Natus Medical Patent Grants

Phototherapy device

Granted: November 1, 2011
Patent Number: 8048136
A phototherapy system having a rigid support surface adapted to support a patient without substantial deformation; a light source disposed so as to transmit light through the support surface; and a mask adapted to permit light transmission from the light source through a first portion of the support surface and to limit light transmission from the light source through a second portion of the support surface.

Method and apparatus for automatic non-cooperative frequency specific assessment of hearing impairment and fitting of hearing aids

Granted: April 12, 2011
Patent Number: 7922671
A method and device for automatically assessing loss of hearing sensitivity and compression (recruitment) with user defined frequency resolution by means of extrapolated DPOAE I/O functions and ABRs as well as for automatically fitting hearing aids without any cooperation of the subject tested using a device having a display screen attached to a handheld device generating and collecting otoacoustic emission signals and brain stem response signals into a programmed with a clinical…

Diagnosing and training the gaze stabilization system

Granted: March 10, 2009
Patent Number: 7500752
A method for diagnosing impairments of a subject's gaze stabilization system is provided. The method includes measuring the subject's static visual acuity to obtain an assessment, setting at least one test parameter based on the assessment, measuring the subject's dynamic visual acuity using the test parameters to obtain a first dynamic measurement and a second dynamic measurement, and determining an impairment of the subject's gaze stabilization system using the assessment and the first…

Phototherapy system and device

Granted: October 21, 2008
Patent Number: 7438719
A phototherapy system and device is disclosed, including an array of light sources from at least two distinct spectral light regions. The first spectral light region represents the treatment color, and thus is chosen for its phototherapeutic value. For instance, blue light may be the treatment color for hyperbilirubinemia. The second spectral light region represents the balancing color, and is chosen for its ability to mitigate discomfort that may be caused by viewing the treatment…

Method and apparatus for automatic non-cooperative frequency specific assessment of hearing impairment and fitting of hearing aids

Granted: May 29, 2007
Patent Number: 7223245
A method and device for automatically assessing loss of hearing sensitivity and compression (recruitment) with user defined frequency resolution by means of extrapolated DPOAE I/O functions and ABRs as well as for automatically fitting hearing aids without any cooperation of the subject tested using a device having a display screen attached to a handheld device generating and collecting otoacoustic emission signals and brain stem response signals into a programmed with a clinical…

Phototherapy system and device

Granted: November 7, 2006
Patent Number: 7131990
A phototherapy system and device is disclosed, including an array of light sources arranged so as to achieve substantially uniform distribution of light on a subject. The light sources can be arranged in a number of configurations, including but not limited to distributions in which the density of lights sources is greater in the periphery than in the center. The present invention also includes a light diffusing panel to increase exposure uniformity, and a targeting mechanism to ensure…

Hearing evaluation device with noise detection and evaluation capability

Granted: November 7, 2006
Patent Number: 7133715
An apparatus and method for evaluation of hearing loss is disclosed. The apparatus and method use evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) to determine if the subject is able to hear click stimuli that are repeatedly administered. In order to facilitate efficient differentiation of the ABR from the accompanying noise, normative data is used to detect test conditions where physiological, non-physiological, and ambient acoustic noise would interfere with the progression of test.

Ear coupler

Granted: December 21, 2004
Patent Number: 6832663
A one-piece, transparent flexible ear coupler for use with hearing evaluation is disclosed. It includes an annular side wall and a bottom wall forming an acoustic chamber. A flexible adhesive-backed flange is disposed on the periphery of the ear coupler. The flange attaches to the subject's head, firmly holding the ear coupler in place over the ear. The annular side wall has a port for the placement of a transducer assembly, and also has ribs to help lock the transducer assembly in…

Hearing evaluation device with noise-weighting capabilities

Granted: September 16, 2003
Patent Number: 6620100
An apparatus and method for evaluation of hearing loss is disclosed. The apparatus and method use evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) to determine if the subject is able to hear repeatedly administered click stimuli. In order to optimize evaluation, the present invention uses normative data to accurately weight the auditory responses, so that evaluation will be possible in different or changing noise conditions.

