Cochlear Implant Hybrid Stimulation for Spatial Precision and Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cochlear implants face challenges in achieving high spatial resolution and efficient energy consumption for neural stimulation, particularly with optical methods requiring high energy and heat dissipation, while electrical methods result in wide current spread and limited frequency channels.
Innovation Solution
A method that combines electrical and optical stimulations, selecting specific types of stimulation based on frequency band analysis, using electrical contacts and light emitters to target precise nerve locations, optimizing energy use and reducing heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical stimulation is used to achieve high spatial resolution, then the number of independent frequency channels increases, but energy consumption and heat dissipation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical and optical stimulation methods into a hybrid system. Electrical contacts provide efficient energy delivery while optical components (light emitters) provide spatially selective activation. The merging allows the system to achieve high spatial resolution through optical targeting while using electrical stimulation's energy efficiency, thereby resolving the contradiction between spatial resolution and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different stimulation modalities to different locations along the cochlear implant electrode array. Optical stimulation is used at specific locations where high spatial resolution is needed, while electrical stimulation is used at other locations for efficient energy delivery. This local differentiation allows the system to optimize both spatial resolution and energy consumption across different regions
2Use of energy by moving object
If electrical stimulation is used for efficient energy delivery, then energy consumption is reduced, but current spread is wide resulting in limited frequency channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrical stimulation at locations where energy efficiency is prioritized, while using optical stimulation at locations where spatial precision is critical. This localized application allows the system to leverage the energy efficiency of electrical contacts without sacrificing overall spatial resolution, as optical stimulation compensates for the wide current spread at key frequencies
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid system merges the energy efficiency advantage of electrical stimulation with the spatial precision advantage of optical stimulation. By combining both modalities, the system achieves overall energy efficiency while maintaining high spatial resolution through the optical component's ability to confine current spread
3Measurement precision
If more light emitters are used to increase spatial resolution, then more independent channels are achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a hybrid system where both electrical contacts and optical light emitters serve dual purposes: electrical contacts provide both efficient energy delivery and contribute to stimulation, while light emitters provide spatially selective activation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for a large number of light emitters, as electrical contacts also contribute to the stimulation function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining spatial resolution
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
Provides high-resolution neural stimulation with reduced energy consumption and heat dissipation, enhancing speech recognition and music appreciation in cochlear implant users.
Implementation Method 1
optical stimulation requires higher stimulation energies and additionally the limited efficiency of converting electricity to stimulation light increases the consuming energy and the heat dissipation
Implementation Method 2
INS does not require such treatment because during INS, the fluid in the target tissue absorbs the photons and the energy is converted into heat. The result is a rapid temperature change (dT/dt) that leads to capacitive changes of the cell membrane, activation of temperature sensitive ion channels
Implementation Method 3
electrical current is the most efficient one... determine to which electrical contact and at which intensity an electrical current should be delivered in order to stimulate the corresponding location along the cochlear nerve
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of selecting stimulations for a cochlear implant or an auditory implant. The method may include: capturing an acoustical signal; dividing the acoustical signal into a plurality of frequency bands; determining a mean acoustical energy for each frequency band; for each frequency band: comparing the mean acoustical energy with the mean acoustical energy determined for neighboring frequency bands; merging neighboring frequency bands having a difference between the mean acoustical energies that is less than an acoustical energy threshold value; selecting one or more types of stimulation to be applied to one or more locations in a cochlea or along an auditory nerve based on bandwidths of each frequency band. The one or more types of stimulation may be selected from: electrical stimulation, optical stimulation and opto-electrical stimulation, and the one or more locations in cochlea or along the auditory nerve may correspond to specific frequencies of the acoustical signal.