Hybrid Cochlear Implant Coordination for Residual Hearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cochlear implant systems fail to effectively mimic the natural acoustic hearing process, particularly in patients with residual hearing, as they do not account for the traveling wave properties and spectro-temporal distribution of sound components, leading to perceptual dissonance and inefficiencies in sound perception.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid system that simultaneously provides electrical and acoustic stimulation in the acoustically perceivable region of the cochlea, using frequency-specific and channel-specific sampling sequences to coordinate electrical and acoustic signals, ensuring a frequency match and fine structure information, with electrode contacts deeply inserted to overlap acoustic and electric stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical stimulation is applied to the cochlea using conventional cochlear implant systems, then impaired hearing in middle and high frequencies is improved, but perceptual dissonance occurs in patients with residual hearing due to failure to account for traveling wave properties and spectro-temporal distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by delivering electrical stimulation to specific frequency regions (middle and high frequencies) while preserving natural acoustic stimulation in other regions (low frequencies with residual hearing). The system selectively targets apical electrode contacts for low-frequency regions and basal contacts for high-frequency regions, ensuring that electrical stimulation is applied only where needed without interfering with residual natural hearing, thereby avoiding perceptual dissonance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cochlea into distinct frequency regions (low, middle, high frequencies) and applies different stimulation methods to each segment. Natural acoustic stimulation is preserved in low-frequency regions with residual hearing, while electrical stimulation is applied to middle and high-frequency regions. This segmentation allows the system to accommodate both residual hearing and implant functionality without conflict.
2Measurement precision
If electrode contacts are deeply inserted into the cochlea to stimulate acoustically perceivable regions, then fine structure information and frequency match are improved, but the complexity of coordinating electrical and acoustic stimulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining frequency regions and their corresponding electrode contacts before stimulation begins. Low-frequency regions are assigned to apical electrode contacts and high-frequency regions to basal contacts. This pre-organization simplifies the coordination process during actual stimulation, as the system already knows which electrodes to activate for each frequency range without requiring complex real-time calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary processing approach where the hearing signal processor analyzes the input sound signal and separates it into frequency-specific components. This intermediary processing stage coordinates the timing and frequency of electrical and acoustic stimulation signals, ensuring they are synchronized and frequency-matched before delivery to the cochlea, thereby reducing coordination complexity.
3Reliability
If hybrid electric acoustic stimulation is provided to patients with residual hearing, then sound perception is enhanced, but the system requires separate acoustic and electric stimulation paths increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges acoustic and electric stimulation paths into a unified hybrid EAS system. The hearing signal processor simultaneously generates both acoustic output signals (for low frequencies with residual hearing) and electrical stimulation signals (for middle and high frequencies) from a single input sound signal. This merging eliminates the need for completely separate systems and allows coordinated delivery through integrated signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing signal processor performs multiple functions: it processes the input sound signal to extract frequency components, generates acoustic output signals for low-frequency regions, generates electrical stimulation signals for middle and high-frequency regions, and coordinates timing and frequency across both paths. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control in a single processing unit.
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
Enhances sound perception in noisy conditions and reduces the need for adjusting stimulation ranges when natural hearing changes, providing improved auditory experience with reduced fitting time and minimal dissonance.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid-filled cochlea 104 functions as a transducer to generate electric pulses which are transmitted to the cochlear nerve 113
Implementation Method 2
a cochlear implant with an implanted stimulation electrode can electrically stimulate auditory nerve tissue with small currents delivered by multiple electrode contacts
Implementation Method 3
The hearing aid acoustically amplifies lower acoustic frequencies perceived by human ear
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A hearing signal processor processes an input sound signal and generates an electrical communications signal for an upper range of sound frequencies, and an acoustic communications signal for a lower range of sound frequencies. An implanted electrical stimulation subsystem includes an electrode array with one or more electrode contacts in an acoustically perceivable cochlear region retaining residual natural hearing. The electrical stimulation subsystem receives the electrical communications signal and delivers corresponding electrical stimulation signals to the electrode contacts for electrical stimulation of adjacent neural tissue. An external acoustic stimulation subsystem receives the acoustic communications signal and delivers corresponding amplified acoustic stimulation signals to the ear canal of the patient. The upper range and the lower range overlap and the electrical stimulation signals and the amplified acoustic stimulation signals are coordinated for simultaneous delivery to the acoustically perceivable cochlear region.