Patent Application
20210084420
The present invention relates to the provision of audiological services and products to consumers, and in particular relates to automation of related tasks such as the measurement of characteristics of an individual consumer's hearing, the storage and analysis of hearing information, the customisation of products that enhance the hearing of sound by the consumer, and the objective validation that enhanced hearing has been achieved.
Sound processing devices, including hearing aids, assistive listening devices (ALDs) (defined by the Global Medical Device Nomenclature Agency (GMDNS) as being an amplifying device, other than a hearing aid, for use by a hard of hearing person), and consumer audio devices including headsets, headphones, mobile phone handsets, and MP3 players are being used more frequently in noisy environments by people with normal or near-normal hearing as well as people who are hard of hearing or have impaired hearing. Using such sound processing devices, hearing can be enhanced by adjusting the loudness, frequency-shaping, and dynamic properties of the sounds produced by the devices to suit the needs and preferences of the individual listener. Some of these types of adjustments are commonly available in consumer audio devices by means of analogue volume controls and tone controls.
However, the majority of these sound processing devices now use complex digital signal processing which enables a wide variety of adjustments and customisations of device operation, to suit the individual needs and preferences of the user. For example, digital signal processing often includes many or all of: feedback cancellation, dynamic range optimisation, compression, compression “knee points”, maximum output control, adaptive directional microphones, side tone, echo suppression, and the like. Each such process is often controlled by parameters which can be adjusted to customise the device operation to the user. Such device optimisation is referred to as “fitting” the device to the user. At the same time, devices are becoming smaller and do not have the physical space available for the complex controls that would be necessary to make such a wide variety of adjustments. Consequently, sound processing devices increasingly provide for such adjustments to be made by use of an applications program running on a computer. Once a customised solution is settled upon, the necessary settings are downloaded from the computer to the device by a data connection, to suitably control subsequent operation of the device when in stand-alone use.
In the case of hearing aids, fitting requires audiological services which are typically provided by audiologists and/or audiometrists in a clinical setting. Initially the user's audiogram must be obtained so that device customisation can be optimised to that user's actual hearing loss. Determining a user's audiogram is a specialist task carried out by an audiologist in a clinical setting. The audiologists' fitting software for modern hearing aids may manipulate hundreds of parameters that control the operation of the hearing aid, with optimised parameter values downloaded to the device after fitting is complete. To suitably optimise operation of the device by controlling the numerous available parameters typically requires a skilled audiologist, audiometrist, or hearing aid fitter. The cost of such services, whether borne by the user or a public health system, significantly adds to the expense of hearing aids. Moreover, the limited supply of suitably skilled audiologists presents hearing aid users with limited or delayed access to fitting or re-fitting services. For persons in rural areas or in poorer countries, or persons having only mild hearing impairments, these difficulties can prevent use of such services for proper device fitting and/or can prevent device use entirely.
The processing parameters of sound processing devices other than hearing aids are typically configured by the manufacturer prior to sale of the device, in a manner which tailors the device to the needs of the average consumer, rather than customising it for an individual. For some devices, for example some ALDs, a number of preconfigured customisations may be downloaded into the device prior to sale, with the user given a limited choice between the small number of preconfigured customisations.
The sound processing device fitting methods described above suffer from the disadvantage that either a skilled fitter is required to operate the fitting software (as in the case of a hearing aid), or a single ‘average’ fitting or small number of preconfigured customizations is too limited to be well suited to each individual.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like included in the present specification is for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention, and is not to be taken as an admission that any such matters form part of the prior art base or were before the priority date of each claim of this application common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.
In this document the term “comprise”, and derivatives thereof including “comprises”, “comprised” and “comprising”, are to be understood to convey inclusion of one or more stated elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step.
