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An Auditory Evoked Response-Based Objective Tinnitus (AER-BOT) Diagnostic Device: Phase II

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Health Agency
Contract: W81XWH-12-C-0056
Agency Tracking Number: O2-1327
Amount: $999,933.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: OSD11-H11
Solicitation Number: 2011.2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2011
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-05-21
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2015-10-24
Small Business Information
5764 Pacific Center Blvd Suite 107
San Diego, CA -
United States
DUNS: 016541711
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Walid Soussou
 VP of Research
 (858) 412-1820
 walid@quasarusa.com
Business Contact
 Tracey Bennett Wrightson
Title: Director of Operations
Phone: (858) 412-1800
Email: tracey@quasarusa.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

In 2010 tinnitus became the most common service-related disability among veterans, with disability benefit costs projected to exceed $2.26 billion by 2014. Methods for objective diagnosis of tinnitus are currently nonexistent and direly needed by the military. QUASAR and Otosound are partnering on this SBIR project to develop an efficient and objective tinnitus diagnostic device. This device will integrate Otosound"s patented Auditory Evoked Responses-Based Objective Tinnitus (AER-BOT) diagnostic methodology with QUASAR"s practical dry EEG sensor technology into a turn-key device intended for audiologists. In Phase I of this project, QUASAR and Otosound demonstrated the ability to interface a sound player with QUASAR"s EEG system in order to produce the relevant brain AER signals. The team also defined efficient analysis methods as well as user requirements and system specifications. In the process, six technical challenges were identified: 1) Patient Attentiveness, 2) Sound Range, 3) Spectral Resolution, 4) Sound Quality, 5) Signal Quality, and 6) Audiological Information. In Phase II, these challenges will be addressed, a prototype device that meets the requirements built, and pilot clinical trials conducted to validate performance of the system. Finally, a regulatory strategy towards obtaining FDA approval on an AER-BOT system will be drawn.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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