Abstract:
Certain embodiments provide a system and method for measurement of the force applied to a bone-conduction oscillator during application to a subject, resolving the measured force relative to a pre-determined criteria, and providing an indication to the user to specify whether an external force applied to an applied force indication system coupled with a bone-conduction oscillator is within a pre-determined acceptable range. A mechanical arrangement is prescribed which allows the full extent of the force applied to be represented onto the pressure measurement apparatus. The system and apparatus may be applied onto or integrated into bone-conduction oscillators.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to provisional application Ser. No. 61/913,712 filed on Dec. 9, 2013, entitled “System and Method for Providing an Applied Force Indication.” The above referenced provisional application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Certain embodiments of the invention relate to audiometric and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) hearing tests provided using a bone-conduction oscillator. More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for providing an indication of applied force to specify whether the force applied to a bone-conduction oscillator is within a range sufficient to obtain reliable audiometric and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) hearing test results. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Audiometry is the testing of function of the hearing mechanism, including mechanical sound transmission tests (middle ear function), neural sound transmission tests (cochlear function), and speech discrimination ability tests (central integration). Typically, a complete evaluation of a patient&#39;s hearing is done by trained personnel using instruments designed specifically for hearing testing. In conventional audiometric hearing testing, an audiometer generates pure tones (single frequencies) to test air and bone conduction. The audiometer includes a pure tone generator, an oscillator for bone conduction testing, an attenuator for varying loudness, a microphone for speech testing, and earphones for air conduction testing. Other hearing tests include auditory brainstem response (ABR), which measures neural transmission time and amplitude from the cochlea through the brainstem. 
         [0004]    Pure tone audiometric bone conduction testing is performed by presenting a pure tone to the ear through an oscillator placed on the mastoid and measuring threshold (i.e., the lowest intensity in decibels (dB) at which the pure tone is perceived 50% of the time). For auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry, electrodes are placed on the patient&#39;s vertex, earlobes, and forehead. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) produced in response to air and bone conduction stimuli may provide frequency-specific hearing thresholds. The air and bone conduction ABR thresholds, similar to typical behavioral audiometric testing, provide diagnostic information that differentiates between conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing losses. ABR testing can be used to assess patients, such as young children, infants, and difficult to test patients that cannot be evaluated with conventional behavioral audiometric testing. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a top, side perspective view of a bone-conduction oscillator  100  as is known in the art. Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a bone-conduction oscillator  100  comprising a housing  110  and a cable  120 . The cable may be operable to provide the bone-conduction stimuli from the audiometer and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) equipment, for example. The housing  110  can include a detent  112  for attaching to a headband. For example, typical bone-conduction oscillators are commonly placed on a patient using metal headbands. Some researchers recommend using a spring-scale to measure the coupling force of the headband to a head of a patient to control the force applied to the bone-conduction oscillator  100 . 
         [0006]    In conventional audiometric bone conduction testing and auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, one concern is that the amount of force applied to the bone-conduction oscillator  100  is consistent and within an appropriate range. The amount of force applied to the bone-conduction oscillator is proportional to the efficiency of the transmission of the stimulus from the oscillator to the bone. Too much pressure, too little pressure, or variations in pressure during the presentation of a stimulus can cause a greater degree of uncertainty in the measurements taken. Coupling the oscillator  100  to a head of an infant using a headband is a commonly suggested clinical method for performing auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing because a force can be applied by the headband and the amount of force can be verified. However, current commercially available headbands for bone-conduction oscillators do not allow one to regulate and monitor static pressure. This becomes an even more difficult problem with the smaller heads of children. Another method used in a clinical setting is to hold the bone-conduction oscillator  100  in place by hand because it is more comfortable for an infant and is faster and less likely to wake the infant than positioning a headband. However, the hand-held method has generally been discouraged due to the potential for the applied force to be outside an appropriate range and/or to vary during testing, resulting in an inconsistent output from the transducer, which can potentially produce inaccurate thresholds. 
         [0007]    Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A system and/or method is provided for providing an indication of applied force, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
         [0009]    These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top, side perspective view of a bone-conduction oscillator  100  as is known in the art. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a back, side perspective view of an exemplary applied force indication system attached to a bone-conduction oscillator, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary applied force indication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of an exemplary applied force indication system without a housing and attached to a bone-conduction oscillator, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of an exemplary applied force indication system without a portion of the housing and attached to a bone-conduction oscillator, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of an exemplary applied force indication system attached to a bone-conduction oscillator, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps that may be utilized for providing an applied force indication to specify whether a force applied to a bone-conduction oscillator is sufficient to obtain reliable audiometric and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) hearing test results, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a system and method for providing an applied force indication to specify whether the force applied to a bone-conduction oscillator is within a range sufficient to obtain reliable audiometric and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) hearing test results. 
