Cochlear Implant Sleep-Linked Map Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hearing prostheses, such as cochlear implants, often require manual adjustment and fitting sessions with audiologists, which can be time-consuming and may not fully optimize settings during sleep periods when the recipient is not actively participating.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize sleep state determination to provide stimulation and execute measurements, allowing for automatic adjustment or loading of new settings on the hearing prosthesis, including the use of EEG, EMG, and accelerometer data to monitor sleep stages and apply appropriate stimulation levels without disturbing the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual adjustment and fitting sessions with audiologists are used, then the hearing prosthesis settings can be adjusted, but the process is time-consuming and cannot optimize settings during sleep periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetting optimizationVSAvoidfitting session time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic sleep stage determination and map adjustment without requiring audiologist intervention during sleep periods. The hearing prosthesis autonomously monitors sleep stages via accelerometry and performs map adjustments during appropriate sleep stages, eliminating the need for manual fitting sessions and optimizing settings continuously during the user's sleep.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs map adjustments during sleep periods before the user wakes up, so that optimized settings are already in place when the user needs to use the hearing prosthesis during the day. This preliminary optimization during sleep eliminates the need for time-consuming fitting sessions and ensures optimal performance from morning onwards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If frequent map adjustments are made to improve speech understanding, then adaptation becomes easier, but the need for frequent clinic visits increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech understanding improvement rateVSAvoidclinic visit frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic map adjustments during sleep periods without requiring clinic visits. By utilizing the user's own sleep time for optimization, the system achieves frequent adjustments and improved speech understanding while eliminating the need for frequent clinic appointments, as the device serves itself during nighttime hours.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If stimulation is provided during sleep periods for measurements, then more data can be collected for optimization, but the user may be disturbed from sleep

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement data qualityVSAvoidsleep disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides stimulation in periodic pulses synchronized with the sleep stage duration and intensity. By delivering brief periodic stimuli during appropriate sleep stages and using interspersed silent intervals, the system collects sufficient measurement data to optimize settings while minimizing disruption to the user's sleep continuity and quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts stimulation intensity and duration based on the detected sleep stage. During deeper sleep stages, stimulation is minimized or paused to avoid disturbance, while during lighter sleep stages, more intensive measurements can be performed. This dynamic adaptation ensures high-quality data collection while maintaining sleep quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables more frequent and precise map adjustments, potentially improving speech understanding by up to 50% and allowing for easier adaptation to smaller changes, while also reducing the need for frequent clinic visits and increasing the efficiency of hearing prosthesis fitting and refinement.

Implementation Method 1

certain types of hearing prostheses, commonly referred to as cochlear implants, convert a received sound into electrical stimulation. The electrical stimulation is applied to the cochlea, which results in the perception of the received sound.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical stimulation:

Implementation Method 2

Cases of conductive hearing loss typically are treated by means of bone conduction hearing aids. In contrast to conventional hearing aids, these devices use a mechanical actuator that is coupled to the skull bone to apply the amplified sound.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBone conduction:

Implementation Method 3

the use of EEG, EMG, and accelerometer data to monitor sleep stages

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroencephalogram (EEG):

Implementation Method 4

the use of EEG, EMG, and accelerometer data to monitor sleep stages

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromyogram (EMG):

Data Source

PatentUS20210260378A1Sleep-linked adjustment methods for prostheses

Publication Date: 2021.08.26 COCHLEAR LIMITED

AI summary

A method, including providing stimulation to a recipient of a prosthesis, such as a hearing prosthesis, such as an implantable prosthesis, such as a cochlear implant, wherein the stimulation is provided at temporal locations associated with sleep of the recipient, and the stimulation is at least one of part of a measurement method or an auditory training method.