THE UNIQUE VIVOSONIC ADVANTAGE
Amplitrode / VivoAmp
Amplifier and electrodes
Maximum noise reduction
Proprietary noise filtering
Enhanced shielding
SOAP Adaptive Processing
Cleans electrophysiological signals
Patented noise-reducing algorithm
Based on Kalman Weighted Averaging
Exceptional response detection
VivoLink Wireless Recording
Wireless transfer of data to 10 m
Greater freedom of movement
Flexible positioning of patients
Hold/stroll with infants while testing
Time-Saving Tools
Easy waveform comparison
Statistical tools to check replicability
Residual noise calculation
Learning library and videos
Innovative Solutions for Hearing Healthcare
Vivosonic has a worldwide reputation for developing innovative solutions to meet the needs of hearing healthcare professionals. Every Vivosonic product is engineered with powerful core technologies that enhance auditory evoked response detection.
The combination of these technologies effectively minimizes the need to sedate infants and young children for ABR assessment, is effective in managing electrical and artifacts in places with high electromagnetic interference such as the NICU and OR, permit ABR measurement via tele-audiology, help to identify cases of non-organic hearing loss, and provide more accurate ABR under non-ideal conditions compared to conventional methods.
VivoAmpTM
Based on patented Amplitrode® technology, the VivoAmpTM provides the latest advances in amplification and prefiltering, which reduce negative contributions from EOG, ECG, EEG and RF in order to provide maximum noise reduction. Designed for screening and diagnostics, the VivoAmpTM is designed with interchangeable electrode options and automatically detects 1 or 2 channels. View the video for more details:
Amplitrode®
The world’s first patented in-situ bio-amplifier
The Amplitrode® pre-filters and amplifies electrophysiological responses at the recording site. This patented award-winning technology eliminates many of the problems related to extraneous noise from surrounding electrical, magnetic and radio frequency (RF) field-induced interference, along with electrophysiological artifacts from patients, and motion artifacts from electrode leads. It enables testing in harsh environments, and eliminates the need to adjust gain or worry about signal clipping.
Clinical Benefits
- Clean EEG signals in the NICU, ICU, OR, offices, and other environments with high electromagnetic noise
- Eliminates the need to adjust gain
- No signal saturation and clipping
- Spring release buttons for safe and easy mounting on snap electrodes
How it Works
This patented technology provides two distinct innovations: filtering of the ABR before amplification, along with amplification of the signal directly at the recording electrode site. Prefiltering and amplifying immediately at the site of data acquisition, dramatically reduces the chance that undesirable noise is introduced into the signal.
Prefiltering: By prefiltering the signal, the effects of EOG, ECG, motion artifact, and RF are almost completely eliminated. Gain adjustments are no longer needed, and the risk of signal saturation is reduced.
In-situ amplification: By amplifying the signal “in situ” (at the recording site), sources of noise from the recording environment are reduced. By mounting the amplifier directly on the electrode, close to the source of the signal, there are no intervening wires that can pick up electromagnetic noise and other sources of signal contamination in the environment. The result is the recording of a more robust ABR signal.
In conventional AEP systems, the of lack in-situ amplification means that amplification occurs after the signal has had to travel from the electrode, along a cable, all the way to a preamplifier. With the cables acting as an antenna, there is a great deal of opportunity for noise to be introduced from sources present in the recording environment. Line noise and additional wires also contribute to contamination of the signal. Therefore, when the signal reaches the preamplifier, it is contaminated with all sorts of noise which is subsequently amplified. The Amplitrode® overcomes these problems.
SOAP Adaptive Processing
SNR-Optimized Adaptive Processing is sophisticated noise filtering technology that dramatically reduces noise in electrophysiological signals
SOAP™ Adaptive Processing (SNR-Optimized Adaptive Processing) is the result of extensive research and development at Vivosonic. It is an evolution of advanced digital signal processing algorithms that use Kalman Weighted Averaging techniques. This innovative technology applies sophisticated noise filtering algorithms which dramatically reduce artifacts from muscular and ocular electrophysiological activity, as well as electromagnetic interference, in evoked potential responses. Together with the Amplitrode® and VivoLink™ wireless recording technology, SOAP™ provides superior response detection under non-ideal conditions and facilitates non-sedated ABR measurement.
