Cochlear Implant Stimulation Using Simultaneous Sign-Correlated Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cochlear implant technologies face limitations in power consumption and voltage requirements due to high interface impedances, which restrict the efficiency of electrical nerve stimulation, particularly in multi-channel configurations where simultaneous stimulation is not effectively utilized to reduce power and voltage needs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining amplitudes for simultaneous, sign-correlated pulses across multiple electrodes in a monopolar electrode configuration to achieve desired potentials with reduced power consumption, utilizing channel interaction compensation to ensure constructive superposition of electrical fields and minimize voltage drops across interface impedances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous-interleaved-sampling strategy is used with high overall stimulation rate, then temporal representation of envelope signal is adequate, but power consumption increases and voltage requirements rise due to high interface impedances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple stimulation channels into simultaneous stimulation groups, where channels are stimulated together rather than sequentially. This merging approach reduces the overall number of stimulation events required, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate temporal representation of the envelope signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts stimulation parameters by implementing channel interaction compensation that adapts to the electrical fields generated by simultaneous channels. This dynamic adjustment allows for reduced voltage amplitudes in simultaneous stimulation while maintaining the desired temporal fidelity, thus reducing power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If continuous-interleaved-sampling strategy is used with high overall stimulation rate, then temporal representation of envelope signal is adequate, but voltage requirements increase due to high interface impedances
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple channels into simultaneous stimulation groups, the patent reduces the total number of stimulation events, which directly reduces the cumulative voltage requirements across the interface impedance, lowering the peak voltage demands on the power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the stimulation parameter from sequential to simultaneous activation, and implements channel interaction compensation that adjusts voltage amplitudes based on the superposition of electrical fields. This parameter change allows achieving the same neural stimulation effect with lower voltage requirements.
3Use of energy by moving object
If simultaneous stimulation of multiple channels is implemented, then power consumption is reduced, but electrical field superposition and channel interaction must be compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements channel interaction compensation that acts as a feedback mechanism, where the electrical fields generated by simultaneously stimulated channels are measured and compensated for in subsequent stimulation events. This feedback approach maintains stimulation accuracy while enabling power-reducing simultaneous stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calculations of channel interactions and electrical field superpositions before actual simultaneous stimulation occurs. By pre-computing the compensation factors, the system reduces the complexity of real-time control while maintaining the benefits of simultaneous stimulation.
4Reliability
If sequential stimulation is used in CIS strategy, then channel interaction is minimized, but stimulation rate per channel must be high to maintain overall information rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional CIS approach by implementing simultaneous instead of sequential stimulation. This inversion allows channels to work together rather than take turns, reducing the stimulation rate per channel while maintaining or improving overall information transmission through coordinated channel interaction compensation.
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
This approach reduces stimulation power and voltage requirements by up to 23% compared to traditional continuous-interleaved-sampling strategies, enabling more efficient and effective electrical nerve stimulation while maintaining desired potential levels.
Implementation Method 1
determining amplitudes of simultaneous, sign-correlated pulses associated with at least two electrodes... to provide a total potential at a given position that is substantially equal to a desired potential
Implementation Method 2
The stimulator 105 generates the stimulation patterns and conducts them to the nerve tissue by means of an electrode array 107
Implementation Method 3
high interface impedances, which restrict the efficiency of electrical nerve stimulation
Data Source
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AI summary
A stimulation system including a stimulator having a multi-channel electrode array utilizing a monopolar electrode configuration. A processor is operatively coupled to the stimulator. The processor is configured to determine a channel interaction (CI) sequence using simultaneous, sign-correlated pulses and channel interaction compensation. The CI sequence has a CI pulse rate and a CI mean pulse amplitude, and produces resulting potentials that are substantially equal to desired potentials at given positions relative to the multi-channel array. The CI sequence may include temporal gaps between pulses, wherein the processor may be configured to increase the CI pulse rate, such that the temporal gap between pulses is decreased. Furthermore, the processor may be configured to reduce the pulse amplitude of the CI sequence while increasing pulse phase duration, such that charge per pulse remains substantially unchanged and the temporal gap between pulses is decreased.