Artificial cochlea speech processor with external microphone

Abstract

The invention discloses an artificial cochlea speech processor with an external microphone, which comprises a speech processor body and further comprises an external microphone module arranged outside the speech processor body, and the speech processor body is further provided with a terminal capable of being connected with the external microphone module; the speech processor body comprises an audio amplification circuit, and the wiring terminal is connected to the audio amplification circuit; the external microphone module comprises an electret microphone; the electret microphone is connected with the audio amplification circuit through the wiring terminal; or, the external microphone module comprises an electret microphone and an audio amplification circuit, the electret microphone is connected with the audio amplification circuit, and the audio amplification circuit is connected with the speech processor body through the wiring terminal; according to the artificial cochlea speech processor with the external microphone, the external wired microphone is added, so that when the internal microphone of the speech processor works abnormally, the external wired microphone can be adopted for an implanter to hear sound.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular relates to a cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone. Background Art

[0002] The cochlear implant system is an implantable electronic device that can provide functional hearing for patients with severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss. It is also the only effective treatment for sensorineural hearing loss in clinical practice. The cochlear implant system includes an external speech processor and an internal implant. The external speech processor converts sound into electrical signals in a certain coded form. These signals then stimulate the auditory nerve through the electrode system in the implant, activating the nerve to transmit electrical signals to the auditory center in the brain. The brain interprets these electrical signals as sound and enables the patient to hear and understand the sound.

[0003] At present, the microphone of the cochlear implant speech processor is inside the processor. Because the processor is worn behind the ear, it is inevitable that water stains and dirt will enter the machine. The microphone inside the machine may degrade or be damaged, causing the machine to collect abnormal sounds, which in turn affects the hearing effect of the implant recipient. At present, if the microphone of the cochlear implant speech processor of the implant recipient is abnormal, the only way is to send the processor back to the manufacturer for after-sales repair. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone of the present invention can replace the damaged internal microphone to collect sound, ensure that the cochlear implant can normally collect external sounds, and ensure the hearing effect of the implant recipient. Moreover, the implant recipient can replace the wired microphone by himself, which is more convenient than sending it to the manufacturer for repair.

[0005] The technical solution of the cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone of the present invention is as follows: the cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone comprises a speech processor body and an external microphone module externally arranged on the speech processor body, wherein the speech processor body is also provided with a connection terminal that can be connected to the external microphone module;

[0006] The speech processor body includes an audio amplifier circuit, and the wiring terminal is connected to the audio amplifier circuit; the external microphone module includes an electret microphone; the electret microphone is connected to the audio amplifier circuit through the wiring terminal;

[0007] Alternatively, the external microphone module includes an electret microphone and an audio amplifier circuit, the electret microphone is connected to the audio amplifier circuit, and the audio amplifier circuit is connected to the speech processor body through the connection terminal.

[0008] Preferably, the speech processor body includes a processing module and a built-in microphone module, the built-in microphone module outputs a first sound signal to the processing module; and the external microphone module outputs a second sound signal to the processing module.

[0009] Preferably, it also includes an LDO circuit for voltage stabilization, and the LDO circuit is connected to the audio amplifier circuit; when the audio amplifier circuit is located in the speech processor body, the LDO circuit is located on the speech processor body; when the audio amplifier circuit is located in the external microphone module, the LDO circuit is also located in the external microphone module.

[0010] Preferably, the audio processing frequency range of the electret microphone is 20 Hz-20 kHz.

[0011] Preferably, the electret microphone has an operating current of 0.5 mA, an operating voltage of 2 V, and a sensitivity of -32 dBV.

[0012] Preferably, both the input and output ends of the electret microphone are subjected to filtering processing.

[0013] Preferably, the external microphone module is detachably connected to the speech processor body.

[0014] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0015] 1. The cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone of the present invention adds an external wired microphone outside the body, which solves the problem that when the built-in microphone of the cochlear implant speech processor works abnormally, the external wired microphone can be used to solve the hearing problem for the implant recipient.

[0016] 2. The cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone of the present invention can have a wired external microphone with a maximum length of about 1 meter. The implant recipient can conveniently place the external microphone at a desired location to collect desired sounds.

[0017] 3. The cochlear implant speech processor of the present invention has an external microphone. The external microphone module can also be used as a comparative diagnostic tool for the implant recipient. When the difference between the built-in microphone of the speech processor and the external wired microphone is obvious, it can be prompted that the performance of the microphone inside the cochlear implant is abnormal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is an overall structural block diagram of a cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 is an overall structural block diagram of a cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 A circuit schematic diagram of a cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a simulation data diagram of an external microphone module in a cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] See also Figure 1 , is a cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone, comprising a speech processor body 1, and also comprising an external microphone module 2 external to the speech processor body 1. The speech processor body 1 is also provided with a connection terminal that can be connected to the external microphone module 2. Specifically, the connection terminal includes an interface 14 and a wire. The external microphone module 2 is detachably connected to the speech processor body 1.

