Modular Cochlear Implant Signal Processor for Easier Upgrades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cochlear implants with fully implanted components are difficult to test and diagnose for system operation issues, making it challenging to maintain and upgrade the internal components without disturbing the patient's cochlear tissue.
Innovation Solution
A modular cochlear implant system with detachable connectors allows for the replacement and upgrade of the signal processor independently of other components, such as the electrical stimulator and battery, reducing trauma to the patient's cochlear tissue and enabling seamless system upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If components are fully implanted in the cochlear implant system, then the system provides improved hearing to the patient, but the system becomes difficult to test and diagnose for operation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The cochlear implant system is divided into separate modular components including a signal processor, electrical stimulator, battery, and detachable connectors. This segmentation allows individual components to be accessed, tested, and replaced independently while maintaining the implanted status of the system, thereby preserving reliability while improving ease of operation for testing and diagnosis.
2Device complexity
If the signal processor is integrated with other components, then the system structure is simplified, but replacement and upgrade of the signal processor requires disturbing other components and patient tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The signal processor is designed as a separate modular component with detachable connectors that interface with the electrical stimulator and battery. This segmentation maintains relatively simple system structure while enabling independent replacement and upgrade of the signal processor without disturbing other components or patient tissue, thereby improving ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal processor is extracted as a distinct replaceable module from the overall cochlear implant system. This extraction allows the signal processor to be removed, replaced, or upgraded independently through detachable connectors, facilitating easy repair and maintenance while preserving the implanted status of other components.
3Ease of repair
If modular design with detachable connectors is implemented, then maintenance and upgrades become easier, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cochlear implant system employs modular segmentation with detachable connectors between components. This segmentation significantly improves ease of repair and maintenance by allowing independent access and replacement of components. The complexity increase is minimized through standardized connector designs that simplify assembly and disassembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable connectors are designed with universal compatibility across different signal processor models and system configurations. This universality allows the same connector interface to serve multiple functions including electrical connection, mechanical attachment, and signal synchronization, thereby improving ease of repair without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cochlear implant and analysis system includes a stimulator, an input source, a signal processor, a wireless communication interface, and an external device. The system can receive an acoustic stimulus, generate an input signal representative thereof, and apply a transfer function to the input signal to generate and output a stimulation signal to the stimulator. The signal processor can receive an analysis input indicating a first signal for analysis and generate an analysis signal based on the received analysis input. The first signal can be an input signal from an input source or a result of one or more processing steps. The signal processor can output the analysis signal to the wireless communication interface with the wireless communication interface configured to output a signal representative of the analysis signal to an external device.