Apparatus and Method for Characterization of Acute Otitis Media

摘要

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.

主权项

1) A signal processor for detection of air or fluid behind a tympanic membrane, and further estimating an effusion metric of a fluid when present, the signal processor comprising:
a speculum tip having an ultrasound transducer for coupling ultrasound energy into an ear canal and to a tympanic membrane; an excitation generator producing sub-audio, audio, or super-audio excitation coupled into said speculum tip and having sufficient amplitude to cause a measurable deflection in a tympanic membrane; a transmitter coupled to said ultrasound transducer during a transmit interval; a receiver coupled to said ultrasound transducer during a receive interval which follows said transmit interval; a phase and/or amplitude analyzer comparing the phase of a transmit signal of said transmit interval to a phase and/or amplitude of a receive signal during said receive interval to estimate a tympanic membrane deflection; said signal processor deriving a metric from said phase and amplitude analyzer by comparing said tympanic membrane deflection with said excitation generator output; said effusion metric indicating whether said receive signal is a reflection from a membrane structure which includes reflections from air or from fluid, and optionally characterizing a fluid when detected.