US 12,484,811 B2
Hearing device, hearing device-based systems and methods for monitoring glucose
Maryam Mostafaei, Wallisellen (CH); and Anne Thielen, Stäfa (CH)
Assigned to Sonova AG, Staefa (CH)
Filed by SONOVA AG, Staefa (CH)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/943,852.
Prior Publication US 2024/0081692 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 5/145 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/14532 (2013.01) [A61B 5/6898 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hearing system comprising:
an optical waveguide including a sensing region located between a first end of the optical waveguide and a second end of the optical waveguide, the sensing region being configured to be at least partially positioned within an ear canal of a user so as to be in contact with cerumen located in the ear canal;
a light source configured to emit light into the optical waveguide at the first end, wherein a first portion of the light exits the optical waveguide at the sensing region and is absorbed by cerumen within the ear canal and a second portion of the light exits the optical waveguide at the second end;
a detector configured to detect the second portion of the light that exits the optical waveguide at the second end; and
a processor configured to determine, based on the second portion of the light detected by the detector and the light emitted by the light source, a glucose value representative of a glucose concentration in the cerumen;
wherein the optical waveguide is included in an ear piece of a hearing device, the ear piece being configured to be at least partially positioned within the ear canal of the user, wherein the sensing region of the optical waveguide is positioned on a lateral exterior surface of the ear piece.