Automatic Measurement Of Neural Response Concurrent With Psychophysics Measurement Of Stimulating Device Recipient

• US 20070112395A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Dijk, Bastiaan van, Botros, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/388 Nerve conduction study, e.g. detecting action potential of peripheral nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36039 fitting procedures
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37241 providing test stimulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

The automatic measurement of evoked compound action potential (ECAP) thresholds of the auditory nerve; that is, a neural response, concurrently with the performance of psychophysics measurements of a prosthetic hearing implant recipient. During the fitting process, a stimulus signal comprising two components is applied to each stimulation channel. One signal component is configured to elicit an ECAP neural response, referred to herein as a neural response signal component. The other component is configured to elicit a response to a psychophysics stimulation, referred to herein as a psychophysics signal component. Indications of the psychophysics measurement and the concurrently obtained neural response measurements are provided to the user. For the psychophysics measurement, this includes the selected characteristics of the psychophysics signal component since the results of the applied stimulation is a recipient behavioral or auditory response.

Claims

1. An apparatus for fitting a cochlear implant for a recipient said apparatus configured to automatically measure evoked compound action potential (ECAP) thresholds of the recipient'"'"'s auditory nerve concurrently with the performance of psychophysics measurements of the cochlear implant recipient.

2. A method for fitting a cochlear implant for a recipient, comprising:

applying to each stimulation channel of the cochlear implant a stimulus signal comprising a neural response component and a psychophysics signal component;

automatically measuring an evoked compound action potential (ECAP) generated in response to the application of the neural response component;

providing a user an indication of the psychophysics measurement and the concurrently obtained neural response measurements.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving recipient response to the psychophysics signal component; and

evaluating subjective determinations of the concurrently-determined psychophysics measurements utilizing said neural response measurements.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said indication of said psychophysics measurement comprises:

user-defined characteristics of the psychophysics signal component.