Implantable Cochlear Wireless Stream Mixing for Multi-Source Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cochlear implant systems are limited by a well-defined and proprietary data interface between the external and implantable components, restricting the ability to process multiple audio and stimulation signal streams from various sources, and are not capable of managing simultaneous streams from different devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques that allow an implantable component to manage and process multiple wireless streams from various sources, including audio and stimulation signal streams, by contemporaneously receiving and mixing them to generate stimulation signals for the recipient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a well-defined and proprietary data interface is used between external and implantable components, then system reliability and compatibility are improved, but device complexity and versatility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable component is designed to receive and process multiple types of audio and stimulation signal streams from various external devices through a unified wireless interface, enabling it to function with different sound sources (e.g., smartphones, audio players, telephones) without requiring device-specific proprietary interfaces, thus achieving versatility while maintaining reliable operation
2Device complexity
If only a single audio stream is processed, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability and recipient experience are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple audio streams from different external devices into a unified stimulation output by receiving contemporaneous audio and stimulation signal streams from multiple sources and combining them through the implantable component, thereby enhancing adaptability and recipient experience without proportionally increasing device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless streams are received and mixed, then adaptability and stimulation quality are improved, but processing requirements and device complexity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable component is configured to autonomously receive, process, and mix multiple wireless audio and stimulation signal streams from various external devices, generating coordinated stimulation outputs without requiring external processing or additional complex infrastructure, thereby achieving enhanced adaptability while managing processing requirements within the implantable device itself
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein are techniques for receiving a plurality of streams by an implantable component of an implantable medical device system from a plurality of wireless sources and mixing the plurality of streams to generate stimulation signals for use in stimulating a recipient of the implantable medical device system.