Cochlear Implant Phantom Stimulation for Upper-Band Spectral Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cochlear implant systems reduce spectral resolution by mapping frequencies below the place pitch of the most apical electrode to this electrode, increasing the spectral distance between electrodes and reducing the ability to distinguish between frequencies.
Innovation Solution
Implement a frequency allocation table that maps only frequencies above a cutoff frequency to electrodes, using standard electrical stimulation, while frequencies below the cutoff are conveyed through phantom electrical stimulation via the most apical electrode and compensating electrodes, enhancing spectral resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If frequencies below the place pitch of the most apical electrode are mapped to this electrode, then these low frequencies can be presented to the recipient, but the spectral distance between electrodes increases and spectral resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency range is segmented into two distinct regions: a lower region (below cutoff frequency) handled by phantom electrode stimulation and an upper region (above cutoff frequency) handled by standard electrode mapping. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized independently, maintaining low frequency coverage while improving spectral resolution in the upper region.
Solution Approach 2:
Phantom electrode stimulation acts as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the gap between standard electrode mapping and the requirements for low frequency representation. By using the most apical electrode with compensating electrodes to simulate phantom low frequency electrodes, the system maintains spectral resolution while still presenting low frequencies.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a frequency allocation table maps all audible frequencies to electrodes, then complete frequency coverage is achieved, but spectral distance between electrodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
Frequencies below the cutoff frequency are extracted from the standard electrode mapping system and handled separately through phantom electrode stimulation. This extraction allows the frequency allocation table to focus on the upper region where electrode mapping is most effective, reducing spectral distance between mapped electrodes while maintaining overall frequency coverage through the phantom stimulation mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary sound processor is configured to direct a cochlear implant to apply standard electrical stimulation representative of frequencies in an audio signal that are within an upper region to a cochlea of a first ear of a recipient by way of a plurality of electrodes in accordance with a frequency allocation table that maps frequencies in the upper region of the audible frequency range of the recipient to the plurality of electrodes, the upper region of the audible frequency range comprising frequencies above and including a cutoff frequency, and direct the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of frequencies in the audio signal that are within a lower region of the audible frequency range to the cochlea of the first ear by way of a most apical electrode and one or more compensating electrodes included in the plurality of electrodes in accordance with an electrode stimulation configuration.