Dynamic Electrode Addressing in Cochlear Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cochlear implant systems are limited by fixed electrode addressing, which requires transmitting amplitude words in a predetermined order, leading to inefficient stimulation rates and timing resolution when skipping electrodes during stimulation frames.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamic electrode addressing system that allows the cochlear implant to dynamically select electrodes and determine stimulation pulse amplitudes within a stimulation frame, reducing the number of data words needed in the forward telemetry sequence and improving overall stimulation rate and timing resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If amplitude words are transmitted in a predetermined sequential order, then the system maintains simplicity in addressing, but the stimulation rate decreases and timing resolution worsens when electrodes need to be skipped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic electrode addressing where the order in which electrodes are addressed can change based on real-time stimulation needs. The system allows skipping electrodes by dynamically adjusting the addressing sequence, enabling the cochlear implant to adapt to varying stimulation requirements while maintaining efficient data transmission. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to switch from fixed sequential addressing to flexible dynamic addressing when electrode skipping is required.
2Adaptability or versatility
If skip commands are transmitted in the forward telemetry sequence, then electrode skipping is enabled, but the number of data words increases and stimulation rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrode skipping functionality from the data transmission stream by implementing a dynamic addressing mechanism that eliminates the need for separate skip commands. Instead of transmitting amplitude words for all electrodes and using skip commands to indicate which electrodes to exclude, the system dynamically addresses only the electrodes that need stimulation. This extraction of unnecessary data transmission steps reduces the number of data words required and decreases the time lost in each stimulation frame.
3Device complexity
If fixed addressing is used, then the system structure remains simple, but timing resolution deteriorates when repeated stimulation of the same electrode is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic electrode addressing that allows the same electrode to be addressed multiple times within a stimulation frame based on real-time auditory signal processing needs. This dynamic addressing capability enables precise timing control for repeated electrode stimulation without requiring complex additional hardware or system architecture. The system maintains relatively simple structure while achieving improved timing resolution through intelligent dynamic addressing sequences.
Data Source
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AI summary
An exemplary cochlear implant includes a communication facility configured to receive at least a first data word and a second data word in series from a sound processor by way of a forward-telemetry link and a processing facility communicatively coupled to the communication facility and configured to 1) use the first data word to dynamically determine an address associated with an electrode by way of which a stimulation pulse is to be applied during a time slot of a stimulation frame and 2) use the second data word to determine an amplitude of the stimulation pulse that is to be applied by way of the electrode during the time slot of the stimulation frame. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.