[0024] See also Figure 1 In the first embodiment, the speech processor body 1 includes an audio amplifier circuit 12, and the terminal is connected to the audio amplifier circuit 12; the external microphone module 2 includes an electret microphone 21, and the electret microphone 21 is connected to the audio amplifier circuit 12 through the terminal.

[0025] See also Figure 2 In another embodiment, the external microphone module 2 includes an electret microphone 21 and an audio amplifier circuit 12, the electret microphone 21 is connected to the audio amplifier circuit 12, and the audio amplifier circuit 12 is connected to the speech processor body 1 through a terminal.

[0026] In the cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone of the present application, the audio amplification circuit 12 can be located in the speech processor body 1 or in the external microphone module 2. Both embodiments solve the problem of hearing for the implant recipient when the built-in microphone of the cochlear implant speech processor works abnormally.

[0027] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2The speech processor body 1 includes a processing module 13 and a built-in microphone module (not shown in the figure). The built-in microphone module outputs a first sound signal to the processing module 13; the external microphone module 2 outputs a second sound signal to the processing module 13. Specifically, when the external microphone module 2 is not connected to the speech processor body 1, the sound of the speech processor body 1 is only input by the built-in microphone module. The implantee can only hear the sound collected by the built-in microphone module, that is, the first sound signal. When the built-in microphone module is abnormal, the implantee hears abnormally, and the external microphone module 2 can be connected to the speech processor body 1, and the external microphone module 2 can be used instead of the built-in microphone module to collect the second sound signal. The external microphone module 2 and the built-in microphone module can also work at the same time, and the speech processor can set the mixing ratio of the sound signals input by the built-in microphone module and the external microphone module 2.

[0028] Furthermore, the speech processor body 1 also includes an LDO circuit 11 (low dropout regulator) for voltage stabilization, and the LDO circuit 11 is connected to the audio amplifier circuit 12. When the audio amplifier circuit 12 is located in the speech processor body 1, the LDO circuit 11 is located on the speech processor body 1; when the audio amplifier circuit 12 is located in the external microphone module 2, the LDO circuit 11 is also located in the external microphone module 2. The LDO circuit 11 mainly steps down the battery power supply voltage on the speech processor to the level required for the electret microphone 21 and the audio amplifier circuit 12 to work. The LDO circuit has low noise and can meet the low noise requirements of the audio amplifier circuit 12 and the electret microphone 21.

[0029] Specifically, the audio processing frequency range of the electret microphone 21 is 20Hz-20kHz. The working current of the electret microphone 21 is 0.5mA, the working voltage is 2V, and the sensitivity is -32dBV. The input and output ends of the electret microphone 21 are both filtered to filter out interference signals and further improve the audio quality.

[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, the working principle of the whole circuit is as follows:

[0031] U7 is an LDO chip, which converts the battery VBAT1 into the voltage VCC required for the subsequent circuit to work.

[0032] U2 is an electret microphone 21, and VCC supplies power to U2 through a pull-up resistor R1. R1 and VCC ensure that the electret microphone 21 works in the audio amplification working range. When the external sound changes, the working current of U2 will also change, and the changed current is mainly provided by the audio amplifier circuit 12 mainly composed of U1. Due to the change in current, the voltage across the resistor R4 in the audio amplifier circuit 12 also changes. After being filtered by C4 and R5, the voltage is output as the amplified audio signal AudioOut. The AudioOut signal is input to the processing module 13 (DSP chip) of the speech processor for processing.

[0033] The circuit structure of the first embodiment: The LDO circuit 11 and the audio amplifier circuit 12 are integrated into the speech processor body 1, and connected to the electret microphone 21 through the interface 14. The interface 14 has two wires, namely the GND and MicOut wires of the electret microphone 21. The audio signal collected by the electret microphone 21 is converted into a MicOut small signal, which is amplified by the audio amplifier circuit 12 and then input into the processing module 13 (DSP chip).

[0034] The circuit structure of the second embodiment connects the external microphone module 2 and the speech processor body 1 through the interface 14. The interface has three wires, namely VBAT1, GND and AudioOut signal. Among them, VBAT1 (lithium battery power supply voltage) and GND supply power to the external microphone module 2, and the AudioOut signal is the audio signal picked up by the electret microphone 21 and output to the processing module 13 (DSP chip) for processing after amplification.

[0035] The connection modes of the two embodiments are both through wire connection, the difference is that the wire is 3-core or 2-core.

[0036] FB2 and FB3 magnetic beads are added to the input and output of the external microphone power supply for filtering to remove interference signals. At the same time, D10 and D11 anti-static diodes are added to prevent static electricity from damaging the internal circuit.