         [0018]    As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional elements not having that property. 
         [0019]    Also as used herein, the terms microcontroller, processor, or processing unit, as used herein, refers to any type of processing unit that can carry out the required calculations needed for the invention, such as single or multi-core: CPU, Graphics Board, DSP, FPGA, ASIC or a combination thereof. 
         [0020]    It should be noted that various embodiments described herein include an applied force indication system attached to or coupled with a bone-conduction oscillator. As used herein, the terms “attached to” and “coupled with” should be understood as not excluding an applied force indication system integrated with a bone-conduction oscillator unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a back, side perspective view of an exemplary applied force indication system  200  attached to a bone-conduction oscillator  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an applied force indication system  200  and a bone-conduction oscillator  100 . 
         [0022]    The bone-conduction oscillator  100  comprises a housing  110  and a cable  120 . The bone-conduction oscillator  100  is operable to provide bone-conduction stimuli to a skull of a patient. The bone-conduction stimuli can be provided to the oscillator  100  from an audiometer and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) equipment via cable  120 , for example. 
         [0023]    The applied force indication system  200  comprises a housing  210 , attachment mechanisms  214 , a calibration switch aperture  220 , and a battery  290 . In various embodiments, the housing can include an indicator viewing opening or window  212  for viewing indicators  270  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6  and described in more detail below. 
         [0024]    The attachment mechanisms  214  may be pin  216  and slot  218  arrangements, or any suitable attachment mechanisms. The pin  216  and slot  218  arrangements can allow the system  200  to pivot within and freely slide along the slot  218 . For example, the unrestricted coupling provided by the slot  218  in conjunction with pin  216 , or other suitable attachment mechanism  214 , allows the force indication system  200  to move freely in the vertical axis as well as radially to the pin  216 . In an exemplary embodiment, the pins  216  may fit into the detents  112  of the bone-conduction oscillator  100 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , to couple or integrate the applied force indication system  200  with the bone-conduction oscillator  100 . 
         [0025]    The calibration switch aperture  220  can provide access via a pen, paper clip, or any suitable device, to a calibration switch  222  used during a calibration process and disposed within the housing  210 . In certain embodiments, the calibration switch  222  can be a momentary switch, a toggle switch, or any suitable switch. 
         [0026]    The battery  290  is disposed within the housing  210  and is operable to provide power to the electronic components of the applied force indication system  200  as described in more detail below. In various embodiments, the battery  290  may be a 3-volt coin cell or any suitable battery for providing power to the applied force indication system  200 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary applied force indication system  200 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an applied force indication system  200 . The applied force indication system  200  comprises a housing  210 , attachment mechanisms  214 , a calibration switch aperture  220 , and a force measurement device  260 . 
         [0028]    The attachment mechanisms  214  may be pin  216  and slot  218  arrangements that may fit into the detents  112  of the bone-conduction oscillator  100 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and allow the system  200  to pivot and freely slide with respect to the bone-conduction oscillator  100 . The unrestricted coupling provided by the attachment mechanisms  214  allows a pressure applied by a user to be transferred through the force measurement device  260  without being mitigated, absorbed, or diverted through or by a more rigid mechanical coupling. The calibration switch aperture  220  can provide access via a pen, paper clip, or any suitable device, to a momentary switch  222  used during a calibration process and disposed within the housing  210 . 
         [0029]    The force measurement device  260  may be a bladder or any suitable device for detecting a received external force, such as a strain gauge or a load cell, among other things. For example, a bladder  260 , made of a suitably compliant material, may be arranged to at least partially extend from the housing  210  such that it at least partially sits between the housing  210  and the bone-conduction oscillator  100  when the applied force indication system  200  is attached to or integrated with the bone-conduction oscillator  100 . As an external force is applied to the applied force indication system  200  to couple the stimuli generated by the bone-conduction oscillator  100  to a skull of a patient, the unrestricted coupling at the attachment mechanism  214  allows the force to compress the bladder  260  between the housing  210  and the bone-conduction oscillator  100  proportionally increasing the pressure within the area sealed under the bladder  260 , for example. In various embodiments, the area sealed under the bladder  260  may comprise air, fluid, or any suitable material. The bladder  260  may be composed of any suitable elastomers having a yield strength in the compressing axis that is less than a minimum pressure to be gauged, and preferably significantly less. 
