Multi-monopolar Current Steering in Auditory Prostheses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Auditory prostheses face inefficiencies in compliance voltage management, leading to reduced battery life and sub-optimal stimulation performance due to either excessive or insufficient voltage levels.
Innovation Solution
A multi-monopolar current steering strategy is employed, where at least two electrodes are stimulated at substantially fifty percent or less of their respective most comfortable current levels to apply electrical stimulation representative of spectral peaks, optimizing compliance voltage and extending battery life without sacrificing stimulation rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compliance voltage is increased to deliver desired stimulation current, then stimulation performance is improved, but power loss increases and battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the compliance voltage parameter based on the actual stimulation requirements. By analyzing the audio signal spectrum and identifying peaks, the system determines the minimum necessary voltage level to achieve effective stimulation, thereby optimizing battery life while maintaining stimulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic compliance voltage adjustment rather than using a fixed high voltage level. The compliance voltage is adapted in real-time based on the stimulation channel's actual needs, allowing the auditory prosthesis to operate efficiently at lower power levels when full voltage is not required, thus extending battery life without compromising stimulation effectiveness.
2Duration of action of moving object
If compliance voltage is decreased to reduce power loss, then battery life is extended, but stimulation performance deteriorates and artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the compliance voltage parameter based on the actual stimulation requirements. By analyzing the audio signal spectrum and identifying peaks, the system determines the minimum necessary voltage level to achieve effective stimulation, thereby optimizing battery life while maintaining stimulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from spectral analysis to adjust compliance voltage levels. By continuously monitoring the audio signal characteristics and identifying spectral peaks, the system adapts the voltage level to match the actual stimulation needs, preventing both under-stimulation (artifacts) and over-stimulation (power waste).
3Productivity
If high compliance voltage is used to maintain stimulation rate, then auditory performance is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the compliance voltage parameter based on the actual stimulation requirements. By analyzing the audio signal spectrum and identifying peaks, the system determines the minimum necessary voltage level to achieve effective stimulation, thereby optimizing battery life while maintaining stimulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying full compliance voltage to all channels continuously, the system applies voltage selectively based on spectral peak analysis. Only channels corresponding to identified spectral peaks receive stimulation, and at the minimum necessary voltage level, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adequate stimulation rate for perceived auditory performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary method includes a sound processor 1) mapping an analysis channel associated with a frequency band to a stimulation channel that comprises at least three electrodes communicatively coupled to an auditory prosthesis associated with a patient, 2) identifying a spectral peak included in an audio signal presented to the patient, the spectral peak having a peak frequency included in the frequency band, and 3) directing the auditory prosthesis to apply electrical stimulation representative of the spectral peak to a stimulation site associated with the peak frequency by simultaneously stimulating at least two of the at least three electrodes at substantially fifty percent or less of their respective most comfortable current levels (M levels) in accordance with a multi-monopolar current steering strategy. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.