Independent and concurrent processing multiple audio input signals in a prosthetic hearing implant

• US 20060265061A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Honert, Christopher van den, Kwon, Bomjun
• Granted Patent: US 8,369,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation

Abstract

A prosthetic hearing implant capable of independently and concurrently processing multiple audio input signals such that each audio input signal is separately utilized to stimulate the basilar membrane of the implant recipient. A prosthetic hearing implant of the present invention simultaneously receives discrete audio signals from each of one or more audio sources, generates a separate set of one or more stimulations signals for each audio signal, and concurrently applies the stimulation signals to the cochlear. Different channels of stimulation may be allocated to each audio input signal. Alternatively, different modes of stimulation may be used for each input signal. Or, in yet another example, the audio input signals may be time-multiplexed such that the input signals are applied in alternating timeslots. Or, in yet other examples, the input signals may be applied using a combination of stimulation channels, modes of stimulation, and alternating time slots. The stimulation signals may be delivered to the same or different electrodes depending on the quantity and frequency component of the received audio input signals, the quantity of available stimulation channels, and other factors.

Claims

1. A prosthetic hearing implant constructed and arranged to independently and concurrently process a plurality of audio input signals received via separate audio sources and to separately utilize each of said plurality of audio input signals to stimulate a basilar membrane of a recipient of the hearing implant.

2. The prosthetic hearing implant of claim 1, comprising:

said separate audio sources each adapted to receive an acoustical signal, wherein each said plurality of audio input signals represents a received acoustical signal;

a speech processing unit configured to generate a plurality of sets of one or more stimulation signals for application of a corresponding one of said plurality of audio signals; and

a plurality of electrodes constructed and arranged to apply said plurality of sets of one or more stimulation signals to a recipient'"'"'s cochlear.

3. The prosthetic hearing implant of claim 1, further comprising:

a stimulator unit capable of providing said first set of stimulation signals using a first set of one or more stimulation channels and to apply said second set of stimulation signals using a second set of one or more stimulation channels; and

wherein the second set of stimulation signals comprises one or more stimulation channels not included in the first set of stimulation signals.

4. The prosthetic hearing implant of claim 1, wherein the quantity of stimulation channels of said sets of stimulations channels are different.

5. The prosthetic hearing implant of claim 1, wherein said speech processing unit is further capable of selecting a first mode of stimulation for applying a first set of stimulation signals and a second mode of stimulation for applying a second set of stimulation signals.

6. The prosthetic hearing implant of claim 5, wherein the first and second modes of stimulation are selected from the set of:

bipolar stimulation, monopolar stimulation, variable bipolar stimulation, and common ground stimulation.

8. A method of neural stimulation, comprising:

receiving a first audio signal each from a first of a plurality of audio sources;

receiving a second audio signal from a second of a plurality of audio sources;

generating a first set of one or more stimulation signals corresponding to said first audio signal;

generating a second set of one or more stimulation signals corresponding to said second audio signal; and

applying stimuli to a recipient'"'"'s cochlear using the first and second sets of stimulation signals.

7. The prosthetic hearing implant of claim 11, wherein said speech processing unit is further configured to direct the implant in applying stimuli using the first and second set of stimulation signals, to apply at least one stimuli using one or more of the stimulation signals of the first set of stimulation signals during a first time slot, and apply at least one stimuli using one or more of the stimulation signals of the second set of stimulation signals during a second time slot.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein applying stimuli to a recipient using the first and second set of stimulation signals, comprises:

applying the first set of stimulation signals a using first set of one or more stimulation channels; and

applying the second set of stimulation signals using a second set of one or more stimulation channels; and

wherein the second set of stimulation comprise one or more stimulation channels not included in the first set of stimulation channels.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the number of stimulation channels of the first set of stimulations channels equals the number of stimulation channels of the second set of stimulation channels.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

analyzing the first and second acoustical signals; and

allocating a greater number of stimulation channels to the first set of stimulation channels than to the second set of stimulation channels based on the analysis of the first and second audio signals.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein applying stimuli to a recipient using the first and second set of stimulation signals, comprises:

applying the first set of stimulation signals using a first mode of stimulation; and

applying the second set of stimulation signals using a second mode of stimulation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second modes of stimulation are each selected from the set of:

bipolar stimulation, monopolar stimulation, variable bipolar stimulation, and common ground stimulation.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein applying stimuli to a recipient using the first and second set of stimulation signals, comprises:

applying at least one stimuli using one or more of the stimulation signals of the first set of stimulation signals during a first time slot; and

applying at least one stimuli using one or more of the stimulation signals of the second set of stimulation signals during a second time slot.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

analyzing the first and second acoustical signals;

determining a first method for applying stimuli using the first set of stimulation signals based on at least the analysis of the first audio signal;

determining a second method for applying stimuli using the second set of stimulation signals based on at least the analysis of the second audio signal; and

wherein applying stimuli to a recipient using the first and second set of stimulation signals comprises using the determined first and second methods.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second set of stimulation signals are independently generated.

17. A method for stimulating a cochlear of a recipient of a prosthetic hearing implant comprising:

simultaneously receiving discrete audio signals from each of one or more audio sources;

generating a separate set of one or more stimulations signals for each of said audio signals; and

concurrently applying said set of one or more stimulation signals to the cochlear.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

allocating different channels of stimulation to each audio input signal.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

utilizing different modes of stimulation for each audio input signal.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

time multiplexing the audio input signals such that the input signals are applied to one or more electrodes in alternating timeslots.

21. A system for neural stimulation, comprising:

at least one audio pickup device capable of receiving at least a first acoustical signal and a second acoustical signal;

a speech processing unit capable of generating a first set of one or more stimulation signals for application of the first audio signal, and generating a second set of one or more stimulation signals for application of the second audio signal; and

an implant capable of applying stimuli to a recipient using the generated first and second sets of stimulation signals.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a stimulator unit capable of directing the implant to apply the first set of stimulation signals using a first set of one or more stimulation channels and to apply the second set of stimulation signals using a second set of one or more stimulation channels; and

wherein the second set of stimulation comprise one or more stimulation channels not included in the first set of stimulation channels.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the number of stimulation channels of the first set of stimulations channels equals the number of stimulation channels of the second set of stimulation channels.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the speech processor is further capable of analyzing the first and second acoustical signals, and allocating a greater number of stimulation channels to the first set of stimulation channels than to the second set of stimulation channels based on the analysis of the first and second audio signals.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the speech processing unit is further capable of selecting a first mode of stimulation for applying the first set of stimulation signals and a second mode of stimulation for applying the second set of stimulation signals.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first and second modes of stimulation are selected from the set of:

bipolar stimulation, monopolar stimulation, variable bipolar stimulation, and common ground stimulation.