         [0030]    The applied force indication system  200  illustrated in  FIG. 3  shares various characteristics with the applied force indication system  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2  as described above. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of an exemplary applied force indication system  200  without a housing and attached to a bone-conduction oscillator  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of an exemplary applied force indication system  200  without a portion of the housing  210  and attached to a bone-conduction oscillator  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of an exemplary applied force indication system  200  attached to a bone-conduction oscillator  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , there is shown an applied force indication system  200  and a bone-conduction oscillator  100 . The bone-conduction oscillator  100  comprises a housing  110  and a cable  120 . The applied force indication system  200  comprises a housing  210 , attachment mechanisms  214 , a calibration switch  222 , a pushbutton  230 , an on/of switch  232 , a microcontroller  240 , a sensor  250 , a force measurement device  260 , indicators  270 , circuit board  280 , and a battery  290 . 
         [0033]    The circuit board  280  may be a printed circuit board for mechanically supporting and/or electrically connecting the components of the applied force indication system  200 . 
         [0034]    The battery  290  can be disposed on the printed circuit board  280  and is operable to provide power to the electronic components of the applied force indication system  200 . In various embodiments, the battery  290  may be a 3-volt coin cell or any suitable battery for providing power to the applied force indication system  200 . Additionally or alternatively, power may be provided by a wired or wireless external source. In certain embodiments, a battery can be removed from the housing  210  using an ejection mechanism  292 . 
         [0035]    The calibration switch  222  may be disposed within the housing  210  and can be used during a calibration process by accessing the switch  222  via a calibration switch aperture  220 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 , or any suitable switch activation mechanism, for example. The calibration switch  222  can be a momentary switch, a toggle switch, or any suitable switch. 
         [0036]    The pushbutton  230  can interact with an on/off switch  232  to power-on and power-off the applied force indication system  200 . In certain embodiments, the switch  232  can be a momentary switch, a toggle switch, or any suitable switch. In various embodiments, pushbutton  230  can be a toggle, paddle, rocker, slide, or any suitable switch activation mechanism. The system may also be designed to power-on when a stimulus or other signal is detected, and to power-off after a suitable delay with the absence of a stimulus. 
         [0037]    The force measurement device  260  may be a bladder, strain gauge, a load cell, or any suitable mechanism for detecting an applied external force. For example, a bladder  260  may be arranged to at least partially sit against the bone-conduction oscillator  100  or to a surface within the bone-conduction oscillator  100  when the applied force indication system  200  is attached to or integrated within the bone-conduction oscillator  100 . As an external force is imposed on the applied force indication system  200  to couple the stimuli generated by the bone-conduction oscillator  100  to a skull of a patient, the unrestricted coupling at the attachment mechanisms  214  allows the force to compress the bladder  260  against or within the bone-conduction oscillator  100 , proportionally increasing the pressure within the area sealed under the bladder  260 , for example. In various embodiments, the area sealed under the bladder  260  may comprise air, fluid, or any suitable material. The attachment mechanisms  214  can be a pin  216  and slot  218  arrangements as described above in connection with  FIGS. 2-3 , or any suitable attachment mechanisms  214  that provides an unrestricted coupling of the applied force indication system  200  with or within the bone-conduction oscillator  100 . 
         [0038]    The sensor  250  may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code that may be operable to measure the pressure within the bladder  260 . In various embodiments, the measured pressure may be updated several times per second. The measured pressure may be converted by the sensor  250  to a digital signal that is communicated to a microcontroller  240 . In various embodiments, pressure measurements are performed, for example, in software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the sensor  250  can be a barometric sensor if the bladder  260  is an air bladder, a fluid sensor if the bladder  260  is a fluid bladder, or any suitable sensor that corresponds with the type of pressure measurement performed within the bladder  260 , for example. In an exemplary embodiment employing a strain gauge, the sensor  250  may be omitted and/or integrated with the strain gauge circuitry. 
         [0039]    The microcontroller  240  may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces and/or code that may be operable to convert the pressure measurement received from the sensor  250  and/or force measurement device  260  to an equivalent force measurement. In various embodiments, equivalent force measurement determinations are performed, for example, in software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof. For example, the microcontroller  240  can access lookup tables and calibration/correction factors, among other things, to determine the equivalent force measurement based on the pressure measurement. The microcontroller  240  can provide an indication of the equivalent force measurement via indicators  270 . In certain embodiments, the sensor  250  and/or the force measurement device  260  can be integrated with the microcontroller  240 , for example. In an exemplary embodiment, the conversion and processing may be performed by an external instrument with the pressure measurement transmitted by wired or wireless communication from the sensor  250  and/or force measurement device  260 . 
