing has a first part through which the air duct and the first and the second air conduit extends, a second part containing the air pump, and an intermediate part between the first and the second part where the intermediate part contains the controller, whereby a compact and resilient construction of the audiological test apparatus is provided.

The cross section of the intermediate part may for that purpose be more than 5 times the cross section of the first part, and the cross section of the second part may be more than 5 times the cross section of the intermediate part. In a preferred embodiment the cross section of the intermediate part may be at least 10 times the cross section of the first part, and the cross section of the second part may be at least 8 times the cross section of the intermediate part.

The intermediate part of the housing may in a further advantageous embodiment contain the loudspeaker and the microphone.

In a preferred embodiment the first part of the housing is formed as a probe tip configured for insertion into the ear canal of the human ear and having the acoustic input port, the acoustic output port and the pump output port arranged at the end of the probe tip.

In this relation, the probe tip is preferably made from a resilient material that is encircled by an airtight seal, e.g. being removable and made from an elastic material. Thereby the probe tip and the elastic airtight seal provides pressure against the inside of the ear canal in order to hold the audiological apparatus in place in the ear.

The housing may further contain an electric power source such as a battery in order to eliminate the need for external power cords.

Furthermore, in order to eliminate the need for external wiring, the housing of the audiological test apparatus may further contain a wireless transmitter, such as a Bluetooth transmitter, configured for receiving and transmitting data from the controller.

Alternatively a new audiological test apparatus for audiological measurements in a human ear comprises an ear probe having an ear probe housing and a probe tip with a probe tip housing that is adapted for insertion into an ear canal of the human ear and wherein at least part of the ear probe housing is adapted for accommodation behind the pinna of the human ear in such a way that the at least part of the ear probe housing is accommodated between the pinna and a part of a side of the head opposite the pinna when the probe tip housing has been inserted into the ear canal, the probe tip housing enclosing an air conduit with a pump output port at the distal end of the probe tip for applying a pressure in the ear canal, and the ear probe housing enclosing an air pump for conversion of an electrical pump control signal into a corresponding pressure and arranged so that the pressure propagates through the air conduit and the pump output port to the ear canal, and a controller that is adapted for providing the electrical pump control signal to the air pump for applying the pressure in the ear canal. Throughout the present disclosure, the phrases ’’adapted for”, “adapted to”, ’’configured for”, and “configured to” are used synonymously and interchangeably.

Brief description of the drawings:

In order to better appreciate how the above-recited and other advantages and objects are obtained, a more particular description of the embodiments will be rendered, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate the design and utility of embodiments, in which similar elements are referred to by common reference numerals. The drawings depict only exemplary embodiments and are not therefore to be considered limiting in the scope of the claims. The drawings may or may not be drawn to scale.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 : Is a principle drawing showing a cross section through the construction of a new ear probe of a new audiological test apparatus.

Fig. 2: Is a principle drawing showing the part A in Fig. 1 in detail.

Fig. 3: Shows in perspective a human with the embodiment of Fig. 1 mounted at an ear of the human.

Fig. 4: Shows a cross section of the embodiment of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 mounted at the ear of the human in the way shown in Fig. 3 Figs. 5 and 6: Show in perspective a human with an alternative embodiment of Fig. 1 mounted at an ear of the human. Fig. 7: Is a principle sketch showing a first alternative embodiment of an ear probe of a new audiological test apparatus.

Fig. 8: Is a principle sketch showing a second alternative embodiment of an ear probe of a new audiological test apparatus.

Fig. 9: Shows in perspective a human with the embodiment of Figs. 7 or 8 mounted in the ear of the human.

Fig. 10: Shows in perspective a human with yet still another embodiment mounted at the ear of the human.

Fig. 11: Is a schematic diagram showing the components of an ear probe of the new audiological test apparatus in more detail.

Detailed description of the drawings:

Various illustrative examples of the new audiological test apparatus, earpiece or ear probe, according to the appended claims will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments of the new audiological test apparatus are illustrated. The new apparatus according to the appended claims may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other examples even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described. It should also be noted that the accompanying drawings are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they merely show details which are essential to the understanding of the new audiological test apparatus, while other details have been left out.

