US 6,249,704 B1 · Low voltage stimulation to elicit stochastic response patterns that enhance the effectiveness of a cochlear implant

Abstract

A cochlear stimulation system includes a speech processing strategy that applies non-auditory-informative stimuli as well as auditory-informative stimuli to the same or neighboring sets of electrodes. The non-auditory-informative stimuli are applied to the auditory neural system for the purpose of influencing the properties and response characteristics of the auditory system so that when the auditory-informative stimuli are applied, such stimuli are more effective at evoking a desired auditory response, i.e., are more effective at allowing the patient to perceive sound. The information-carrying stimuli may be applied to the auditory neural system at the same time as is the non-auditory-informative stimuli, or may be applied during time slots between application of the non-auditory-informative stimuli.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A cochlear stimulation implant device comprising:

an electrode array adapted for insertion into the cochlea;
a plurality of spaced-apart electrodes on the electrode array;
first means for generating auditory-informative stimuli and applying such stimuli to selected pairs of the electrodes;
second means for generating non-auditory-informative stimuli and applying the non-auditory-informative stimuli to selected pairs of the electrodes;
wherein the non-auditory-informative stimuli have a magnitude that is substantially no greater than an auditory perception threshold level, and further wherein the non-auditory-informative stimuli bias or precondition auditory neurons so that application of the auditory-informative stimuli to the auditory neurons is more effective.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low voltage stimulation to elicit stochastic response patterns that enhance the effectiveness of a cochlear implant

Life of this patent

Low voltage stimulation to elicit stochastic response patterns that enhance the effectiveness of a cochlear implant

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16