Cochlear Implant Interface Synchronizing Middle Ear Analyzer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the most comfortable current levels (M levels) for cochlear implant patients are unreliable, time-consuming, and difficult to implement, especially for pediatric patients, due to the reliance on subjective feedback and the lack of synchronization between middle ear analyzers and cochlear implant systems.
Innovation Solution
A system that synchronizes the operation of a middle ear analyzer and a cochlear implant system, using a mapping facility to associate sound levels with current levels and frequencies, allowing the middle ear analyzer to direct the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation, thereby facilitating the elicitation of a stapedius reflex and determining the stapedius reflex threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate and unsynchronized devices are used to apply electrical stimulation and measure acoustic immittance, then the measurement process can be performed with available equipment, but the recorded changes in acoustic immittance cannot be correlated with the various current levels applied, making interpretation difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interface subsystem as an intermediary between the middle ear analyzer and cochlear implant system. This interface receives acoustic signals from the middle ear analyzer, detects sound levels and frequencies, identifies corresponding current levels and electrodes using mapping data, and directs the cochlear implant system to apply electrical stimulation. This mediator enables reliable correlation between acoustic immittance measurements and current levels while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the interface subsystem continuously monitor acoustic signals from the middle ear analyzer and use this information to control the electrical stimulation applied by the cochlear implant system. The mapping data establishes relationships between acoustic parameters and electrical stimulation parameters, allowing the system to automatically adjust stimulation based on measured acoustic immittance changes, thereby achieving reliable correlation without complex synchronization mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If subjective feedback methods are used to determine M levels, then the process can be performed with simple equipment, but the method is difficult to implement for pediatric patients who cannot provide reliable subjective feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the subjective feedback mechanism (which relies on patient verbal or non-verbal responses) with an objective acoustic measurement system. The middle ear analyzer objectively measures acoustic immittance changes in response to electrical stimulation, eliminating the need for patient subjective feedback. This substitution enables M level determination for pediatric patients who cannot provide subjective feedback, though it requires the additional equipment and processing time for acoustic measurements.
Data Source
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AI summary
An exemplary system (104) for synchronizing an operation of a middle ear analyzer (102) and a cochlear implant system (106) includes 1) a mapping facility configured to maintain mapping data representative of an association between a plurality of sound levels and a plurality of current levels and between a plurality of frequencies and a plurality of electrodes, 2) a detection facility configured to receive an acoustic signal transmitted by the middle ear analyzer and detect a sound level and a frequency of the acoustic signal, and 3) a processing facility configured to identify, based on the mapping data, a current level associated with the detected sound level and one or more electrodes associated with the detected frequency and direct the cochlear implant system to apply electrical stimulation having the identified current level to one or more stimulation sites within a patient by way of the identified one or more electrodes.