According to a first aspect the present invention provides a method of fitting a sound processing device for an individual, the method executed by a computing device and comprising:
According to a second aspect the present invention provides a device for fitting a sound processing device for an individual, the device comprising:
According to a third aspect the present invention provides a computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing computer program code means to make a computer execute a procedure for fitting a sound processing device for an individual, the computer program product comprising:
Embodiments of the first to third aspects of the invention thus provide sound processing device users with a more convenient and immediate way to obtain a hearing map representing their hearing, without the need to visit an audiologist.
Preferred embodiments of the first to third aspects of the invention further provide for a microphone to monitor and control the sound pressure level of the sounds presented to the consumer. The microphone is preferably a calibrated microphone.
In some embodiments of the first to third aspects of the invention, the acoustic signals are synthesised or recorded spoken words, and the user interface enables the user to enter the word or words which they hear. The processor then preferably determines an accuracy of the user input relative to the words actually played back. In such embodiments the hearing map may be derived from the user input by way of a reverse Articulation Index-type calculation, which estimates the percentage of information transmitted to the user within specific frequency bands in order to estimate hearing map parameters such as the effective sensation level of the acoustic signals in each frequency band.
Additionally or alternatively, in embodiments of the first to third aspects of the invention the hearing map may be derived in response to user input giving the user's answers to a hearing questionnaire. The questionnaire is preferably presented to the user by the fitting software of the present invention. The questionnaire preferably involves the fitting software playing back an acoustic signal, and prompting the user to select from a plurality of presented choices a category which best describes how the played back acoustic signal sounded to them. The played back acoustic signals of the questionnaire may in some preferred embodiments be configured to test a range of characteristics of the user's hearing and for example may include a selection of sounds selected to be dull, moderate or bright, and selected to be sudden, sustained or soft.
Additionally or alternatively, the fitting software may present queries to the user regarding their everyday experiences using the sound processing device. For example the queries may ask the user to recall: how often the device suffers from oscillatory feedback “whistle”; how they perceive the quality and/or loudness of their own voice and breathing; whether device “beeps” are suitably audible; how they perceive the quality and loudness of speech on TV and radio; how they perceive the loudness and quality of interpersonal speech, whether in the presence or absence of background noise; how they perceive the loudness and quality of music; and preferred genres of music.
The user input preferably provides the user's responses on certain aspects of the user's hearing characteristics, needs, and preferences. These data may include hearing thresholds, comfort levels, and discomfort thresholds; sound quality ratings for music and other sounds; and speech intelligibility scores for controlled presentation of speech stimuli. The user input is preferably recorded by the fitting software.
The hearing map may be an audiogram. Alternatively the hearing map may be other or additional representations of the user's hearing, for example the user's hearing thresholds, comfort levels and discomfort thresholds or the desired output levels for speech sounds may be established or estimated in each of a small number of frequency bands. The hearing map preferably comprises a plurality of variable values held in a memory of the computing device, each value determined from the user input and reflecting a particular characteristic of the user's hearing, such as a band-specific hearing threshold, comfort level, discomfort threshold or desired output level for speech.
In embodiments of the first to third aspects of the invention, the play back of the acoustic signals is preferably performed in a manner to deliver sound substantially separately to each ear of the user. For example, play back may be via headphones, a headset, binaural hearing aids, or otherwise. Such embodiments enable a unique hearing map to be obtained in respect of each ear of the user.
According to a fourth aspect the present invention provides a method of pre-fitting a sound processing device for an individual, the method executed by a computing device and comprising:
According to a fifth aspect the present invention provides a computing device for pre-fitting a sound processing device for an individual, the device comprising:
According to a sixth aspect the present invention provides a computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing computer program code means to make a computer execute a procedure for pre-fitting a sound processing device for an individual, the computer program product comprising:
In embodiments of the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention, the user may be associated with the sound processing device by being interested in purchasing or obtaining the device. In this case the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention are advantageous in providing the user with the opportunity to have the virtual signal processing path customised to their individual hearing map, and in providing the user with the opportunity to experience the customised hearing of sounds, prior to the user actually purchasing or obtaining the device. Additionally or alternatively, the user may already own or possess the sound processing device and may wish to re-fit the device and obtain an advance indication of how the fitting updates will influence the device operation.