End tidal breath analyzer

Granted: April 8, 2003
Patent Number: 6544190
A noninvasive apparatus and method for measuring a subject's end tidal carbon monoxide concentration is disclosed, featuring the ability to (i) determine carbon monoxide concentration on a breath-by-breath basis, (ii) determine mean carbon monoxide concentration by averaging local carbon monoxide values, (iii) avoid the premature determination that an end tidal phase is over, and (iv) determine when breath variability or system variability will likely preclude accurate testing. The…

Ear coupler

Granted: February 4, 2003
Patent Number: D469873

Multi-mode audiometric device and associated screening method

Granted: January 7, 2003
Patent Number: 6503207
The disclosure describes a multi-mode audiometric device comprising a stimulus generator adapted to transmit at least one true random stimulus sequence to a subject's inner ear, a first detector for detecting at least one AEP signal having at least a first waveform, a second detector for detecting at least one OAE signal having at least a second waveform; a signal analyzer for analyzing the AEP and OAE signals, the signal analyzer including a first averager for reconstructing the…

Hearing evaluation device with patient connection evaluation capabilities

Granted: November 5, 2002
Patent Number: 6475163
An apparatus and method for evaluation of hearing loss is disclosed. The apparatus and method use evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) to determine if the subject is able to hear iteratively administered click stimuli. The present invention evaluates the sufficiency of the patient connections, namely earphones and electrodes, to the evaluation device. More particularly, the present invention determines if the earphones are detached or deformed, if the electrodes have been reversed,…

Method for using breath carbon monoxide concentration measurements to detect pregnant women at risk for or experiencing various pathological conditions relating to pregnancy

Granted: July 9, 2002
Patent Number: 6416479
A non-invasive method for the early detection and assessment of the severity of various pathological conditions in pregnancy including pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, premature uterine contractions and intrauterine growth retardation. The carbon monoxide or end-tidal carbon monoxide concentration is measured in a pregnant woman's breath and compared to thresholds for determining the likelihood of onset or actual onset of these pathological conditions. The measurements…

Flexible earphone assembly for use during hearing screening

Granted: May 14, 2002
Patent Number: 6386314
An earphone assembly is disclosed that includes an annular baffle having an outer surface and an inner surface as well as an interior wall and an exterior wall. The interior wall defines a central chamber. A transparent, flexible lid is attached to the baffle along the outer surface, completely covering the central chamber and forming an acoustic seal with the baffle. The lid has an inner face and an outer face. The flexibility of the earphone is improved by creating hinges in the lid…

Hearing evaluation device with predictive capabilities

Granted: January 29, 2002
Patent Number: 6343230
An apparatus and method for evaluation of hearing loss is disclosed. The apparatus and method use evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) to determine if the subject is able to hear repeatedly administered click stimuli. In order to expedite evaluation, the present invention uses normative data to accurately predict when a subject is likely to fail the test, so that evaluation will not needlessly continue for a subject who is very unlikely to pass.

Disposable element for use with a hearing screener

Granted: June 22, 1999
Patent Number: 5913309
A disposable element for ear phone assembly is provided for use with a hearing screening instrument to test infants for hearing impairments. The ear phone assembly includes a generally D-shaped reusable cover including a back wall having a perimeter, a side wall extending from the perimeter to define a cavity for receiving an infant's ear, a port in the cover to receive and support a transducer, and a generally D-shaped disposable element that is adhesive coated on two sides to be…

Ear phone assembly for use with a hearing screener

Granted: October 27, 1998
Patent Number: 5826582
An ear phone assembly is provided for use with a hearing screening instrument to test infants for hearing impairments. The ear phone includes a generally D-shaped reusable cover including a back wall having a perimeter, a side wall extending from the perimeter to define a cavity for receiving an infant's ear, a port in the cover to receive and support a transducer, and a generally D-shaped disposable element that is adhesive coated on two sides to be secured to the cover and to the…

Filter unit for end-tidal carbon monoxide monitor

Granted: April 11, 1995
Patent Number: 5404885
A noninvasive device and methods for measuring the end-tidal carbon monoxide concentration in a patient's breath, particularly newborn and premature infants. The patient's breath is monitored. An average carbon monoxide concentration is determined based on an average of discrete samples in a given time period. The ratio of the end-tidal portion of the breath flow sample is separately determined, preferably based on monitoring the level of carbon dioxide in the gas sample and identifying…

End-tidal carbon monoxide monitor filter

Granted: January 24, 1995
Patent Number: D354808