Pulsatile cochlear implant stimulation strategy
First Claim
1. A method of activating electrodes in an implanted multi-channel electrode array where each channel is associated with an electrode in the array, the method comprising:
- processing an input audio signal to produce a plurality of output channel signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies;
processing the output channel signals in a sequence of sampling intervals, wherein for each sampling interval, the processing includes;
i. determining for each output channel signal;
a) a set of requested pulse timings containing a plurality of pulse timing requests, andb) a set of corresponding envelope signals representing pulse magnitude for pulse timing requests; and
ii. determining for each set of requested pulse timings;
a) a set of output pulses at specified times selected from the set of requested pulse timings based on a pulse selection inhibition function, andb) a stimulation amplitude associated with each output pulse; and
activating electrodes in the array with corresponding output pulses at their associated stimulation amplitudes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable device includes a multi-channel electrode array in which each channel is associated with an electrode in the array. An audio processing stage processes an input audio signal to produce output channel signals representing associated bands of audio frequencies. A timing and envelope detector processes the output channel signals in a sequence of sampling intervals, including, for each sampling interval, determining for each output channel signal: i. a set of requested pulse timings containing a plurality of pulse timing requests, and ii. a set of corresponding envelope signals representing pulse magnitude for pulse timing requests. A pulse selection amplitude definition stage determines for each set of requested pulse timings: i. a set of output pulses at specified times selected from the set of requested pulse timings based on a pulse selection inhibition function, and ii. a stimulation amplitude associated with each output pulse. The multi-channel electrode array applies the output pulses at their associated stimulation amplitudes to surrounding tissue.
34 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of activating electrodes in an implanted multi-channel electrode array where each channel is associated with an electrode in the array, the method comprising:
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processing an input audio signal to produce a plurality of output channel signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies; processing the output channel signals in a sequence of sampling intervals, wherein for each sampling interval, the processing includes; i. determining for each output channel signal; a) a set of requested pulse timings containing a plurality of pulse timing requests, and b) a set of corresponding envelope signals representing pulse magnitude for pulse timing requests; and ii. determining for each set of requested pulse timings; a) a set of output pulses at specified times selected from the set of requested pulse timings based on a pulse selection inhibition function, and b) a stimulation amplitude associated with each output pulse; and activating electrodes in the array with corresponding output pulses at their associated stimulation amplitudes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An implantable device having a multi-channel electrode array, each output channel being associated with an electrode in the array, the device comprising:
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an audio processing stage for processing an input audio signal to produce a plurality of output channel signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies; a timing and envelope detector for processing the output channel signals in a sequence of sampling intervals, wherein for each sampling interval, the processing includes determining for each output channel signal; i. a set of requested pulse timings containing a plurality of pulse timing requests, and ii. a set of corresponding envelope signals representing pulse magnitude for pulse timing requests; a pulse selection amplitude definition stage for determining for each set of requested pulse timings; i. a set of output pulses at specified times selected from the set of requested pulse timings based on a pulse selection inhibition function, and ii. a stimulation amplitude associated with each output pulse; and the multi-channel electrode array for applying the output pulses at their associated stimulation amplitudes to surrounding tissue. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification