Method For Signal Encoding Evoked Responses

Abstract

A method and apparatus for utilizing the benefits of encoded signal transmission and reception to enhance the performance of medical testing devices (100) adapted to evoke and measure biological response signals such as auditory evoked potentials (AEP), and the auditory brainstem response (ABR) signals in particular. Auditory stimuli, such as clicks, are presented to the ear of a human patient, in a predetermined encoded sequence, resulting in the generation of auditory responses and bio-electric response signals in the human patient. These response signals from the patient are acquired and observed, and are processed according to the predetermined encoded sequence in which the auditory stimuli were presented to the patient's ear in order to extract the desired auditory evoked potential signals or ABR signals.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for evoking and measuring response signals in a human patient, comprising:
 encoding a plurality of discrete stimulus signals in a predetermined sequence in order to facilitate identification of a desired response signal, wherein each of the plurality of discrete stimulus signals is selected to evoke the desired response signal in the human patient;   providing the encoded plurality of discrete stimulus signals to the human patient;   acquiring a plurality of unfiltered response signals from the human patient with a receiver, wherein the plurality of acquired unfiltered response signals include signal noise; and   utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract the desired response signal from the acquired unfiltered response signals.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein encoding the plurality of discrete stimulus signals is further defined as encoding a plurality of auditory signals. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein encoding the plurality of discrete stimulus signals is further defined as encoding a plurality of visual signals. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein encoding the plurality of discrete stimulus signals in the predetermined sequence in order to facilitate identification of the desired response signal is further defined as encoding the plurality of discrete stimulus signals in a redundant encoding format. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein encoding the plurality of discrete stimulus signals in the predetermined sequence in order to facilitate identification of the desired response signal is further defined as encoding the plurality of discrete stimulus signals in a Hadamard encoding format. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract the desired response signal is further defined as utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract an auditory evoked signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract the auditory evoked signal is further defined as utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract an auditory brainstem response signal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract the auditory evoked signal is further defined as utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract an otoacoustic auditory emission. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract the desired response signal is further defined as utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract a visually evoked bio-potential signal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract the desired response signal is further defined as utilizing the predetermined sequence to extract a tactile evoked bio-potential signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2  for evoking and measuring response signals, wherein encoding the plurality of discrete stimulus signals in the predetermined sequence in order to facilitate identification of the desired response signal is further defined as encoding the plurality of discrete stimulus signals with a spreading code. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2  for evoking and measuring response signals further comprising displaying the desired response signal.