Electric and Acoustic Stimulation Fitting Systems and Methods

• US 20090264962A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Faltys, Michael A., Overstreet, Edward H., Harrison, William Vanbrooks, Segel, Philip A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

Methods and systems for modifying the parameters of at least one hearing device for a patient with residual hearing provide needed orchestration of acoustic and electric stimulation of patients wearing such devices.

Claims

1. A method for modifying the parameters of multiple hearing devices, comprising:

providing a user interface that allows a user to modify parameters of at least one of a hearing aid and the acoustic elements of an electric-acoustic processor and at least one of a cochlear implant speech processor and the electric elements of an electric-acoustic processor using software configured to provide instructions for at least one of acoustic stimulation to the hearing aid, electric stimulation to the cochlear implant speech processor, electric stimulation to the electric-acoustic processor, and acoustic stimulation to the electric-acoustic processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface is configured to allow the user to modify, with the software, the parameters of the electric-acoustic processor when the electric elements of the electric-acoustic processor are situated ipsilateral to the acoustic elements of the electric-acoustic processor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the software is configured to provide instructions when the at least one of the hearing aid and the acoustic elements of the electric-acoustic processor are situated contralateral to the at least one of the cochlear implant speech processor and the electric elements of the electric-acoustic processor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mapping audio information to electrode contact position with the software in a patient with a cochlear implant.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of simultaneously and sequentially outputting instructions capable of modifying acoustic and electric parameters to determine interaction between multiple channels in the at least one of the hearing aid, the acoustic elements of the electric-acoustic processor, the cochlear implant speech processor, and the electric elements of the electric-acoustic processor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assessing, with the software, the proper sequencing of acoustic and electric events for at least one of the hearing aid and the acoustic elements of the electric-acoustic processor and at least one of the cochlear implant speech processor and the electric elements of the electric-acoustic processor.