Eaton-Peabody Laboratories - Engineering Resources

The EPL Engineering staff, supported largely by a P30 Core grant from the NIDCD, develops hardware and software for research in hearing and deafness. When possible, the group shares these technical developments with others in the scientific community, free of charge. The Engineering Core Staff and their respective areas of expertise are:

• Ishmael Stefanov, Hardware Design                 
• Frank Cardarelli, Software Design                    
• Mike Ravicz, Acoustics                                     
• Chris Scarpino, Machining                                

A Dual-earphone Acoustic Coupler for closed-field delivery of calibrated acoustic stimuli.

Driven by the need for a reliable acoustic system for delivery of calibrated high-frequency stimuli (from 1 kHz to 60 kHz), especially for measuring otoacoustic emission in mouse, the EPL Core Engineers have designed a custom assembly consisting of two sound sources, for delivery of two independent stimuli, and a probe-tube microphone for measurement of sound pressure levels near the eardrum. The sound sources and microphone are commercially available, and the coupler that hoses them can be produced by commercial stereolithography.