Wireless Digital Link Between Hearing Aids

助听器之间的无线数字链路

• 批准号: 7537298
• 负责人: Gregory John Seifert
• 金额: $ 27.85万
• 依托单位: ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-06-01 至 2011-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7537298
• 关键词: Adverse effects; Advocacy; Advocate; Algorithms; Amplifiers; Budgets; Classification; Communication; Computers; Consumption; Contracts; Cost Savings; Coupled; Custom; Development; Digital Signal Processing; Doctor of Philosophy; Ear; Engineering; Environment; Equilibrium; Fostering; Head; Health; Hearing; Hearing Aids; Hybrids; Individual; Industry; Lead; Left; Life; Link; Loudness; Manufacturer Name; Marketing; Measures; Mechanics; Medical Electronics; Minnesota; Molds; Noise; Performance; Phase; Phase I Clinical Trials; Physiologic pulse; Plastics; Positioning Attribute; Provider; Public Health; Pulse taking; Radio; Research; Research Personnel; Resistance; Running; Sales; Shadowing (Histology); Signal Transduction; Small Business Technology Transfer Research; Sound Localization; Standards of Weights and Measures; Structure; System; Technology; Time; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration; Universities; Wireless Technology; Work; analog; binaural hearing; computerized data processing; conditioning; design; digital; experience; improved; innovation; instrument; member; new technology; next generation; novel; programs; prototype; research and development; simulation; size; sonar; sound; transmission process; usability

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposed project will create an ultra-low power, digital wireless transceiver as an integrated circuit (IC) which will enable communication between hearing aids worn in the left and right ears in a binaural system. Wireless synchronization between the digital signal processors of two hearing instruments is a new technology for next generation hearing instruments. Approximately 70% of fittings in the US market are binaural fittings. Unfortunately, the benefits of binaural hearing, i.e., improved signal-to-noise ratio, auditory localization, loudness summation, reduction of head shadow effect, and improved sound quality, are reduced if the balance between the hearing instruments is altered after fitting and/or the hearing aid algorithms in each respective aid reach different conclusions about the audio environment. Hearing aids that incorporate the proposed IC will be able to communicate with each other, thereby maintaining balance, synchronizing digital signal processing and simultaneously reaching the same conclusions about the audio environment. AME Corp. will partner with the University of Minnesota. The completed phase I program established the feasibility of using a novel ultra-wideband impulse radio transceiver in this hearing aid application. Circuit level simulations and results from the phase I study demonstrate that this technology will allow an order of magnitude reduction in the power consumption of the transceiver function. In addition to these efforts, a recent study performed at the University of Minnesota investigated the mitigation of the adverse effects of a nearby ground plane on antenna performance by redesigning the antenna structure to accommodate the presence of the ground plane. These results will allow us to develop antenna structures suitable for hearing aids that are in close proximity to the body. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE The project proposes to create an advanced binaural hearing aid system. According to the not-for-profit advocacy group Hard of Hearing Advocates, 25 million people in the United States are hearing impaired. Of that 25 million, approximately 20 million of the people do not use hearing aids and would benefit by using one.

描述（由申请人提供）：该提议的项目将创建一个超低功率，数字无线收发器作为集成电路（IC），该电路将使双耳系统中左和右耳中戴的助听器之间的通信。两种听力仪器的数字信号处理器之间的无线同步是下一代听力仪器的新技术。美国市场中约有70％的配件是双耳配件。不幸的是，如果在拟合后和/或每个相应的辅助辅助辅助算法之间改变了听力仪器之间的平衡，则双耳听力的好处，即提高的信噪比，听觉局部定位，响度定位，降低头阴影效应和改善的声音质量。结合了建议的IC的助听器将能够相互交流，从而保持平衡，同步数字信号处理并同时得出有关音频环境的相同结论。 AME Corp.将与明尼苏达大学合作。完整的I期计划确定了在本助听器应用中使用新型的超宽带脉冲收发器的可行性。电路级模拟和I期研究的结果表明，该技术将允许降低收发器功能的功耗。除了这些努力外，明尼苏达大学的最新研究还调查了附近地面平面对天线性能的不利影响，通过重新设计天线结构以适应地面平面的存在。这些结果将使我们能够开发出适合与人体紧邻的助听器的天线结构。公共卫生相关性该项目提议创建一个先进的双耳助听器系统。根据非营利性倡导组织的努力听力拥护者的说法，美国有2500万人的听力受损。在这2500万中，大约有2000万人不使用助听器，并且会通过使用助听器而受益。