POWER EFFICIENT ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
First Claim
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1. A method of neural stimulation, of the type in which successive stimuli are presented on an electrode array having one or more electrodes, said stimuli being generated by a stimulus generation device, the method including the steps of:
- determining a stimulus set for one or more periods;
analysing each proposed stimulus set using a predetermined instruction set which is adapted to locate factors indicative of a likely masking effect;
if masking effects are detected, altering said stimulus set for one or more of said periods; and
presenting the stimuli via said electrode array to a neural structure.
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Abstract
A method and device are disclosed for neural stimulation with improved power consumption and/or effectiveness. The stimulus generator is arranged, for example via a look up table, to recognise proposed stimuli which will be masked by earlier or simultaneous stimuli. Such masked stimuli are either deleted, or replaced by another stimulus.
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14 Claims
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1. A method of neural stimulation, of the type in which successive stimuli are presented on an electrode array having one or more electrodes, said stimuli being generated by a stimulus generation device, the method including the steps of:
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determining a stimulus set for one or more periods;
analysing each proposed stimulus set using a predetermined instruction set which is adapted to locate factors indicative of a likely masking effect;
if masking effects are detected, altering said stimulus set for one or more of said periods; and
presenting the stimuli via said electrode array to a neural structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. A neural stimulator device, including a stimulus generation device for generating stimulus sets, said stimulus sets being intended for delivery at an electrode array for operatively presenting stimuli to neural structures, each said stimulus set relating to one or more stimulation periods, wherein said device further includes processing means implementing a predetermined instruction set, said processing means analysing each stimulus set using said predetermined instruction set in order to locate factors indicative of a likely masking effect, and if it is determined that a masking effect is likely, altering said stimulus set.
Specification