Systems and methods for detecting electrode lead proximity to cochlear tissue

A cochlear implant system comprising:

• a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a patient;
• an electrode lead electrically coupled with the cochlear implant and configured to be surgically inserted by way of an insertion procedure into a cochlea of the patient, the electrode lead including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured as stimulating electrodes that apply stimulation to the cochlea when the electrode lead is located at a resting position subsequent to completion of the insertion procedure;
• a current source included within the cochlear implant and configured to concurrently apply a first pulse of current by way of the first electrode and a second pulse of current by way of the second electrode, the first and second pulses having substantially equal magnitudes and opposite phases such that the application of the first and second pulses forms a dipole that generates a field;
• a voltage detector included within the cochlear implant and configured to detect, by way of the third electrode, an energy magnitude of the field that reflects from cochlear tissue located within the field;
• and
• a sound processor communicatively coupled with the cochlear implant and configured to:
• direct the current source within the cochlear implant to concurrently apply the first and second pulses,
• direct the voltage detector within the cochlear implant to detect the energy magnitude of the field, and
• determine, based on a difference between the detected energy magnitude of the field and a baseline energy magnitude of the field, a proximity of the electrode lead to the cochlear tissue.

A method comprising:

• directing, by proximity detection system associated with a cochlear implant system, a cochlear implant to apply a first pulse by way of a first electrode disposed on an electrode lead that is electrically coupled to the cochlear implant, wherein the first electrode is configured as a stimulating electrode that applies stimulation to a cochlea of a patient when the electrode lead is located at a resting position subsequent to completion of an insertion procedure whereby the electrode lead is surgically inserted into the cochlea of the patient;
• directing, by the proximity detection system, the cochlear implant to apply, concurrently with the application of the first pulse, a second pulse by way of a second electrode disposed on the electrode lead, wherein the second electrode is also configured as a stimulating electrode that applies stimulation to the cochlea when the electrode lead is located at the resting position subsequent to completion of the insertion procedure and wherein the second pulse has a substantially equal magnitude and an opposite phase to the first pulse such that the application of the first and second pulses forms a dipole that generates a field;
• directing, by the proximity detection system, the cochlear implant to detect, by way of a third electrode disposed on the electrode lead, an energy magnitude of the field that reflects from cochlear tissue located within the field;
• and
• determining, by the proximity detection system based on a difference between the detected energy magnitude of the field and a baseline energy magnitude of the field, a proximity of the electrode lead to the cochlear tissue.