In embodiments of the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention, the hearing map may be obtained in accordance with an embodiment of the first to third aspects of the invention. Alternatively the hearing map may be stored by the software from previous fitting sessions and/or obtained from an alternative source such as an audiologist.
In embodiments of the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention, the play back of the acoustic signals is preferably performed in a manner to deliver sound substantially separately to each ear of the user. For example, play back may be via headphones, a headset, binaural hearing aids, or otherwise. Such embodiments enable optimisation of the virtual sound processing device to each ear of the user individually.
In embodiments of the first to sixth aspects of the invention where the acoustic signal is played back by a headset, headphones, or a hearing aid, the played back signal and any obtained user input is preferably specific to one of the user's ears, so that fitting can be customised to each ear individually as appropriate.
In preferred embodiments of the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention, the fitting software executes all play back and obtains all user responses before determining an appropriate set of parameter updates. Such embodiments recognize that such single-update fitting is preferable to piecemeal fitting where the device is updated after each item of user input is obtained, as the latter can lead to overfitting of the device or circular changes where one update reverses a previous update and/or inappropriate side effects in device performance.
The fourth to sixth aspects of the present invention are particularly beneficial in the case of open fit hearing aids, which do not require an earmold to be physically fitted to occlude the individual's ear canal. Open fit hearing aids instead require only fitting of the signal processing parameters, which when provided by the present invention obviates any requirement for the user to see an audiologist, either at the time of obtaining the device or when seeking subsequent fitting updates. The present invention is of course also beneficial to occluding hearing aids and other sound processing devices which are capable of accepting parameter updates.
Embodiments of the first to sixth aspects of the invention may be executed by a personal computer of the user which is connected to the internet via a wired or wireless internet connection. The mapping and/or pre-fitting software is preferably pre-downloaded from an online audiology website and the data input by the user are stored in a de-identified form on a secure database on or associated with the online audiology website.
In embodiments of the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention, speech, music and/or other commonly encountered audio signals are passed through the virtual signal processing path so that the consumer can evaluate the potential benefits obtainable from the customised device under consideration, prior to purchasing or re-fitting the actual device. In preferred embodiments, the user is able to reiterate or fine-tune the customisation and explore alternative types of sound processing devices before purchase.
In embodiments of the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention, once the user is satisfied with the performance of the virtual signal processing path and elects to obtain or purchase the sound processing device reflected by the virtual signal processing path, the updated parameters are preferably pre-loaded into the sound processing device to configure an initial customisation of the sound processing device. The pre-loading may be effected by a sales entity to which the software communicates the user's purchase decision. The sales entity may ship the customised device to the user without the user ever attending premises of the sales entity or any audiologist. Alternatively, the device may be delivered to the user without customisation, for the user to then download the customisation from the computing device executing the pre-fitting software. Once the user has the customised device, they may subsequently validate that the customisations cause the device to perform as required and/or use any of the first to sixth aspects of the invention to conduct further fine tuning iterations if desired. The first to sixth aspects may further be applied to refine or tune the customised device as the user's hearing, needs, and/or preferences change over time. Device supply to the user may be via an intermediary such as an audiology clinic, hearing aid chain, government organisation, or other retail outlet.
In embodiments of the first to sixth aspects of the invention, the computing device may comprise a desktop or laptop personal computer of the user, with an internet connection, keyboard and headset. Alternatively, in embodiments of the first to sixth aspects of the invention, the computing device may comprise a mobile phone (cell phone) handset with an internet connection, headphones, and a user interface such as a keypad, touch-screen, keyboard or the like.
The computing device may itself be the sound processing device requiring customisation to the user's hearing, in addition to being the computing device that executes the mapping and/or pre-fitting software and method. For example where the computing device is a mobile phone, audio signal processing by the phone may be customised in accordance with any of the first to sixth aspects of the invention. Such audio processing may for example be that which occurs during telephone use, and/or may be that which occurs in any other audio mode of the device, such as recorded music playback or radio play. Similarly in embodiments where the computing device is a laptop or desktop computer, any or all audio functions of the computer may be customised in accordance with any of the first to sixth aspects of the invention.
