Evoked Response Electrode Mapping for Cochlear Implant Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cochlear implant systems lack an effective method to determine precise electrode positioning within the cochlea, which is crucial for accurate frequency mapping and stimulation, impacting the recipient's ability to perceive sound accurately.
Innovation Solution
An evoked response-based system and method that uses a diagnostic system to apply acoustic stimulation, record evoked responses, and generate a tuning curve to identify the electrode with the highest response amplitude, allowing for precise electrode mapping and programming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional insertion procedures are used to place electrode leads in the cochlea, then the procedure can be completed, but precise electrode positioning cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by applying acoustic stimulation and recording evoked responses immediately after electrode insertion but before final programming. This allows electrode positioning to be determined in advance, enabling accurate frequency mapping during the fitting process without requiring additional surgical procedures or complex post-operative adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses evoked response measurements as feedback to determine which electrode corresponds to specific frequency regions in the cochlea. By measuring the amplitude of neural responses to acoustic stimulation at different electrodes, the system automatically identifies the tonotopic mapping, providing real-time feedback that guides the programming process and ensures accurate sound perception.
2Reliability
If frequency mapping is performed without accurate electrode positioning data, then programming can proceed, but sound perception accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs frequency mapping measurements during the initial insertion procedure rather than requiring separate programming sessions. By determining electrode-cochlea location correspondence immediately after insertion using evoked responses, the system eliminates time loss associated with trial-and-error programming adjustments and ensures accurate sound perception from the outset.
3Measurement precision
If manual methods are used to determine electrode positioning, then the process can be attempted, but measurement precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining electrode positioning through objective physiological measurements. The evoked response amplitudes recorded from the recipient's auditory nerve provide direct, quantifiable data about electrode locations, eliminating the need for subjective manual assessment or complex imaging procedures. The system processes the measurements and generates frequency maps automatically, maintaining operational simplicity while achieving high precision.
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 immediate verification of electrode placement and appropriate programming, ensuring correct positioning and effective sound perception by the recipient.
Implementation Method 1
The evoked response measurements may be indicative of evoked responses that occur within the recipient in response to acoustic stimulation applied to the recipient. The evoked responses may each be an ECoG potential (e.g., a cochlear microphonic potential, an action potential, a summating potential, etc.), an auditory nerve response, a brainstem response, a compound action potential, a stapedius reflex, and/or any other type of neural or physiological response that may occur within a recipient in response to application of acoustic stimulation to the recipient.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary system directs a display screen to display a graphical user interface that includes a selectable option to perform an electrode sweep with respect to a plurality of electrodes disposed on an electrode lead implanted at least partially within a cochlea of a recipient of a cochlear implant, detects a selection by a user of the option, directs, in response to the selection of the option, an acoustic stimulation generator to apply acoustic stimulation having a frequency to the recipient, directs the cochlear implant to use each electrode included in the plurality of electrodes to record an evoked response measurement in response to the acoustic stimulation, determines an amplitude of each of the evoked response measurements recorded by the plurality of electrodes, and presents, within the graphical user interface, a tuning curve that graphically indicates the amplitudes of the evoked response measurements.