Determining stimulation signals for neural stimulation

• US 20060235490A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Patrick, James F., Buechner, Andreas, Von Wallenberg, Ernst, Majoral, Marc, Killian, Matthijs, Pesch, Joerg, Dijk, Bas van, Parker, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention takes masking effects into consideration when determining stimulation signals for neural stimulation. These masking effects may be modeled using user-specific models determined by taking measurements for an implant system of an implant recipient. Or, the model may correspond to a group of individuals sharing a common characteristic or the population as a whole. These models may be, for example, psycho-physical models.

Claims

1. A method of providing neural stimulation to a recipient, comprising:

receiving an acoustical signal;

determining a set of stimulation signals based on the received acoustical signal, comprising;

determining a first stimulation signal based on a perceptual power of the first stimulation signal; and

determining at least one other stimulation signal based on a perceptual power of the at least one other stimulation signal using information indicative of a masking effect of the first stimulation signal on the at least one other stimulation signal; and

applying stimuli to a recipient using the determined stimulation signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each determined stimulation signal corresponds to a set of one or more electrodes of an electrode array implanted in the recipient;

and

wherein the information indicative of the masking effect of the first stimulation signal on the at least one other stimulation signal comprises a strategy wherein stimulation signals corresponding to a set of one or more electrodes within a predetermined number of adjacent electrodes of the one or more electrodes corresponding to the first stimulation signal are excluded from being determined as the at least one other stimulation signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined number is one.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the set of stimulation signals further comprises:

determining a first set of one or more signals using a psychoacoustic model indicative of a masking effect for a population of people; and

determining the at least one other stimulation signal using at least one signal of the first set of one or more signals and information indicative of a masking effect derived from psychoelectric measurements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information indicative of the masking effect is derived from a psychophysical model.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the psychophysical model is a psychoacoustic model.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the psychoacoustic model is selected from the set of the MPEG1 Psychoacoustic Model 1 and the MPEG1 Psychoacoustic Model 2.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the psychophysical model is a psychoelectric model.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the psychoelectric model is a recipient-specific model determined based on measurements taken using an implant system implanted in the recipient.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein applying stimuli to a recipient comprises:

simultaneously applying stimuli to two or more electrodes of an electrode array.

11. A system for neural stimulation, comprising:

a microphone capable of receiving an acoustical signal;

a speech processing unit capable of determining a set of stimulation signals based on the received acoustical signal; and

an implant capable of applying stimuli to a recipient using the determined stimulation signals;

wherein the speech processing unit in determining the set of stimulation signal is further capable of determining a first stimulation signal based on a perceptual power of the first stimulation signal, and determining at least one other stimulation signal based on a perceptual power of the at least one other stimulation signal using information indicative of a masking effect of the first stimulation signal on the at least one other stimulation signal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the implant comprises an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes;

wherein each determined stimulation signal corresponds to a set of one or more electrodes of the electrode array; and

wherein the information indicative of a masking effect of the first stimulation signal on the at least one other stimulation signal comprises a strategy wherein stimulation signals corresponding to a set of one or more electrodes within a predetermined number of electrodes of the one or more electrodes corresponding to the first stimulation signal are excluded from being determined as the at least one other stimulation signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined number is 1.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the speech processing unit in determining the set of stimulation signals is further capable of determining a first set of one or more signals using a psychoacoustic model indicative of a masking effect for a population of people;

and determining the at least one other stimulation signal using at least one signal of the first set of one or more signals and information indicative of a masking effect derived from psychoelectric measurements.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the information indicative of the masking effect is derived from a psychophysical model.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the psychophysical model is a psychoacoustic model.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the psychoacoustic model is selected from the set of the MPEG1 Psychoacoustic Model 1 and the MPEG1 Psychoacoustic Model 2.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the psychophysical model is a psychoelectric model.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the psychoelectric model is a user-specific model determined based on measurements taken using an implant system implanted in the recipient.

20. A system for neural stimulation, comprising:

means for receiving an acoustical signal;

means for determining a set of stimulation signals based on the received acoustical signal; and

means for applying stimuli to a recipient using the determined stimulation signals;

wherein the means for determining the set of stimulation signals, comprises;

means for determining a first stimulation signal based on a perceptual power of the first stimulation signal; and

means for determining at least one other stimulation signal based on a perceptual power of the at least one other stimulation signal using information indicative of a masking effect of the first stimulation signal on the at least one other stimulation signal.