Auditory Prosthesis Compliance Voltage Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional auditory prostheses systems face challenges in optimizing compliance voltage, which affects power consumption and performance, especially when current steering is used, as they often require high compliance voltage for single electrode stimulation sites while reducing power consumption through current steering may compromise performance.
Innovation Solution
The system optimizes compliance voltage by adjusting the current steering range for stimulation channels, balancing power conservation and performance by setting the current steering range to an appropriate value that splits current between electrodes, thereby reducing the compliance voltage and power consumption while maintaining performance levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If current steering is used to concurrently stimulate multiple electrodes, then power consumption is reduced by splitting current, but compliance voltage must still be maintained at relatively high levels to account for single electrode stimulation situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the current steering range adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adapts the current steering range based on operating conditions, allowing it to expand when multiple electrodes are stimulated (reducing power consumption) and contract when single electrode stimulation is needed (reducing compliance voltage requirements). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between power efficiency and voltage reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of current steering range to optimize system performance. By adjusting the current steering range parameter, the system can control how current is distributed among electrodes. When the range is increased, current splits more effectively across multiple electrodes, reducing power consumption. When reduced, it limits the voltage required for compliance, resolving the technical contradiction between energy loss and reliability.
2Reliability
If current steering range is increased to improve performance and allow broader stimulation coverage, then auditory perception performance is enhanced, but power consumption increases due to higher compliance voltage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic adjustment of the current steering range to balance performance and power consumption. Rather than maintaining a constantly high range for maximum performance, the system adapts the range based on actual stimulation needs. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve high performance when necessary while conserving power during normal operation, resolving the contradiction between auditory perception reliability and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using just the necessary current steering range required for effective stimulation rather than always maximizing the range. This partial approach is sufficient to achieve the required auditory perception performance without the excessive power consumption that would result from continuously maintaining maximum current steering capability, thus resolving the contradiction between performance and energy loss.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary systems and methods for optimizing a compliance voltage of an auditory prosthesis are disclosed. Each stimulation channel formed by electrodes that are coupled to an auditory prosthesis may have an adjustable current steering range associated therewith. Each adjustable current steering range is centered about the midpoint of its respective stimulation channel and defines a range of current steering that may be used within its respective stimulation channel. A compliance voltage of an auditory prosthesis may be optimized by setting a current steering range for one or more stimulation channels to a value that results in an optimum balance between power conservation and performance of the auditory prosthesis.