Cochlear Health Monitoring During Electrode Array Insertion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cochlear implant surgery methods lack feedback on cochlea damage during electrode array insertion, making it difficult to minimize trauma and preserve residual hearing.
Innovation Solution
A method involving multiple acoustic stimulations with varying frequencies, combined with electrocochleography and impedance measurements, to monitor cochlea health and electrode position during insertion, using an extracochlear probe for stable recordings and real-time feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If eCochG monitoring is used during electrode array insertion, then cochlea health can be monitored, but no feedback is provided about the region and depth of damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cochlea into multiple frequency regions (apical, middle, basal turns) and uses multiple tone burst frequencies (250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz) to monitor different segments independently. When damage occurs, the system identifies which specific frequency region is affected, providing spatial localization of the trauma. This segmentation allows the system to not only detect that damage occurred but also to pinpoint the affected region along the cochlear length.
2Device complexity
If a single frequency tone burst is used for eCochG monitoring, then the measurement is simple, but the ability to locate damage region is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a frequency dimension to the monitoring system by using multiple tone burst frequencies simultaneously. Each frequency corresponds to a specific region of the cochlea based on the tonotopic organization. By monitoring responses across multiple frequencies, the system transforms a one-dimensional measurement (single amplitude value) into a multi-dimensional measurement (amplitude across multiple frequency channels), enabling spatial localization of damage without significantly increasing system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If intracochlear electrodes are used for eCochG recording, then direct measurement is possible, but the setup is complex and less user-friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the electrode array itself as an intermediary tool that serves dual purposes: as the insertion instrument and as the recording electrode for eCochG measurements. The most apical electrode of the array is used to record cochlear microphonics, eliminating the need for separate intracochlear recording electrodes. This approach maintains direct measurement capability while simplifying the overall setup, as the recording function is integrated into the existing electrode array structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the precision of detecting cochlea health conditions and electrode position, reducing trauma and preserving residual hearing by allowing for immediate adjustment of electrode insertion.
Implementation Method 1
an electrocochleography probe is arranged onto an outer wall of the recipient's cochlea for measuring a plurality of cochlea baseline responses based on the plurality of acoustic stimulations
Implementation Method 2
applying a plurality of acoustic stimulations, and where each of the plurality of acoustic stimulations includes a tone burst with different frequencies
Implementation Method 3
performing a plurality of impedance measurements of each plurality of electrodes during insertion of the electrode array into the recipient's cochlea
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for one or more acoustically-evoked responses to acoustic stimulation to determine a frequency map, wherein the frequency map that associates respective frequencies of the acoustic stimulation to respective electrodes of an electrode array.