         [0040]    The indicators  270  can be light emitting diodes, a display screen, a receiver for providing audible speech or tones, or any suitable indicating device. For example, in an embodiment, the microcontroller  240  may illuminate a yellow light emitting diode if an equivalent force measurement that corresponds with the pressure measurement is below a pre-determined acceptable range, a red light emitting diode if the equivalent force measurement that corresponds with the pressure measurement exceeds a pre-determined acceptable range, or a green light emitting diode if the equivalent force measurement that corresponds with the pressure measurement is within the pre-determined acceptable range. In various embodiments, the pre-determined acceptable range may depend on the bone-conduction oscillator  100  being used. As an example, the pre-determined acceptable range for a B-71 bone oscillator may be between 450-550 grams of force. 
         [0041]    The applied force indication system  200  illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6  share various characteristics with the applied force indication system  200  illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3  as described above. 
         [0042]    In operation and in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, calibration of an applied force indication system  200  integrated with or attached to a bone-conduction oscillator  100  can be initiated by accessing a concealed momentary switch  222  accessible through a calibration switch aperture  220 . The calibration process may be performed by applying a known weight to the applied force indication system  200 . Once calibrated, a pushbutton  230  can be depressed to activate a power-on switch  232  for powering-on the battery-powered  290  applied force indication system  200 , and the bone-conduction oscillator  100  with integrated or attached applied force indication system  200  may be placed against the skull of a patient to begin performing a behavioral audiometric test or an auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. 
         [0043]    As an external force is applied by the user against the applied force indication system  200  attached to or integrated with the bone-conduction oscillator  100  to couple the stimuli generated by the bone-conduction oscillator  100  to the skull of the patient, an unrestricted coupling  214  allows an air bladder  260 , or other force measurement device, of the applied force indication system  200  to compress against a top surface of the bone-conduction oscillator  100 . The unrestricted coupling provided by the slot  218  in conjunction with pin  216 , or other suitable attachment mechanism  214 , allows the force indication system to move freely in the vertical axis as well as radially to the pin  216 . The unrestricted coupling allows the pressure applied by the user to be transferred through the bladder  260  without being mitigated, absorbed, or diverted through or by a more rigid mechanical coupling. The compression of the air bladder  260  causes the pressure of the air sealed within the bladder  260  to increase proportionally. A pressure sensor  250  mounted on a circuit board  280  and located within the enclosed air bladder  260  measures the air pressure and sends the reading as a digital signal to a microcontroller  240  mounted on the circuit board  280 . 
         [0044]    The microcontroller  240  accesses a lookup table and/or calibration/correction factors to convert the pressure reading into an equivalent force measurement. Based on the equivalent force measurement, one of three different colored light emitting diodes (e.g., yellow, green, and red)  270 , viewable through an indicator viewing opening or window  212  of the housing  210 , is illuminated to identify whether the equivalent force measurement falls within a pre-determined range, such as 450-550 grams of force, for example. The yellow light emitting diode (LED) is illuminated for an equivalent force measurement that is below 450 grams of force. The green LED is illuminated for an equivalent force measurement that is within 450-550 grams of force. The red LED is illuminated for an equivalent force measurement that is greater than 550 grams of force. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps that may be utilized for providing an applied force indication to specify whether a force applied to a bone-conduction oscillator  100  is sufficient to obtain reliable audiometric and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) hearing test results, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a flow chart  300  comprising exemplary steps  302  through  308 . Certain embodiments of the present invention may omit one or more of the steps, and/or perform the steps in a different order than the order listed, and/or combine certain of the steps discussed below. For example, some steps may not be performed in certain embodiments of the present invention. As a further example, certain steps may be performed in a different temporal order, including simultaneously, than listed below. 
         [0046]    In step  302 , the applied force sensor  200  coupled with the bone-conduction oscillator  100  can receive an external force. For example, the bone-conduction oscillator  100  with integrated or attached applied force indication system  200  may be pressed against the skull of a patient to begin performing a behavioral audiometric test or an auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. As the external force is applied by the user against the applied force indication system  200 , a force measurement device  260 , such as a bladder of the applied force indication system  200 , compresses against a top surface of the bone-conduction oscillator  100 , causing the pressure within the area sealed under the bladder  260  to increase proportionally. In various embodiments, the area sealed under the bladder  260  may comprise air, fluid, or any suitable material. 