As used herein, the singular forms "a”, "an”, and "the" refer to one or more than one, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

An embodiment of the present invention will, in the following, be explained in principle with reference to the drawings where Fig. 1 is a principle sketch showing the most preferred embodiments of the present invention where the audiological test apparatus has an ear probe that is constructed as an ear probe having all components contained in a single housing 1. In this embodiment the housing 1 encloses a loudspeaker 15, a microphone 16, a pressure relief valve 26, an electronic unit comprising a controller 28 and a wireless transmitter or transceiver, an air pump 11 and a battery 3, preferably a button cell battery.

The loudspeaker 15 is connected to an output port 35 at the end of the probe tip 14 via a first air conduit 36 for outputting sound from the output port 35.

The microphone 16 is connected to an input port 37 at the end of the probe tip 14 via a second air conduit 38 for conversion of sound received at the input port 37 into an electronic output signal.

The air pump 11 is connected to a pump output port 39 at the end of the probe tip 14 via an air duct 18. In this embodiment both the input port and the output port are arranged right next to the pump output port at the outermost end of the probe tip 14 forming the first part of the ear probe, and thereby the loudspeaker 15 and the microphone 16 as well as the air pump 11 connected to the ear canal 100 of a human when the probe tip 14 is inserted into the ear of the human as shown in Figs. 3 - 6.

Since the controller 28, forming part of the electronic unit, is connected and configured to drive the air pump 11 and for providing an output signal to the loudspeaker 15 and for receiving an input signal generated by the microphone 16, then it is possible to configure the controller for the ear probe to perform well known audiological tests in the human ear as described in the introduction. The wiring and construction of the controller as well as the operation performed by the controller is not shown in the drawings because it will be evident to the skilled person that this may be done in many different ways, and e.g. in accordance with any prior art disclosing audiological testing methods and apparatuses.

Furthermore the wireless transmitter/transceiver, e.g. a Bluetooth transceiver, also forming part of the electronic unit is configured for receiving data from the controller regarding the results of the audiological tests performed by the ear probe, and for transmitting these data to an external unit such as a PC, tablet, mobile phone or any other equipment suitable and configured for receiving the data.

The construction and operation of the wireless transmitter/transceiver is not shown in the drawings because it will be evident to the skilled person that this may be done in many different ways, and e.g. in accordance with prior art. The air pump is a magnetically driven diaphragm pump 11 comprising a pump housing 10 with a diaphragm. Magnetically driven diaphragm pumps are very silent in operation and thereby the need for noise filters or other noise damping is reduced to a minimum. As such the skilled person will recognize that such a diaphragm pump as disclosed herein may be used with any new audiological test apparatuses for audiological measurement in a human ear.

The pump housing 10 may be made from soft silicone or a similar material or may be a rigid pump housing with a soft foil. One or more disks 8, 9 made from a magnetic or a magnetizable e.g. ferromagnetic material is attached to the diaphragm e.g. by gluing or by molding the diaphragm onto the disks 8, 9. Alternatively the disks may be spot welded to each other with the diaphragm arranged in between.

On one or both sides of the diaphragm a number of electromagnets 6, 7, 30 and 4, 5, 29 are arranged. First electromagnet 4, 5, 29 comprises an inner magnetic core 4 with a wound wire shaped as a coil 29 and a press fit outer magnetic core 5. Inner magnetic core 4 in the first electromagnet 4, 5, 29 may have a center hole leading out to the ambient pressure. Second electromagnet 6, 7, 30 comprises an inner magnetic core 6 with a wound wire shaped as a coil 30 and a press fit outer magnetic core 7. Inner magnetic core 6 in second electromagnet 6, 7, 30 may have a center hole for fluid connection of the air pump to the air duct leading from the air pump 11 to the pump output port 39 at the end of the probe tip 14.