In embodiments of the first to sixth aspects of the invention the sound processing device may comprise an open fit hearing aid, an occluding hearing aid, a headset, headphones, a mobile phone handset, an assistive listening device (ALD), or any other product that processes and enhances the hearing of sound. The hearing enhancement sought may be an improvement in speech intelligibility, sound quality, comfort and naturalness of the sound in quiet and/or noisy environments or the appreciation of music. The user may have normal hearing, near-normal hearing or impaired hearing.
In preferred embodiments of the first to sixth aspects of the invention, the user input and/or the automatically derived hearing map and/or the updated fitting is communicated to and stored in a central database, so as to acquire a record of such data over time for the user and for other users. Such embodiments of the present invention recognise that under previous fitting approaches each device must be individually customised and there is no convenient way to store customisation data. In contrast these embodiments of the present invention enable the user input and/or hearing map and/or updated fitting to be stored by the database and later used to be downloaded to multiple devices of different types of the user. In such embodiments the database provides a long-term, easily accessible store for the data so that the user input capture process and hearing map derivation does not have to be repeated every time the purchaser wants to buy a new device. Moreover, such a database will gather a collection of comprehensive hearing data from a large number of users, and evaluation data for a range of different device types, for people with different needs and preferences. These data may form a valuable resource for hearing science and/or accelerate technology development.
The present invention thus provides a device fitting approach which enables users to conveniently adjust devices themselves if they wish to do so, at a time of their own choosing and in any place where there is a suitably configured computing device. Thus this approach offers substantially more convenience and immediacy than is possible under former approaches in which audiologist visits are required.
Embodiments of the invention further enable the user to verify the benefits actually provided once the new customisation is loaded into the device.
According to a seventh aspect the present invention provides a method for customising a sound processing device for an individual consumer. The method comprises: capturing and storing data that quantifies certain characteristics of the consumer's hearing; using stored data to configure an initial customisation of the sound processing device; optionally simulating the sound processing effect of the customised sound processing device; optionally evaluating the potential benefit of the customised device using the simulation; optionally fine-tuning the customisation of the device using the simulation; downloading a customisation to the device; evaluating the benefit of the customised device under controlled conditions; and fine-tuning the customisation of the device under controlled conditions.
According to an eighth aspect the present invention provides a system comprised of an internet portal, at least one sound processing device, additional hardware components for the customisation of the device, and a customisation for the sound processing device. The system comprises: an internet portal with a website, database and downloadable applications software; a personal computer or mobile phone handset with means for the generation of acoustic signals, visual display and buttons or keyboard for the control of the customisation process, signal processor for the simulation of customisable devices, and connection to the internet for the storage and access to data; at least one acoustic output device for the measurement of certain characteristics of the consumer's hearing. Said output device may be headphones or loudspeakers or may be built into the sound processing device; at least one microphone for the measurement of sound pressure levels at the input and/or output of the sound processing device. Said microphone may be built into the sound processing device; a programming interface device or means to connect the sound processing device to the computer so that the sound processing device may be controlled by the computer and customisations may be downloaded from the computer to the sound processing device and optionally uploaded from the sound processing device to the computer; at least one sound processing device. Said device may be a hearing aid, ALD, headset, mobile phone handset or other audio consumer device.
