Spotted: Ear infections are caused by bacteria and fungi that become trapped in the ear canal. This can happen for a number of reasons and earbuds can exacerbate the problem, especially when they aren’t consistently cleaned. However, instead of causing infection, what if earbuds could detect early signs of infection? Researchers from University at Buffalo have found a way to make this possibility a reality.
The system is called EarHealth and it functions by sending a chirp through a healthy user via bluetooth earbuds. EarHealth then records how the chirp reverberates throughout the ear canals and creates a unique profile of each user’s ear. Geometries arising from subsequent chirps can be compared to the original profile to detect whether the ear canal’s geometry has changed.
In a study, which was published in June by the Association for Computing Machinery, the researchers reported that the AI-backed earbud system was 82.6 per cent accurate in spotting common ear infections caused by earwax blockage, ruptured ear drums, and otitis media.
Each of these three causes of ear infection have a unique audio signature that the EarHealth system can detect with fairly accurate results. Thus, the system is also capable of detecting the specific type of infection. The technology could be especially beneficial for children, who are more susceptible to ear infections than adults.
Springwise has spotted a number of innovations focused on using tech to detect health issues. These include AI-powered tools that can screen for chronic kidney disease using retina photos and a browser-based solution that provides more than 30 different health measurements by analysing selfie clips.
Written By: Katrina Lane
26th August 2022
Email: cmnealon@buffalo.edu
Website: buffalo.edu