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Insert ear-probe assembly for high-quality otoacoustic-emission (OAE) measurements in adults

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N00014-10-M-0269
Agency Tracking Number: N10A-032-0763
Amount: $69,638.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: N10A-T032
Solicitation Number: 2010.A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2010
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2010-06-28
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2011-04-30
Small Business Information
335 N. Fremont St.
Champaign, IL 61820
United States
DUNS: 837418615
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Patricia Jeng
 President
 (217) 359-9740
 psj@mimosaacoustics.com
Business Contact
 Patricia Jeng
Title: President
Phone: (217) 359-9740
Email: psj@mimosaacoustics.com
Research Institution
 University of Illinois
 Walter Knorr
 
Office of Sponsored Programs 1901 South Florida St Suite A
Champaign, IL 61820
United States

 (217) 333-2187
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

Recently there has been a push to get otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing into adult hearing-conservation programs, because the early stages of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and susceptibility to NIHL, can be detected with OAEs. OAEs are sounds made by healthy inner ears in response to acoustic stimulation and are measured in the ear canal with a miniature microphone. One impediment to OAE testing on a large scale, such as in military HCPs, is the lack of a high-quality, reliable, and cheap ear-probe, which houses the miniature microphone and sound transducers. The technical merit and feasibility of a new OAE ear probe will be evaluated, and technical specifications drawn up. The new probe will perform at least as well, if not better, than the leading ear probes (ILO and ER10C) on a wide range of acoustic and ergonomic properties important to OAE testing. The trade-offs among various acoustical properties will be evaluated, allowing for the best choice of parameters for use in HCPs. The new probe will also have characteristics necessary for pure-tone audiometry screening and middle-ear reflectance, both of which are necessary - along with OAEs - for an all-in-one HCP screening system.

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

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