Magnetic Cochlear Electrode Feedback Tuning for Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cochlear implants with magnetic electrodes often fail to provide optimal neuronal stimulation due to incorrect or insufficient electric current, leading to poor performance and reduced battery life, necessitating infrequent recalibration by audiologists.
Innovation Solution
A system that dynamically adjusts the electric current to magnetic coils within the cochlea based on dominant sound frequencies, using a first set for stimulation and a second set for monitoring neuronal activity, allowing real-time adjustments to improve cochlear neuron activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric current is increased to improve neuronal stimulation, then stimulation effectiveness is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of electric current parameters based on real-time monitoring of cochlear neuronal responses. The stimulator profile is modified according to measured neuronal activity, allowing the system to optimize current levels continuously rather than using fixed settings, thereby achieving effective stimulation while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a feedback mechanism where cochlear neuronal responses are monitored and used to adjust the electric current parameters. The measured neuronal activity feeds back to the control system, which then modifies the stimulator profile to optimize stimulation effectiveness while reducing unnecessary power consumption.
2Reliability
If electric current is increased to ensure adequate neuronal stimulation, then stimulation reliability is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cochlear implant system performs self-adjustment of stimulation parameters by monitoring its own neuronal responses and automatically modifying the stimulator profile. This self-service capability eliminates the need for frequent external recalibration while maintaining optimal stimulation reliability and extending battery life through efficient current management.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback from monitored cochlear neuronal responses enables the system to maintain reliable stimulation at optimal current levels, avoiding both under-stimulation and excessive power consumption that would shorten battery life.
3Ease of operation
If fixed stimulator profile is used to simplify operation, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptation to varying sound frequencies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a fixed stimulator profile to a dynamic profile that automatically adapts to varying sound frequencies. The first and second sets of magnetic coils are dynamically identified based on dominant frequency components, and the stimulator profile is continuously adjusted to match the acoustic environment, maintaining both simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stimulator profile parameters are dynamically changed based on the dominant frequency components of received sound. The system identifies which magnetic coils to activate and at what current levels by analyzing frequency content, automatically adjusting parameters to optimize stimulation for different acoustic conditions.
4Measurement precision
If frequent recalibration is performed to maintain optimal stimulation, then stimulation precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-calibration by monitoring cochlear neuronal responses and adjusting the stimulator profile without requiring external intervention. This eliminates the need for frequent audiologist visits while maintaining precise stimulation, saving significant time for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
Continuous feedback from neuronal response monitoring enables real-time optimization of stimulation parameters, replacing periodic manual recalibration with continuous automatic adjustment, thereby maintaining precision without time loss.
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 cochlear implant performance by ensuring accurate neuronal stimulation and extends battery life by optimizing current usage, reducing power consumption and improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
Research has demonstrated that stimulating the cochlear nerve using an induced electric field produced by a time varying magnetic field provides enhanced cochlear neuron stimulation capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for performing in-situ stimulation adjustments of a cochlear implant. The embodiment may include identifying, dynamically, a first set of magnetic coils and a second set of magnetic coils based on dominant frequency components of a received sound. The first set and the second set are implanted within a cochlea of a user having a cochlear implant (CI). The embodiment may include activating, according to a stimulator profile of the user, the first set via an electric current sent to the first set in order to stimulate cochlear neurons. The embodiment may include determining that an in-situ adjustment to the activation of the first set is required based on analysis of a cochlear neuronal response recorded via the second set. The embodiment may include adjusting the stimulator profile.