Cochlear Implant Sound Processor On-Site Diagnosis and Data Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cochlear implant sound processors often require individualized settings and frequent maintenance, leading to challenges in diagnosing and repairing malfunctions, especially due to corrupted data or environmental factors, which can result in improper stimulation and inconvenience to users.
Innovation Solution
A method and tool for on-site diagnosis and repair of sound processors, allowing for testing of hardware and software components, assessing stored data, and potentially restoring functionality, which includes self-updating capabilities and the ability to retrieve backup patient data or reinstall programming functions, enabling on-site rectification of faults and reducing the need for device dispatch to a repair facility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sound processor requires individualized settings and frequent maintenance, then device functionality and user comfort are improved, but diagnosis and repair complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sound processor performs self-diagnosis by automatically testing its own hardware components, stored data integrity, and software functions. The processor generates diagnostic reports and can even restore its own functionality by retrieving backup data or reinitializing systems, eliminating the need for complex external diagnostic procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound processor maintains backup copies of patient data and system configurations stored in protected memory. Before potential corruption occurs, these backups are ready for immediate restoration. The system also performs preliminary integrity checks on stored data to detect corruption early before it affects device operation.
2Measurement precision
If sound processor is dispatched to repair facility for analysis, then accurate diagnosis is achieved, but repair time and user disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sound processor autonomously performs comprehensive diagnostic tests including hardware component functionality assessment, stored data integrity verification, and software function evaluation. It generates detailed diagnostic reports locally and can initiate self-restoration procedures, eliminating the need for time-consuming transport to repair facilities while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors system integrity and performs preliminary diagnostic assessments during normal operation. When issues are detected, the processor has already gathered diagnostic information and can immediately initiate restoration procedures using pre-stored backup data, significantly reducing the time required compared to external analysis.
3Reliability
If sound processor data is corrupted due to environmental factors, then device reliability deteriorates, but on-site restoration capability can recover functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The sound processor stores multiple backup copies of critical patient data and system configurations in protected memory areas that are resistant to environmental corruption. These backups are created before potential corruption events and are designed to withstand various environmental stressors including moisture, temperature extremes, and electromagnetic interference.
Solution Approach 2:
When data corruption is detected, the sound processor automatically initiates restoration procedures by retrieving intact backup data from protected storage and restoring corrupted files. The system can verify restoration success and continue normal operation without external intervention, maintaining reliability despite environmental challenges.
Data Source
AI summary
Diagnosis means, in the form of a software tool, for on-site diagnosis of a sound processor of an implanted prosthesis. The diagnosis means assesses hardware components and programming functions of the sound processor and accesses and assesses patient data stored in the sound processor. An activity log or report based on the assessment is available. Updated data and functions pertaining to a patient are retrieved and applied to the diagnosis means. The diagnosis means can replace the patient data and/or programming functions of the sound processor in the event of patient data corruption or programming function error in the sound processor. A method of on-site diagnosis of a sound processor and a process for diagnosis and repair of a sound processor of an implanted prosthesis are also disclosed.