Cochlear Implant Electrode Array for Non-Auditory Nerve Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cochlear implants often stimulate non-auditory nerves, such as the facial nerve, which can be painful and difficult for recipients to recognize, especially in cases like small children or mentally disabled individuals, leading to suboptimal configuration settings during the fitting process.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for detecting non-auditory nerve stimulation using a cochlear implant with a plurality of electrodes, involving the generation of an electrical signal and measurement of responses to determine if the signal stimulated a non-auditory nerve, allowing for adjustment of configuration settings to prevent such stimulations, including changing electrode configurations or disabling active electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external sensors are used to detect facial nerve impulses during surgery, then facial nerve stimulation can be detected, but the detection is only available during surgery and not during post-operative fine-tuning
Solution Approach 1:
The cochlear implant's electrodes are made multi-functional by enabling them to both deliver electrical stimulation to the auditory nerve and detect facial nerve stimulation responses. This eliminates the need for separate external sensors during post-operative fitting, as the implant itself can perform both stimulation and detection functions using the same electrode array.
Solution Approach 2:
The cochlear implant system performs self-detection of facial nerve stimulation by measuring electrical responses through its own electrodes. The system generates a test signal, measures the response, and automatically determines whether facial nerve stimulation occurred, enabling the device to monitor and adjust its own operation without requiring external detection equipment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cochlear implant stimulates non-auditory nerves such as the facial nerve, then the recipient may experience pain or discomfort, but the recipient may not always be able to recognize or indicate the stimulation reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback detection by measuring electrical responses from the facial nerve through the cochlear implant electrodes. When facial nerve stimulation is detected via the measured response characteristics, the system can alert the audiologist or automatically adjust settings to prevent painful stimulation, eliminating reliance on the recipient's ability to provide reliable feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of facial nerve stimulation during the fitting process by generating test signals and measuring responses before final configuration is established. This allows the audiologist to identify and adjust problematic electrode configurations in advance, preventing painful stimulation from occurring in the final implant setup.
3Reliability
If implant configuration settings are adjusted during fine-tuning, then hearing performance can be optimized, but facial nerve stimulation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time feedback from measured electrical responses to detect facial nerve stimulation during configuration adjustments. When facial nerve stimulation is detected, the system can alert the audiologist to modify the current settings, allowing optimization of hearing performance while avoiding harmful facial nerve stimulation through iterative adjustment and monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial stimulation levels during the fitting process by using low-amplitude test signals to detect facial nerve stimulation thresholds. By gradually increasing stimulation levels and monitoring responses, the system can identify safe configuration settings that provide adequate hearing performance without exceeding the threshold for facial nerve stimulation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses systems and methods for detecting non-auditory nerve stimulation with an implant having a plurality of electrodes configured to electrically stimulate a target nerve of the implant recipient. One embodiment includes generating an electrical stimulation signal with a first set of electrodes of the implant, measuring a response to the electrical stimulation signal with a second set of electrodes of the implant, and determining whether the electrical stimulation signal stimulated at least one non-target nerve of the implant recipient based on the measured response.