Improvements for cochlear implants
AssigneeThe University of Queensland
InventorsAndrew Peter Bradley, Matthew Alexander Petoe, Wayne James Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of generating a place-frequency map for accurate positioning of a cochlear implant whereby the place-frequency map is used to relate a physical position of the cochlear implant to a tonotopic map of the basilar membrane/spiral ganglion. The invention also relates to a method of electrically positioning of an already inserted cochlear implant within the cochlea to provide stimuli to only the parts of the cochlea that have reduced or no residual hearing.
Claims20
A method of accurately correlating electrodes of a cochlear implant with a cochlear of a patient including the steps of:
- measuring a tonotopic response for residual hearing of the cochlear of the patient to obtain a place-frequency map describing a place-frequency structure of the cochlear;
- and
- optimally aligning the electrodes of the cochlear implant with the place-frequency structure of the cochlear.
A cochlear implant including:
- a plurality of electrodes wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is programmed to provide an electric stimulus to parts of the cochlear with reduced or no residual hearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.