Cochlear Implant Frequency Mapping for Tonotopic Mismatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cochlear implant systems face discrepancies in frequency mapping due to interindividual anatomic variations, leading to inefficiencies and reduced hearing performance, as conventional methods fail to account for patient-specific tonotopic organization and hardware limitations.
Innovation Solution
A patient-specific frequency mapping procedure that assigns tonotopic frequency bands to stimulation electrodes based on a subset selection criterion, ensuring tonotopic matching in an intermediate frequency range while accommodating hardware constraints, using band boundary determination rules that prioritize even distribution over strict tonotopic matching for apical and basal ends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional fixed frequency mapping is used in cochlear implants, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but hearing performance deteriorates due to anatomical variations and frequency-to-place mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic frequency mapping that adapts to individual patient anatomy. The system determines actual electrode positions post-implantation and dynamically adjusts the frequency-to-electrode assignment based on measured insertion depth and cochlear geometry, transforming the static fixed mapping into an adaptive dynamic system that optimizes hearing performance for each patient
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mapping parameters between low-frequency and high-frequency electrodes based on anatomical measurements. For low-frequency electrodes, a different frequency assignment rule is applied compared to high-frequency electrodes, allowing optimization for each frequency region's specific anatomical constraints and performance requirements
2Manufacturing precision
If tonotopic matching is maintained across all frequency ranges, then hearing performance is improved, but hardware limitations cause loss of low-frequency information and electrode channels become inefficiently used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different frequency mapping strategies to different electrode regions. Low-frequency electrodes use one mapping approach optimized for preserving low-frequency information, while high-frequency electrodes use another mapping approach optimized for their specific performance characteristics. This local differentiation allows each region to operate at optimal efficiency without compromising overall system performance
3Device complexity
If electrode channels are broadly tuned to cover frequency ranges, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of frequency perception deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into distinct regions (low-frequency and high-frequency bands) and assigns specific electrodes to each segment with dedicated mapping rules. This segmentation allows each electrode to be precisely tuned to its assigned frequency range, improving frequency perception accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity through organized regional control
Data Source
AI summary
A patient-specific frequency mapping procedure, a fitting system for carrying out said procedure and computer program product for a cochlear implant or an electric-acoustic stimulation device having an electrode array that has been implanted into the cochlea of said patient is disclosed.