Both the first and the second electromagnet may be a single electromagnet or may be a group of two or more electromagnets together controlling the movement of the membrane with the attached ferromagnetic disks 8, 9 in accordance with the voltage applied to the coils 29, 30 from the controller.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section A of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprising a pressure and a vacuum relief valve 26 arranged in the air duct leading from the air pump 11 to the pump output port at the probe tip 14. Flere the valves are provided by a single integral two-way valve unit comprising a valve housing 26 that may e.g. be made from a ferromagnetic material. The valve housing 26 accommodates a magnetic core 19 with an electric wire coil 31. Valve housing 26, coil 31 and magnetic core 19 may be glued together so that the glue provides an airtight sealing and keeps the components in place.

The magnetic core 19 have two channels going from the inside pressure chamber forming part of the air duct to the ambient pressure side of the valve. A grove is milled inside the pressure chamber around one of the channels and on the outside a similar grove is milled around the other channel. In the inside grove a gasket 23 is arranged and in the outside grove a gasket 22 is arranged.

On top of each of the gaskets 22, 23 a valve plate 20, 21 is arranged so that the valve plate 21 , gasket 23 and one channel in the magnetic core 19 constitutes a vacuum relief valve, and valve plate 20, gasket 22 and the other channel in the magnetic core 19 constitutes a pressure relief valve. The threshold for the pressure for opening or closing each of the valves may be controlled, e.g. linearly, by the controller b supplying a corresponding current to the coil 31.

A filter 27 is arranged at the ambient air side of the two way valve unit. The filter prevents dust particles from entering the valve system. The other opening of the house 26 may be soldered or glued to a PCB 25 which also accommodates a pressure transducer 24 connected to the controller. A tube stud 17 may be glued or soldered to the PCB 25 for communication with the ear probe tip 14.

In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 1 , 3, 4, 5 and 6 the ear probe comprises a first part of the housing 1 forming the ear probe tip 14, an intermediate part 13 of the housing 1 containing the controller, the transmitter, the loudspeaker, the microphone and the safety valve formed by the pressure relief valve and the vacuum relief valve.

A second part 33 of the housing 1 is arranged on the other side of the intermediate part 13 of the housing 1 opposite the first part 14 of the housing 1. In this preferred embodiment the cross section of the first part 14 of the housing 1 is smaller than the cross section of the intermediate part 13 which again is smaller than the corresponding cross section of the second part 33 of the housing 1. In this embodiment the cross section of the intermediate part is at least 10 times the cross section of the first part, and the cross section of the second part is at least 8 times the cross section of the intermediate part. Thereby the probe tip forming the first part 14 of the housing 1 can easily be inserted into the ear canal 100 of a human such as shown in Fig. 4, and in this position the intermediate part 13 of the housing 1 extends out in the volume formed by the concha 131 of the ear, and the second part 33 having the largest cross section for accommodation of the air pump 11 , is positioned completely outside the ear.

From the description above it will be apparent to the skilled person that new compact audiological test apparatuses can be implemented in alternative embodiments apart from the embodiments shown in the Figs. 1 , 3, 4, 5 and 6 that are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Accordingly Figs. 7 and 8 disclose two different new compact ear probes of audiological test apparatuses where construction of the second part 33 and the intermediate part 13 of the housing 1 corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 , 3, 4, 5 and 6, but where the first part 14 of the housing 1 is hook shaped so that the ear probe can rest on top of the human ear between the cartilage and the head of the human such as it is shown in Fig. 9 and similar to the well- known mounting of a Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aid.