         [0047]    In step  304 , a sensor  250  measures the pressure of the area sealed under the bladder  260 . In certain embodiments, the sensor  250  can be a barometric sensor if the bladder  260  is an air bladder, a fluid sensor if the bladder  260  is a fluid bladder, or any suitable sensor that corresponds with the type of pressure measurement performed within the bladder  260 , for example. As another example, the sensor  250  may be integrated with a strain gauge  260  or operate in conjunction with any suitable force measurement device  260 . The measured pressure reading can be communicated to the microcontroller  240 . 
         [0048]    In step  306 , the microcontroller  306  can determine an equivalent force measurement based on the measured pressure. For example, the microcontroller  240  may access a lookup table and/or calibration/correction factors to convert the pressure reading into an equivalent force measurement. 
         [0049]    In step  308 , indicators  270  may provide an applied force indication based on the equivalent force measurement and a pre-determined acceptable value. For example, the pre-determined acceptable value can correspond with a force or range of forces applied to a bone-conduction oscillator that is sufficient to obtain reliable audiometric and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) hearing test results. In various embodiments, the pre-determined acceptable value may depend on the bone-conduction oscillator  100  being used. As an example, the pre-determined acceptable value for a B-71 bone oscillator may be a range between 450-550 grams of force. The indicators  270  can be light emitting diodes, a display screen, a receiver for providing audible speech or tones, or any suitable indicating device. For example, in an embodiment, the microcontroller  240  may illuminate a yellow light emitting diode if an equivalent force measurement that corresponds with the pressure measurement is below a pre-determined acceptable range, a red light emitting diode if the equivalent force measurement that corresponds with the pressure measurement exceeds a pre-determined acceptable range, or a green light emitting diode if the equivalent force measurement that corresponds with the pressure measurement is within the pre-determined acceptable range. 
         [0050]    Additionally and/or alternatively, various embodiments provide that the measured pressure, the equivalent force measurement, and/or the applied force indication may be communicated to an external system for processing and/or application. As one example, the measured pressure can be provided to an audiometer and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) equipment and the audiometer and/or ABR equipment can determine an equivalent force measurement based on the measured pressure. The audiometer and/or ABR equipment may be operable to present the stimulus to the bone-conduction oscillator only when the applied force is determined to be within a certain range, and/or may collect data only when the force reading is within this range. The audiometer and/or ABR equipment may also or alternatively use the force measurement to control a drive-level compensation system operable to maintain the level of signal received by the subject. The equipment may also use visual or audible prompts to provide feedback to the user about the force being applied. 
         [0051]    Aspects of the present invention provide a method  300  and system  200  for providing an applied force indication to specify whether an external force applied to the system  200  coupled with a bone-conduction oscillator  100  is within a pre-determined acceptable range. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, the method  300  comprises receiving  302  the external force at the applied force indication system  200 . The external force causes a bladder  260  of the applied force indication system  200  to compress. The method  300  comprises measuring  304  a pressure of an area sealed within the bladder  260 . The method  300  comprises determining  306  an equivalent force measurement based on the measured pressure. The method  300  comprises providing  308  the applied force indication based on the equivalent force measurement and the pre-determined acceptable range. An alternative embodiment may use a different sensor type, such as a strain gauge or a load cell, with an unrestricted mechanical attachment 
         [0052]    Various embodiments provide an applied force indication system  200  comprising a housing  210 . The applied force indication system  200  comprises a bladder  260  that may be operable to compress in response to an external force received at the applied force indication system  200 . The bladder  260  may comprise a sealed area. The applied force indication system  200  comprises a sensor  250  that can be operable to measure a pressure of the sealed area. The applied force indication system  200  comprises a microcontroller  240  that may be operable to determine an equivalent force measurement based on the measured pressure. The applied force indication system  200  comprises an indicator  270  operable to provide an applied force indication based on the equivalent force measurement and a pre-determined acceptable range. 
         [0053]    As utilized herein the term “circuitry” refers to physical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/or firmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As used herein, for example, a particular processor and memory may comprise a first “circuit” when executing a first one or more lines of code and may comprise a second “circuit” when executing a second one or more lines of code. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the term “exemplary” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms “e.g.,” and “for example” set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. As utilized herein, circuitry is “operable” to perform a function whenever the circuitry comprises the necessary hardware and code (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether performance of the function is disabled, or not enabled, by some user-configurable setting. 
         [0054]    While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.