According to a ninth aspect the present invention provides a computer program comprising computer program code means to make a computer execute the steps required for the customisation of a sound processing device. The computer program comprises: a hearing test software module providing computer program means for capturing and storing data that quantifies certain characteristics of the consumer's hearing; a first-fit software module providing computer program means for using stored data to configure an initial customisation of the sound processing device; a simulation software module providing computer program means for optionally simulating the sound processing effect of the customised sound processing device; an evaluation software module providing computer program means for optionally evaluating the potential benefit of the customised device using the simulation; a fine-tuning software module providing computer program means for optionally fine-tuning the customisation of the device using the simulation; a device control software module providing computer program means for downloading a customisation to the device and controlling the device; a real-time validation software module providing computer program means for evaluating the benefit of the customised device under controlled conditions; and a real-time fine-tuning software module providing computer program means for fine-tuning the customisation of the device under controlled conditions.
An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The function of the website 102 is to attract consumers, explain the potential advantages of using the online audiology system for the enhancement of hearing for individual consumers, explain the contribution of online audiology to the advancement of hearing science and technology, and to provide access to the database 103 and downloadable software 104.
The database 103 stores technical information about devices, the results of hearing tests for individual consumers, and the results of simulated and real-time evaluations of consumers using specific devices. The data for individual consumers is de-identified in the database 103 to ensure the security and privacy of the individual consumer. Each consumer 118 is issued with an encrypted key that will allow access to his or her individual data.
The application software download 104 comprises the personal computer (PC) software that will run on the consumer's personal computer 105 after being downloaded from the internet portal 101. The applications software includes all of the software modules 106 to 113.
Once the applications software 104 is downloaded and installed, the PC 105 generates sounds via the acoustic output device 114 under control of the software modules 106 to 113. The acoustic output device 114 in this embodiment is a pair of headphones, while in alternative embodiments the acoustic output device 114 may comprise speakers or other audio consumer device capable of being driven by a digital or analogue signal from the PC.
In the embodiment of
The embodiment of
The PC 105 controls the customisable device 117 via the programming interface device 116. In this embodiment, the programming interface device 116 is capable of passing data in both directions so that customisations can be uploaded and downloaded between the PC 105 and the customisable sound processing device 117. It is to be noted that in alternative embodiments, the interface 116 may be used to cause the device 117 to function as the acoustic output device 114 and as the microphone 115, whereby such embodiments may omit a separate output 114 and microphone 115. During hearing tests and simulated or real-time device evaluations, the consumer 118 responds to the sound stimuli presented by entering responses using the keyboard, mouse or other user interface components of the PC 105.
In step 202, the hearing test software module 106 is used to perform one or more hearing tests, and the results are stored in the database 103 in step 203. Module 106 is an embodiment of the first to third aspects of the invention. The hearing tests may include listening and responding to sounds presented through the acoustic output device 114 (see
Once step 203 has been performed, there will be a permanent record of the consumer's hearing data in the database 103, and the consumer can resume working at step 204, selection of a device type at any time. Once a device has been selected, the first-fit software module 107 is used to configure an initial customisation for the device and the simulation software module 108 is configured so as to simulate the customised device in step 205. Modules 107 and 108 comprise an embodiment of the fourth to sixth aspects of the invention. Simulation of the customised device by module 108 involves establishing a virtual signal processing path which mimics operation of the selected device, using the customised control parameters established by module 107.
In step 206, the simulated device is evaluated using the evaluation module 109, which causes the user to listen and respond to sounds that have been processed by the simulated device. Typically, this will include a questionnaire and/or performing a speech intelligibility test in quiet or in background noise. At the end of the evaluation, the results and the details describing the customisation will be stored in the database 103 (step 207). If the user is satisfied with the result, they may decide to purchase a device, or otherwise they may experiment using the fine tuning module 110 in step 209.
Steps 206 to 209 may be repeated iteratively until the consumer is happy with the sound of the simulated device, or gives up. After giving up, the consumer may return to the portal and perform a new hearing test (step 202), choose another device (step 204), or continue fine tuning the current device (step 209).
After purchasing a device, the consumer may return to the portal 101 and download from database 103 the customisation that has already been fine-tuned with the simulation using the device control software module 111 (step 210). Alternatively the user may evaluate the function of the device using the real-time validation software module 112 (step 211), store the data (step 212) and/or fine-tune the device using the real-time tuning software module (step 213).