In this relation the new audiological test apparatus for audiological measurements in a human ear as shown in Fig. 9 comprises an ear probe having an ear probe housing and a probe tip with a probe tip housing that is adapted for insertion into an ear canal 100 of the human ear and wherein at least part 14 of the ear probe housing is adapted for accommodation behind the pinna of the human ear in such a way that the at least part of the ear probe housing is accommodated between the pinna and a part of a side of the head opposite the pinna when the probe tip housing has been inserted into the ear canal 100, the probe tip housing enclosing an air conduit with a pump output port at the distal end of the probe tip for applying a pressure in the ear canal 100, and the ear probe housing enclosing an air pump for conversion of an electrical pump control signal into a corresponding pressure and arranged so that the pressure propagates through the air conduit and the pump output port to the ear canal 100, and a controller that is adapted for providing the electrical pump control signal to the air pump for applying the pressure in the ear canal 100. Furthermore the probe tip of the embodiments shown in Figs. 7 through 10 is connected to the first part 14 of the housing 1 with a flexible cable or tube. The loudspeaker/receiver and the microphone is arranged in the probe tip in Fig. 7 and in the first part 14 of the housing 1 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 furthermore shows another alternative embodiment where all components are arranged in a box shaped housing 34 suspended from the ear by a strap 40.

Fig. 11 schematically illustrates one example of the new ear probe 50 with an ear probe housing 1 and a probe tip housing 60 that is positioned inside an ear canal 100 of an ear 110 of a human. The ear probe 50 illustrated in Fig. 11 is of the type shown in Fig. 9; however, all the components of the illustrated ear probe 50 may alternatively be accommodated in a single housing as for example shown in Figs. 1 - 8 and Fig. 10.

The probe tip housing 60 of the illustrated ear probe 50 accommodates an air conduit (not visible) with an acoustic output port (not visible) for emission of sound towards the tympanic membrane 112 of the ear 110 and an air conduit (not visible) with an acoustic input port (not visible) for reception of sound from the ear canal 100 and an air conduit (not visible) with a pump output port (not visible) for conveying a pressure to the ear canal 100. The probe tip housing is positioned inside the ear canal 100 and forms an airtight seal with the wall of the ear canal 100.

The input and output ports reside at the distal end 62 of the probe tip housing 60 facing the ear canal 100 so that the air conduits are in communication with ear canal volume defined by the ear canal wall and the distal end 62 of the probe tip housing 60.

The ear probe housing 1 of the ear probe 50 accommodates a loudspeaker 15 for emission of the sound. A member 70 interconnects the ear probe housing 1 with the probe tip housing 60 and has an air conduit 36 that is interconnected with the air conduit with the acoustic output port (not visible) of the probe tip housing 60 for propagation of sound from the loudspeaker 15 in the ear probe housing 1 through the interconnected air conduits and the acoustic output port (not visible) of the probe tip housing 60 and towards the tympanic membrane 112 of the ear canal 100.

The ear probe housing 1 further accommodates a microphone 16 for generation of an input audio signal 82 as a function of sound received at the acoustic input port (not visible) of the probe tip housing 60. The member 70 has an air conduit 38 that is interconnected with the air conduit (not visible) with the acoustic input port (not visible) of the probe tip housing 60 for transmission of sound received at the acoustic input port (not visible) of the probe tip housing 60 through the interconnected air conduits to the microphone 16 for conversion of received sound into a corresponding input audio signal 82.

The ear probe housing 1 further accommodates a controller 28 that is adapted for controlling the loudspeaker 15 to emit sound by generation of an output audio signal 84 that is output to the loudspeaker 15 for conversion into corresponding sound that is transmitted through the air conduit 36 of the member 70 and the interconnected air conduit (not visible) with the acoustic output port (not visible) of the probe tip housing 60 and through the acoustic output port (not visible) into the ear canal 100 for propagation towards the tympanic membrane 112 at the end of the ear canal 100.

The controller 80 is also connected to the output of the microphone 16 for reception of the input audio signal 82 generated by the microphone 16 in response to sound received at the input port of the probe tip housing 60.

In the ear probe 50 shown in Fig. 11 , the ear probe housing 1 accommodates both loudspeaker 15 and microphone 16. Other ear probes according to the appended set of claims are provided wherein the probe tip housing 60 accommodates the loudspeaker 15 and the microphone 16, and wherein the air conduits 36, 38 are substituted with electrical conductors for electrical connection of the input audio signal 82 and the output audio signal 84, respectively, with the microphone 16 and the loudspeaker 15 accommodated in the probe tip housing 60.

