Bilateral Cochlear Implant Sound Processing for Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bilateral cochlear implant systems face challenges in effectively transmitting and processing binaural cues, such as interaural time differences (ITDs) and interaural level differences (ILDs), which are crucial for sound localization and speech intelligibility in noisy environments, due to limitations in existing data transmission methods and coding efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating stimulation pulses in bilateral cochlear implants that determines the direction of arrival of sound and incorporates localization information into pulse patterns, allowing for efficient data transmission by representing timing information through pulse arrival times rather than dedicated bits, thereby reducing data packet size and improving battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If synchronized timing information and binaural cues are transmitted to both implants, then sound localization and speech intelligibility improve, but data transmission bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transmission of timing information with the audio data packets. Instead of sending separate synchronization signals, the interaural time difference information is embedded within the existing audio data transmission framework, allowing both audio content and spatial timing cues to be conveyed together in unified data packets from the processor to both implants.
Solution Approach 2:
The data transmission system is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits both the audio signal content and the spatial timing information (interaural time differences) through the same communication channel. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated synchronization channels, reducing overall data bandwidth requirements while maintaining accurate sound localization.
2Reliability
If comprehensive binaural information is transmitted to both implants, then speech intelligibility in noise improves, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transmission of comprehensive binaural information with the existing audio data stream. By embedding interaural time difference and level difference information within the regular audio packets rather than transmitting separate synchronization and spatial cue streams, the system delivers enhanced speech intelligibility in noisy environments while minimizing additional power consumption from data transmission.
3Measurement precision
If interaural time differences are accurately coded, then spatial sound perception enhances, but data coding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by representing interaural time differences in a simplified temporal format within the data packets. Instead of using complex spatial encoding schemes, the system encodes timing information as temporal offsets or delay values that can be directly applied to synchronize stimulation between the two implants, achieving accurate spatial perception with straightforward coding operations.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a bilateral cochlear implant (Cl) is disclosed. The bilateral Cl comprises (i) a first microphone or a first microphone array, positioned at or in the vicinity of a first ear of a user of the bilateral Cl, adapted to receive a sound and to generate a first microphone signal in response to the received sound; (ii) a second microphone or a second microphone array, positioned at or in the vicinity of a second ear of the user of the bilateral Cl, adapted to receive the sound and to generate a second microphone signal in response to the received sound; (iii) a processor comprising (a) a filterbank adapted to filter the first microphone signal into a plurality of band limited first microphone signals and to filter the second microphone signal into a plurality of band limited second microphone signals; (b) a determination unit adapted to determine a major sound based on analysis of the first microphone signal and/ or the second microphone signal and/ or at least one of the plurality of band limited first microphone signals and/ or at least one of the plurality of band limited second microphone signals and to extract direction of arrival of the major sound; and (c) a processing unit adapted to generate a primary pulse pattern based on the determined major sound and to generate a secondary pulse pattern comprising a copy of the primary pulse pattern and a localization information incorporated therein, the localization information being based on the extracted direction of arrival; and (iv) a pulse generator adapted to generate a primary stimulation pulse based on the primary pulse pattern for stimulating an auditory nerve and a secondary stimulation pulse based on the secondary pulse pattern for stimulating another auditory nerve.