Electric and Acoustic Stimulation Fitting Systems and Methods

• US 20090264963A1
• 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 8,155,747 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 system for modifying the parameters of acoustic and electric stimulation hearing devices, comprising:

a computer provided with access to software that is configured to communicate with and 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.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a programming interface unit configured to exchange information between the computer and at least one of the hearing aid, the cochlear implant speech processor, the electric elements of the electric-acoustic processor, and the acoustic elements of the electric-acoustic processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the computer is configured to communicate directly with at least one of the hearing aid, the cochlear implant speech processor, the electric elements of the electric-acoustic processor, and the acoustic elements of the electric-acoustic processor through wireless communications.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the computer is configured to communicate directly with at least one of the hearing aid, the cochlear implant speech processor, the electric elements of the electric-acoustic processor, and the acoustic elements of the electric-acoustic processor through wired communications.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the computer is configured to display data used to at least one of map, evaluate, and modify the parameters of 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 system of claim 1, wherein:

the software is scripted to evaluate data relevant to operational parameters of 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.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the software is configured to map parameter levels and ranges and is configured to map responses of a patient wearing 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.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the computer is configured to simultaneously and sequentially output instructions capable of modifying acoustic and electric stimulation 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.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the software is scripted to provide a suggested assessment of 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.