Yet other ear probes according to the appended set of claims are provided wherein the ear probe housing 1 accommodates one of the loudspeaker 15 and the microphone 16, and wherein the corresponding air conduit 36, 38 is substituted with an electrical conductor for connection of the respective one of the input audio signal 82 and the output audio signal 84 to the one of the loudspeaker 15 and the microphone 16 that is accommodated in the probe tip housing 60.

The ear probe housing 1 also accommodates the air pump 11 for provision of a selected static pressure in the ear canal 100 or selected varying pressures as a function of time in the ear canal 100. The controller 28 is adapted for controlling the pressure provided by the air pump 11 with pump control signal 86. The static pressure is applied to the ear canal through an air conduit 18 of the member 70 and through the interconnected air conduit (not visible) with the pump output port (not visible) of the probe tip housing 60. The probe tip housing 60 seals the ear canal 100 with an airtight seal so that the pressure in the ear canal 100 can be controlled with the air pump 11 which in turn is controlled by the controller 28.

The illustrated ear probe housing 1 also accommodates a wireless transceiver 88, such as a Bluetooth transceiver, that is connected to the controller 28 for reception and transmission of control signals and data and transmission of measurement data.

The controller 28of the ear probe 50 may be connected to an external computer (not shown), such as a personal computer, a tablet, a smartphone, etc., with the wireless transceiver 88, whereby the controller 28 may be connected to the user interface of the external computer (not visible) for control of audiological measurements and for recording and display of the obtained measurement results.

Claims

C l a i m s:

1. An audiological test apparatus adapted for performing audiological measurements in a human ear, and comprising an ear probe having: an acoustic output port that is acoustically connected via a first air conduit to a loudspeaker for emission of sound into the ear canal, an acoustic input port that is acoustically connected via a second air conduit to a microphone for reception of sound from the ear canal, wherein the audiological test apparatus further comprises a housing having a probe tip that is adapted for insertion into the ear canal of the human ear, and where the housing is configured to be worn at the human ear and encloses an air pump connected via an air duct to a pump output port arranged in the ear probe for providing a pressure to the ear canal.

2. An audiological test apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a controller arranged in the housing, and where the controller is configured for providing an output signal to the loudspeaker and for receiving an input signal generated by the microphone in response to the sound from the ear canal.

3. An audiological test apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the air pump to provide and maintain a selected static pressure in the ear.

4. An audiological test apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the air pump to provide a continuously varying pressure in the ear.

5. An audiological test apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the air pump is an electromagnetically driven diaphragm pump.

6. An audiological test apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the diaphragm pump has a stroke volume allowing the pump to provide the selected static pressure in the human ear by a single stroke.

7. An audiological test apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure transducer is arranged in the air duct, and the controller is configured for controlling the air pump based upon an input signal generated by the pressure transducer.

8. An audiological test apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure relief valve and/or a vacuum relief valve is arranged in the air duct and where the pressure relief valve is arranged for ensuring that the pressure in the air duct does not exceed a selected high pressure and the vacuum relief valve is arranged for ensuring that the pressure in the air duct does not fall below a selected low pressure.

9. An audiological test apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller is configured for selectively opening at least one of the pressure relief valve and the vacuum relief valve, based upon an input signal generated by the pressure transducer.

10. An audiological test apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing has a first part through which the air duct and the first and the second air conduit extend, a second part containing the air pump, and an intermediate part between the first and the second part where the intermediate part contains the controller.

11. An audiological test apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the intermediate part of the housing further contains the loudspeaker and the microphone.

12. An audiological test apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first part of the housing is formed as a probe tip configured for airtight insertion into the ear canal of the human ear and having the acoustic input port, the acoustic output port and the pump output port arranged at the end of the probe tip.

13. An audiological test apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the probe tip is made from a resilient material, and is encircled by an elastic seal.

14. An audiological test apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing further contains an electric battery.

15. An audiological test apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the housing further contains a wireless transmitter, such as a Bluetooth transmitter, configured for receiving and transmitting data from the controller.