Modules 107, 108, 110 and 113 utilise a number of methods for customisation of devices. Importantly, these modules provide some customisation methods which do not depend on knowledge of or measurement of the consumer's audiogram. Rather, the hearing map derived by module 106 is sufficient for some customisation methods to be carried out. These modules do also have the ability to customise devices when the audiogram is known, using conventional audiogram-based methods. If hearing thresholds are available for modules 107, 108, 110 and 113, these thresholds may be used as a reference point for display of the device output levels or as additional data in the customisation process.
In the embodiment of
In a further embodiment of the invention (not shown), the personal computer 105 may be the customisable device, as well as being the device that runs the mapping and fitting software. In this case, an audio processing path of the PC can be customised so that all sounds produced by the PC are optimised for the user. Once again, in this embodiment the flowchart of
In an alternative embodiment of
for which the available answers are:
In this embodiment the questionnaire further includes quality-related questions such as:
for which the available answers are:
In this embodiment the questionnaire further includes changing program-related questions such as:
for which the available answers are:
In this embodiment the questionnaire further includes beep-related questions such as:
for which the available answers are:
In this embodiment the questionnaire further includes music-related questions such as:
for which the available answers are:
By providing detailed but categorised queries, the present embodiment enables subjective feedback of a plurality of users to be meaningfully compared when gathered in the database 103. Such a suitably designed questionnaire further improves the ability of this system to tune the sound processing device to reduce the number or severity of adverse responses to the questionnaire for an individual user.
The advantages of the described embodiments of the present invention include rapid and convenient access to high-quality audiological services and hearing aids for consumers in remote locations or in countries where audiology services are rudimentary or non-existent, and convenient access to and use of data collected in previous sessions and stored on the portal to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of audiology service and product provision. These embodiments also provide an effective method of individual customisation of non-hearing aid devices requiring complex adjustments, without increasing the size and complexity of the devices themselves. A further advantage is in allowing a potential consumer to assess the benefits obtainable from a device prior to purchase of the device. The described embodiments further allow a consumer to verify the benefits of the device after purchase, and refine the customisation to optimise those benefits for themselves. These embodiments thus provide the consumer with much greater control of meeting their own sound processing needs. A further benefit from the online audiology system is the collection of comprehensive hearing data from many consumers and evaluation data for a range of different device types for people with different needs and preferences. These data will form a valuable resource for hearing science and may accelerate technology development.
Some portions of this detailed description are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
As such, it will be understood that such acts and operations, which are at times referred to as being computer-executed, include the manipulation by the processing unit of the computer of electrical signals representing data in a structured form. This manipulation transforms the data or maintains it at locations in the memory system of the computer, which reconfigures or otherwise alters the operation of the computer in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. The data structures where data is maintained are physical locations of the memory that have particular properties defined by the format of the data. However, while the invention is described in the foregoing context, it is not meant to be limiting as those of skill in the art will appreciate that various of the acts and operations described may also be implemented in hardware.
It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the description, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilising terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
The present invention also relates to apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to a computer system bus.
The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialised apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the invention as described herein.
References herein to “sound processing” or “sound processing device” are to be understood to include processing of digital electrical signals representing or conveying a sound or sounds. The signals may be processed and played back from a memory storage (as in the case of recorded music players), or may be live signals from a microphone (as in the case of a hearing aid) or telephone network (as in the case of telephones).
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009900633 | Feb 2009 | AU | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/977,205, filed Dec. 21, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/201,033, filed on Nov. 15, 2011 and issued on Feb. 2, 2016 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,253,583, which is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/AU2010/000161, filed on Feb. 16, 2010, which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2009900633 filed Feb. 16, 2009, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16716349 | Dec 2019 | US |
| Child | 17103754 | US | |
| Parent | 14977205 | Dec 2015 | US |
| Child | 16716349 | US | |
| Parent | 13201033 | Nov 2011 | US |
| Child | 14977205 | US |