Clinical Benefits
- Clear waveforms in less time
- Better handling of myogenic artifacts
- Eliminates the need to adjust gain
- No signal clipping or signal saturation
- No rejection artifact setting
How it Works
SOAP™ Adaptive Processing uses advanced digital signal processing algorithms based on Kalman filtering techniques. It combines patented and proprietary digital signal processing algorithms that adapt to the characteristics and level of noise thereby reducing the myogenic and electromagnetic interference in auditory brainstem responses.
Conventional averaging techniques that rely on artifact rejection to reduce noise in the signal, typically weight all remaining sweeps equally. This means that sweeps with high noise content have the same impact on waveform morphology as sweeps with less noise.
As with Kalman Weighted Averaging techniques, SOAP™ has no artifact rejection. Instead, sweeps are included in the recording and assigned a weighting based on its noise content. Groups of sweeps with less noise are assigned a much greater weighting than sweeps with higher amplitude noise. Thus, noisy responses have less of an impact on the waveform morphology. By including all sweeps, and by weighting them according to the noise content, a much clearer ABR waveform is obtained in less time.
In addition to averaging, adaptive processing methods are used throughout the measurement. The system recalculates all weightings according to the noise content and the relationship between sweeps (covariance). This very active and unique dynamic weighting system provides much cleaner waveforms in much less time.
VivoLink™ Wireless Recording Technology
Portable wireless technology for clinical convenience
The VivoLink™ is the world’s first and only wireless platform for auditory electrophysiological and otoacoustic emission assessment. With no wires connecting the patient to the computer, there is greater freedom of movement for patients and convenience for clinicians. The VivoLink™ allows a baby to be held or strolled, and young children the freedom to play quietly while capturing accurate recordings up to a distance of 30 feet (10 meters). Adults can be seated or reclined in comfort. It also offers immunity to power line interference.
When needed, the VivoLink can be conveniently placed next to a baby in a NICU isolette, a car seat or a stroller. For added convenience, a lanyard can be easily secured to the VivoLink allowing the unit to be worn by around an adult’s neck or as a back-pack on a child.
Clinical Benefits
- Freedom of movement
- Patient comfort
- Clinical flexbility and convenience
- Immunity to power line interference
- Assess patients in isolettes or isolation rooms
- Wearable configurations for children and adults
- Record wirelessly up to a distance of 30 feet (10 meters)
How it Works
The VivoLink™ and laptop computer communicate through a wireless connection. Both must be powered on to enable data acquisition. An indicator on both the VivoLink and laptop provide feedback about the status of the wireless connection.
The VivoLink is battery operated. With no need to connect to an electrical power source (electrical outlet), the VivoLink offers immunity to power line interference which significantly reduces contamination of the recording signal. Vivosonic rechargeable battery packs and the the custom charger are designed to optimize battery performance and reliability.
A microprocessor inside the VivoLink generates stimuli which are delivered to the ears via transducers. The electrodes pick up the responses to be recorded and analyzed by the VivoLink and the computer. To ensure the precision of stimuli generation and signal acquisition, the VivoLink employs very high A/D and D/A resolution and sampling rates.
Time-saving Clinical Tools
Unlike conventional systems that employ artifact rejection to discard noisy sweeps, the Integrity V500 System uses sophisticated SOAP™ Adaptive Processing — no sweeps are rejected so data can be collected and analyzed in less time.
The replicability of AEP responses can be readily visualized with the help of dual buffers which enable the visual inspection of waveforms generated from different sweeps without repeating the collection protocol. Residual noise in the response can also be visually inspected with the help of the buffers. In addition, objective statistical measures are calculated to further enhance confidence in waveform interpretation.
Alternating split polarity is available to detect the cochlear microphonic in a response. To examine specific areas of the waveform, the recording window can be adjusted to focus on the area of interest.