The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 07, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 21, 1997
Joel A Kennedy, Arden Hills, MN (US);
St. Croix Medical, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A hearing assistance system includes electric response audiometry (ERA) functions for diagnostic, self-calibration, frequency-response parameter adjustment, feedback self-testing, and automatic gain control (AGC) purposes. The invention includes partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI), total middle ear implantable (T-MEI), cochlear implant, or other hearing assistance systems. Auditory response signals are obtained by auditory brain-stem response (ABR), cortical ERA, and electrocochleography. A mechanical vibration or electrical stimulus is introduced directly in the middle or inner ear, either in response to an input signal corresponding to sound, or in response to an independent calibration signal. Auditory response signals are obtained by surface electroencephalography (EEG) or by an implanted electrocochleographic sensor. Calibration stimuli have constant or adjustable amplitudes, frequencies, and repetition frequencies. Wide-band clicks, pure audio tones, and other calibration stimuli are included. The diagnostic and calibration capabilities are particularly useful to assess efficacy during implantation of components into a patient under general anesthesia.