Bimodal Hearing Prosthesis Synchronizing Electrical and Acoustic Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cochlear implants often produce unnatural and harsh sound percepts due to pulsatile electrical stimulation, which can be less appealing to recipients, especially those with residual hearing, leading them to prefer their natural hearing assisted by acoustic aids.
Innovation Solution
A bimodal hearing prosthesis that simultaneously delivers electrical and acoustic stimulation to the cochlea, using a speech processor to process sound signals and apply both types of stimulation in a controlled timing manner, optimizing the combination of electrical and acoustic signals to enhance hearing perception without causing delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pulsatile electrical stimulation is used in cochlear implants, then hearing sensation can be provided to profoundly deaf individuals, but the sound percepts become unnatural and harsh
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical stimulation and acoustic stimulation into a single bimodal hearing prosthesis system. The electrical signal delivery path and acoustic signal delivery path are integrated to work simultaneously, allowing the device to leverage both stimulation modes to produce more natural sound percepts while maintaining effective hearing sensation delivery to the cochlea.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic stimulation as an intermediary mechanism to soften the harshness of electrical stimulation. By delivering acoustic signals through the acoustic signal delivery path alongside electrical signals, the system creates a composite stimulation effect that masks the unnatural characteristics of pure electrical stimulation while preserving its effectiveness.
2Reliability
If electrical stimulation is used to bypass damaged hair cells, then hearing can be restored, but the percepts remain harsh and unnatural for some recipients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the delay parameter between electrical and acoustic stimulation. The delay value is adjusted based on individual recipient characteristics and listening conditions, allowing the system to optimize the integration of both stimulation modes for each user. This dynamic adjustment improves recipient adaptability by tailoring the bimodal stimulation to individual needs while maintaining effective hearing restoration.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If acoustic hearing aids are used for residual hearing, then natural sound perception is maintained, but electrical stimulation is needed for frequency ranges beyond residual hearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal hearing prosthesis that performs multiple functions: it provides acoustic stimulation for frequency ranges where the recipient has residual hearing, and electrical stimulation for frequency ranges beyond residual hearing. The single device replaces the need for separate acoustic hearing aids and cochlear implants, achieving full-spectrum hearing coverage while maintaining natural sound perception through the acoustic path.
Data Source
AI summary
A bimodal hearing prosthesis configured to deliver electrical and acoustic stimulation to a recipient such that a frequency range of a received sound that is represented by the electrical stimulation is perceived simultaneously with the frequency range of the received sound that is represented by the acoustic stimulation.