IP Library Granted Patent US 7,286,679
Granted Patent B2
US 7,286,679 · App. 10/739,732 · Granted Oct 23, 2007

Automatic binaural shell modeling for hearing aids

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,286,679
App. No.
10/739,732
Granted
Oct 23, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for modeling binaural shells for hearing aids, wherein the system is configured to load data associated with a first and a second ear shell. The system is further configured to register the data associated with the first and the second ear shells and process the first ear shell and the second ear shells, wherein the processing on the first ear shell is automatically performed on the second ear shell.

Claims (60)

1. A method for modeling binaural shells for hearing aids, comprising:

loading data associated with a first and a second ear shell;

registering the data associated with the first and the second ear shells by determining a similar feature between the first and the second ear shells; calculating a transformation matrix for the first and the second ear shells; and determining a difference between the first and the second ear shells; and

processing the first and the second ear shells, wherein the processing performed on the first ear shell is automatically performed on the second ear shell.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the loading comprises:

obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) model of an ear shell; and

reconstructing the 3D model.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the 3D model is obtained by scanning an auditory canal, concha, or meatus of an ear.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first ear shell is modified when processing the first ear shell according to a detailing procedure.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the detailing procedure is a line cut, tapering, extension, relaxing, band selection, offset, or ipsilateral routing of signal (I-ROS) cutting.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first ear shell is modified when processing the first ear shell according to a modeling procedure.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the modeling procedure is a geometric adjustment, faceplate integration, vent channel formation, receiver hole formation, labeling, or collision detection.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing data associated with the processing of the first ear shell.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the data associated with the processing of the first ear shell is stored in a database or memory.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

outputting the first and the second ear shells.

11. A method for modeling binaural shells for hearing aids, comprising:

loading data associated with a first and a second ear shell;

registering the data associated with the first and the second ear shells; and

processing the first and the second ear shells, wherein the processing performed on the first ear shell is automatically performed on the second ear shell, wherein processing the first and the second ear shells comprises:

mapping data associated with the processing of the first ear shell to the second ear shell, wherein the mapping comprises:

receiving data associated with the processing of the first ear shell; and

applying a transformation matrix associated with the registered data of the first and the second ear shells so that the processing that was performed on the first ear shell is performed on the second ear shell.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mapped second ear shell is automatically adjusted to compensate for an inconsistency in the mapped second ear shell.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the data associated with the mapped second ear shell is stored in a database or memory.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second ear shell is interactively adjusted by an operator to compensate for an inconsistency in the mapped second ear shell.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the operator interactively adjusts the mapped second ear shell via an input, wherein the input is a keyboard, mouse, or personal digital assistant (PDA).

16. A system for modeling binaural shells for hearing aids, comprising:

a memory device for storing a program;

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to:

load data associated with a first and a second ear shell;

register the data associated with the first and the second ear shells by determining a similar feature between the first and the second ear shells; calculating a transformation matrix for the first and the second ear shells; and determining a difference between the first and the second ear shells; and

process the first and the second ear shells, wherein the processing performed on the first ear shell is automatically performed on the second ear shell.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program, when loading, to:

obtain a three-dimensional (3D) model of an ear shell; and

reconstruct the 3D model.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the 3D model is obtained by scanning an auditory canal, concha, or meatus of an ear.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first ear shell is modified when processing the first ear shell according to a detailing procedure.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the detailing procedure is a line cut, tapering, extension, relaxing, band selection, offset or ipsilateral routing of signal (I-ROS) cutting.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first ear shell is modified when processing the first ear shell according to a modeling procedure.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the modeling procedure is a geometric adjustment, faceplate integration, vent channel formation, receiver hole formation, labeling, or collision detection.

23. The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

store data associated with the processing of the first ear shell.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the data associated with the processing of the first ear shell is stored in a database or memory.

25. The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

output the first and the second ear shells.

26. A system for modeling binaural shells for hearing aids, comprising:

a memory device for storing a program;

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to:

load data associated with a first and a second ear shell;

register the data associated with the first and the second ear shells; and

process the first and the second ear shells, wherein the processing performed on the first ear shell is automatically performed on the second ear shell, wherein the processor is further operative with the program, when processing the first and the second ear shells to:

map data associated with the processing of the first ear shell to the second ear shell, wherein the processor is further operative with the program, when mapping to:

receive data associated with the processing of the first ear shell; and

apply a transformation matrix associated with the registered data of the first and the second ear shells so that the processing that was performed on the first ear shell is performed on the second ear shell.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the mapped second ear shell is automatically adjusted to compensate for an inconsistency in the mapped second ear shell.

28. The system of claim 26 , wherein the data associated with the mapped second ear shell is stored in a database or memory.

29. The system of claim 26 , wherein the second ear shell is interactively adjusted by an operator to compensate for an inconsistency in the mapped second ear shell.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the operator interactively adjusts the mapped second ear shell via an input, wherein the input is a keyboard, mouse, or personal digital assistant (PDA).

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2010
From: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
To: SIEMENS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023731/0265 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2005
From: SIEMENS CORPORATE RESEARCH, INC.
To: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 016860/0484 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE NAME WAS MISSPELLED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 016100 FRAME 0780. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEE NAME IS CURRENTLY SIEMENS CORPORATE RESARCH INC. AND SHOULD BE SIEMENS CORPORATE RESEARCH INC.. Recorded Aug 19, 2005
From: FANG, TONG; TYAN, JASON JENN-KWEI; FANG, MING
To: SIEMENS CORPORATE RESEARCH INC.
Reel/Frame 016422/0134 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 015301 FRAME 0036. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE DOC DATE IS LISTED AS 4/20/2004 AND SHOULD BE 4/30/2004. Recorded Jun 7, 2005
From: FANG, TONG; TYAN, JASON JENN-KWEI; FANG, MING
To: SIEMENS CORPORATE RESARCH INC.
Reel/Frame 016100/0780 →