Compensation current optimization for cochlear implant systems
AssigneeAdvanced Bionics AG
InventorsLeonid M. Litvak, Aniket Saoji
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary cochlear stimulation method includes applying a main current to a first electrode associated with a first pitch and disposed within a cochlea of a patient, concurrently applying a compensation current to a second electrode disposed within the cochlea and associated with a second pitch during the application of the main current, the compensation current being out-of-phase with the main current, and optimizing an amount of the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient that is distanced from the first pitch in a pitch direction opposite a pitch direction of the second pitch in relation to the first pitch. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
Claims21
A cochlear stimulation method comprising:
- applying a main current to a first electrode associated with a first pitch and disposed within a cochlea of a patient;
- concurrently applying a compensation current to a second electrode disposed within the cochlea and associated with a second pitch during the application of the main current, the compensation current being out-of-phase with the main current;
- and
- optimizing an amount of the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient that is distanced from the first pitch in a pitch direction opposite a pitch direction of the second pitch in relation to the first pitch.
The method of claim 5, wherein the optimizing of the amount of the main current and the compensation current comprises determining a most comfortable current level for the patient.
A cochlear stimulation method comprising:
- applying, by a cochlear implant system, a main current to a first electrode associated with a first pitch and disposed within a cochlea of a patient;
- concurrently applying, by the cochlear implant system during the application of the main current, a compensation current to at least one other electrode disposed within the cochlea and associated with at least one other pitch that is lower than the first pitch;
- and
- adjusting, by the cochlear implant system, the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient, the target pitch being higher than the first pitch.
A cochlear stimulation method comprising:
- applying, by a cochlear implant system, a main current to a first electrode associated with a first pitch and disposed within a cochlea of a patient;
- concurrently applying, by the cochlear implant system during the application of the main current, a compensation current to at least one other electrode disposed within the cochlea and associated with at least one other pitch that is higher than the first pitch;
- and
- adjusting, by the cochlear implant system, the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient, the target pitch being lower than the first pitch.
A cochlear implant system comprising:
- a sound processor configured to process one or more audio signals;
- and
- an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processor and configured to apply stimulation representative of the one or more audio signals to a patient via a plurality of electrodes;
- wherein the sound processor is configured to direct the implantable stimulator to:
- apply a main current to a first electrode included within the plurality of electrodes and associated with a first pitch,
- concurrently apply a compensation current to a second electrode included within the plurality of electrodes and associated with a second pitch during the application of the main current, the compensation current being out-of-phase with the main current, and
- optimize an amount of the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient that is distanced from the first pitch in a pitch direction opposite a pitch direction of the second pitch in relation to the first pitch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.