Multiple Electrode Mapping for Cochlear Implant Temporal Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional prosthetic hearing implant systems fail to optimally map sound frequencies to electrodes in the cochlea, limiting their ability to provide natural hearing perception due to one-to-one correspondence between filter channels and electrodes, which restricts the delivery of electrical stimulation rates.
Innovation Solution
The Multiple Electrode Mapping (MEM) strategy, which allows multiple filter channels to be mapped to a single group of electrodes, enabling different frequency ranges to be stimulated at varying rates, thereby improving speech perception and increasing temporal resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If one-to-one mapping between filter channels and electrodes is used, then the system structure is simple, but the temporal resolution and speech perception are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple filter channels and maps them to a single electrode group, allowing multiple frequency channels to be stimulated simultaneously through electrode groups rather than requiring one-to-one mapping. This merging approach increases temporal resolution by delivering multiple stimulation signals through fewer electrodes, resolving the contradiction between simple system structure and high temporal resolution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If one-to-one mapping between filter channels and electrodes is used, then each frequency channel can be independently controlled, but the number of electrodes required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each electrode group serve multiple functions by mapping multiple filter channels to a single electrode group. This allows a reduced number of electrodes to handle multiple frequency channels simultaneously, achieving multi-functionality where each electrode group processes several frequency bands, thus reducing the total electrode count while maintaining frequency channel control capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple filter channels are mapped to a single electrode group, then temporal resolution is improved, but the mapping complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrode array into multiple electrode groups, where each group receives signals from multiple filter channels. This segmentation allows the complex mapping to be organized into manageable groups rather than requiring individual electrode control for each channel, reducing the perceived mapping complexity while maintaining the temporal resolution benefits of multi-channel-to-group mapping.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, methods and systems are disclosed for delivering a stimulating signal by a stimulating medical device having a plurality of electrodes. Such methods and systems comprise receiving a signal; filtering the received signal to obtain a plurality of band pass filtered signals; delivering to each electrode of a first group of one or more electrodes, a first set of stimulation signals, wherein the first set of stimulation signals comprises stimulations signals for each of a first group of two or more band pass filtered signals; and delivering to each of electrodes of a second group of one or more electrodes, a second set of stimulation signals, wherein the second set of stimulation signals comprises stimulations signals for each of a second group of one or more band pass filtered signals; and wherein the first set of stimulation signals are delivered at a different effective stimulation rate than the second set of stimulation signals.