[0037] The present invention collects external sound signals through the electret microphone 21, amplifies them, and then processes them in the processing module 13, so that the cochlear implant speech processor body 1 works in conjunction with the external microphone module 2. The external sound signal is converted into a microphone output electrical signal MicOut by the external microphone module 2. At the same time, the audio amplifier circuit 12 amplifies the microphone output electrical signal MicOut and converts it into an audio level AudioOut that can be processed by the speech processor body 1, and then sends it to the processing module 13 (DSP chip) of the speech processor body 1. The main technical parameters of the electret microphone 21 are 20Hz-20kHz frequency input range, maximum response sound pressure 2Pa, and maximum output level 1Vrms.

[0038] Furthermore, the output voltage sensitivity of the electret microphone 21 is -32dBV (dBV, 1 volt is the reference decibel value), which is calculated according to the sound pressure to be approximately 25.11mV / Pa. Converted into a current of approximately 9.66uA / Pa. Calculated according to the maximum output value of 2Pa, the maximum current is 19.32uA / Pa. Calculated according to the output of 1Vrms (root mean square of voltage) at 2Pa, the resistor R4 in the audio amplifier circuit 12 is approximately 51.6KΩ, and the value is 51KΩ.

[0039] The audio processing frequency range of the electret microphone 21 can reach 20Hz-20kHz. According to this range, Figure 3 In the example, the processing range of the audio amplifier circuit 12 is greater than 20Hz-20kHz. Due to the influence of poles and zeros in the circuit, according to analysis, the cutoff frequency of C3 and R4 is fc1=1 / (2π*R4*C3) about 130kHz, and C3 is calculated to be about 24pF. Figure 3 The cutoff frequency analysis of R1 and C1 requires about 5Hz. According to fc2=1 / (2π*R1*C1)=5Hz. The calculated C value is about 12.2uF. Take the approximate value of 12uF. Similarly, if the R5 value is 10KΩ, the cutoff frequency of R5 and C4 is also 5Hz, and the calculated C4 value is about 3.18uF, take the approximate value of 3.3uF. If you need to adjust the audio frequency processing range, you can adjust it as needed Figure 3 The values ​​of R1, R4, R5, C1, C3, and C4.

[0040] The present invention adds an external microphone module outside the body to the cochlear implant, which solves the problem of hearing problems for the implant recipient when the built-in microphone module of the cochlear implant processor works abnormally. In addition, the wired external microphone wire can be up to about 1 meter long, and the implant recipient can easily place the external microphone module 2 at a desired location to collect desired sounds. In addition, the external microphone module 2 can also be used as a comparative diagnostic tool for the implant recipient. When the difference between the built-in microphone of the speech processor and the external wired microphone is obvious, the implant recipient can be prompted that the microphone performance inside the cochlear implant is abnormal.

[0041] The actual external microphone can collect sounds in the range of 20Hz-20kHz, and the output is 1Vrms when the maximum sound pressure is 2Pa; Figure 4 As shown, it is the simulation data of the actual circuit. In the range of 20HZ-20KHZ, the output is relatively stable and the phase margin is relatively large.

[0042] Finally, it should be noted that the above preferred embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail through the above preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes can be made in form and details without departing from the scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone, comprising a speech processor body, characterized in that: It also includes an external microphone module externally disposed on the speech processor body, and the speech processor body is also provided with a connection terminal that can be connected to the external microphone module; The speech processor body includes an audio amplifier circuit, and the wiring terminal is connected to the audio amplifier circuit; the external microphone module includes an electret microphone; the electret microphone is connected to the audio amplifier circuit through the wiring terminal; Alternatively, the external microphone module includes an electret microphone and an audio amplifier circuit, the electret microphone is connected to the audio amplifier circuit, and the audio amplifier circuit is connected to the speech processor body through the connection terminal.

2. The cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The speech processor body includes a processing module and a built-in microphone module, the built-in microphone module outputs a first sound signal to the processing module; the external microphone module outputs a second sound signal to the processing module.

3. The cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an LDO circuit for voltage stabilization, and the LDO circuit is connected to the audio amplifier circuit; when the audio amplifier circuit is located in the speech processor body, the LDO circuit is located on the speech processor body; when the audio amplifier circuit is located in the external microphone module, the LDO circuit is also located in the external microphone module.

4. The cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The audio processing frequency range of the electret microphone is 20 Hz-20 kHz.

5. The cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electret microphone has an operating current of 0.5 mA, an operating voltage of 2 V, and a sensitivity of -32 dBV.

6. The cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The input and output ends of the electret microphone are both subjected to filtering processing.

7. The cochlear implant speech processor with an external microphone according to claim 1, characterized in that: The external microphone module is detachably connected to the speech processor body.

Images