Cochlear Implant Audio Signal Processing with Selective Channel Synthesis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cochlear implant systems face challenges in presenting audio signals effectively, particularly in distinguishing relevant information from background noise, as they often apply stimulation current to all channels simultaneously, leading to information loss.

Innovation Solution

The system divides audio signals into a greater number of analysis channels than stimulation channels, detects energy levels, selects relevant channels, synthesizes them, and maps them to stimulation channels, allowing for targeted electrical stimulation to enhance information detection and presentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If all analysis channels are presented to the patient simultaneously, then complete audio information is transmitted, but the patient cannot distinguish relevant speech from background noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio information completenessVSAvoidspeech discrimination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The audio signal is divided into multiple analysis channels representing different frequency ranges. Instead of presenting all channels simultaneously, the system segments the presentation by selecting and synthesizing only the most relevant channels for each stimulation frame, allowing the patient to receive processed information in manageable segments rather than overwhelming simultaneous input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different channels are treated differently based on their local characteristics (energy levels). The system applies local quality control by detecting energy levels in each channel and selectively presenting only those channels that contain relevant information, rather than applying uniform presentation across all channels. This allows speech frequencies to be prioritized while background noise frequencies are suppressed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If stimulation current is applied to all channels simultaneously, then all frequency ranges are stimulated, but relevant information is lost in the noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency coverageVSAvoidrelevant information loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Before applying stimulation current, the system performs preliminary analysis by detecting energy levels in each analysis channel and selecting the most relevant ones. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare a synthesized signal containing only the most important frequency information, which is then mapped to stimulation channels and presented to the patient, preventing relevant information loss before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than stimulating all frequency channels equally (excessive action), the system applies partial action by selecting only the most relevant channels based on energy detection. This partial stimulation approach focuses electrical energy on carrying meaningful speech information while reducing stimulation in frequency ranges dominated by background noise, improving the signal-to-noise ratio for the patient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If the number of analysis channels exceeds the number of stimulation channels, then finer frequency resolution is achieved, but channel mapping complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency resolutionVSAvoidchannel mapping complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple analysis channels are merged or combined into fewer stimulation channels through a synthesis process. The system detects energy levels across many high-resolution analysis channels, selects the relevant ones, and then synthesizes them into a reduced set of stimulation channels that can be driven by the implantable electrode array. This merging process maintains frequency resolution benefits while reducing the complexity of the final stimulation mapping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8391988B2Methods and systems for presenting an audio signal to a cochlear implant patient

Publication Date: 2013.03.05 ADVANCED BIONICS AG

AI summary

An exemplary signal processing unit includes a plurality of filters configured to divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels, one or more detection stages configured to detect an energy level within each of said analysis channels, a selection stage configured to select one or more of said analysis channels for presentation to a patient, a synthesizer stage configured to synthesize said selected analysis channels, and a mapping stage configured to map said selected analysis channels to a number of stimulation channels within an implantable cochlear stimulator, wherein a total number of said analysis channels is greater than a total number of said stimulation channels.