Otonexus Medical Technologies, Inc.

Spentech, Inc.

George A Gates

Mark A Moehring

Jay A Chesavage

Daniel Kreindler

Rahul Singh

Caitlin E Cameron

Charlie Corredor

Arne H Voie

Chad Jason MacDonald

Eugene A Saxon

Mailee J Hess

An ultrasound signal processor uses an excitation generator to cause displacement of a membrane or surface while a series of ultrasound pulses are applied to the membrane or surface. Phase differences between a transmitted signal and received signal are examined to determine the movement of the membrane or surface in response to the applied excitation. An examination of the phase response of the membrane or surface provides a determination as to whether the fluid type behind the membrane or surface is one of: no fluid, serum fluid, or purulent fluid.

Apparatus and method for characterization of a ductile membrane, surface and sub-surface properties

An ultrasound signal processor uses an excitation generator to cause displacement of a tympanic membrane while a series of ultrasound pulses are applied to the tympanic membrane. Phase differences between a transmitted signal and received signal are examined to determine the movement of the tympanic membrane in response to the applied excitation. An examination of the phase response of the tympanic membrane provides a determination as to whether the fluid type behind the tympanic membrane is one of: no fluid, serum fluid, or purulent fluid.

Apparatus and method for characterization of acute otitis media

An ultrasound transducer may include: a plurality of capacitive ultrasound transducer elements; and a base having a largest dimension sized and shaped to be disposed with an external ear canal, wherein the plurality of capacitive ultrasound transducers is mounted on the base. Each capacitive ultrasound transducer element and the ultrasound transducer are specifically constructed to achieve select desired performance characteristics. The ultrasound transducer may have an angular beam spread through a gaseous medium of greater than 15 degrees and an attenuation loss through the gaseous medium of greater than 10 dB measured at a distance 12.5 mm to 25 mm along a primary transmission axis of the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer may be particularly useful for characterizing fluid behind an ear drum to diagnose otitis media.

Small scale, capacitive ultrasound transducer devices with improved directionality and methods for their use

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for classifying a tympanic membrane by using a classifier. The classifier is a machine learning algorithm. A method for classifying a tympanic membrane includes steps of: receiving, from an interrogation system, one or more datasets relating to the tympanic membrane; determining a set of parameters from the one or more datasets, wherein at least one parameter of the set of parameters is related to a dynamic property or a static position of the tympanic membrane; and outputting a classification of the tympanic membrane based on a classifier model derived from the set of parameters. The classification comprises one or more of a state, a condition, or a mobility metric of the tympanic membrane.

Machine learning for otitis media diagnosis

Small-scale capacitive ultrasound transducer devices and methods

Disclosed herein is a device for modeling properties of an ear. The device includes an artificial tympanic membrane and a housing coupled to the artificial tympanic membrane. The housing defines an interior portion coupled to an interior surface of the artificial tympanic membrane. The interior portion has an adjustable volume or an adjustable type of fluid and an adjustable gas pressure. Adjustment of the volume or type of fluid and the gas pressure changes a membrane movement to produce selected movement properties according to a mobility scale.

Systems and methods for simulating a tympanic membrane

Apparatus and method for characterization of a ductile membrane, surface, and sub-surface properties

An otoscope uses differential reflected response of optical energy at an absorption range and an adjacent wavelength range to determine the presence of water (where the wavelengths are water absorption wavelength and adjacent non-absorption excitation wavelengths). In another example of the invention, the otoscope utilizes OCT in combination with absorption and non-absorption range for bacteria and water.

Infrared otoscope for characterization of effusion

A system and method for examining a patient for an ear disorder. Reflectance ultrasound is applied to a portion of the ear to determine the presence of ear effusion in a middle ear. If ear effusion is present, motion of the tympanic membrane is induced and ultrasound is further applied to the moving tympanic membrane. Echo signals resulting from the ultrasound applied to the moving tympanic membrane are analyzed to obtain information regarding the motion of the tympanic membrane and is used to characterize the ear effusion.

Growing community of inventors

Boerne, TX, United States of America

George A Gates