Cochlear Implant Self-Fitting via Voice Prompts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional fitting process for hearing prostheses, such as cochlear implants, requires clinical intervention and is time-consuming, as it involves tailoring sound processing settings to individual recipients, necessitating repeated adjustments due to changes in hearing capabilities or environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a recipient-controlled fitting method using voice prompts and test stimuli within the cochlear prosthesis, allowing users to adjust and refine their own sound processing settings, such as threshold and comfortable levels, without the need for clinical assistance, using an on-board fitting system that updates the sound processor's mapping parameters based on user feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional clinical fitting process is used, then accurate individualized sound processing settings can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and requires repeated clinical visits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables recipients to perform self-refitting at home using voice prompts and test stimuli without requiring audiologist intervention. The system guides users through threshold and comfortable level determination, MAP optimization, and parameter adjustment independently, eliminating the need for repeated clinical visits while maintaining accurate individualized settings
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms where recipients provide responses to test stimuli and voice prompts, which are then used to automatically adjust sound processing parameters. This iterative feedback loop allows the system to converge on optimal settings without clinical intervention, reducing fitting time while preserving measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If traditional clinical fitting process is used, then accurate individualized sound processing settings can be achieved, but clinical resources are heavily burdened
Solution Approach 1:
By transferring the fitting process from the clinic to the recipient's home environment, the system eliminates the need for audiologists to perform routine threshold and comfortable level measurements. This frees up clinical resources for more complex cases and initial fittings, improving overall productivity while maintaining measurement accuracy through automated guidance
3Productivity
If recipient-controlled fitting is implemented, then clinical resources are freed up and adjustment timing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/clinical fitting system with an automated electronic system using voice prompts, test stimuli generation, and algorithmic parameter adjustment. This substitution increases device complexity but eliminates the need for clinical infrastructure, improving productivity and enabling timely adjustments at home
4Productivity
If recipient-controlled fitting is implemented, then timely adjustments can be made, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces voice prompts and automated test stimuli as intermediaries that guide recipients through the fitting process without requiring them to understand complex audiological concepts. This intermediary layer simplifies the user interface while enabling timely adjustments, though it adds complexity to the system architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A method for fitting to a recipient a cochlear prosthesis having a sound processor that processes received sound in accordance with a MAP, the method comprises providing, by the hearing prosthesis, combinations of voice prompts and test stimuli for testing values of an element of the MAP; receiving from the recipient an indication of which of said values are desirable; and revising the MAP with the desired value for the tested element. A neural-stimulating device for stimulating nerve cells of a recipient is provided.