Apparatus and method for automatically determining stimulation parameters
First Claim
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1. An auditory prosthesis comprising:
- stimulation means adapted to apply stimulus signals to a person'"'"'s ear;
processing means for generating and providing said stimulus signals to said stimulation means in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters;
sensor means adapted to sense a physiological response to said stimulus signals, said sensor means communicating with said processing means and generating sense signals; and
memory means communicating with said processing means to provide said stimulation parameters to said processing means so that said processing means can define appropriate stimulus signals, wherein said processing means is constructed and arranged to process said sense signals from said sensor means in accordance with a predetermined algorithm to determine at least one of said stimulation parameters, said one stimulation parameter being stored in said memory means.
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Abstract
Disclosed is an arrangement allowing for automatic calculation of stimulation parameters, for example dynamic ranges for stimulation, in an auditory prosthesis, for example a multichannel cochlear implant. The arrangement includes, in a preferred form, an electrode 12 for detecting activity of the stapedius muscle, and uses the electrode array 5 to sense neural response to stimulation, so that a maximum comfortable stimulation level and threshold level for each channel can be determined. The process may be initiated by the implantee, avoiding the requirement for external equipment and extensive audiological testing.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An auditory prosthesis comprising:
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stimulation means adapted to apply stimulus signals to a person'"'"'s ear;
processing means for generating and providing said stimulus signals to said stimulation means in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters;
sensor means adapted to sense a physiological response to said stimulus signals, said sensor means communicating with said processing means and generating sense signals; and
memory means communicating with said processing means to provide said stimulation parameters to said processing means so that said processing means can define appropriate stimulus signals, wherein said processing means is constructed and arranged to process said sense signals from said sensor means in accordance with a predetermined algorithm to determine at least one of said stimulation parameters, said one stimulation parameter being stored in said memory means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An auditory prosthesis comprising:
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stimulation means arranged and constructed to apply electrical stimulation signals to a user;
processing means for providing said electrical stimulus signals to said stimulation means;
a sensor means adapted to sense electrical response correlating to an acoustic percept, said sensor means communicating with said processing means; and
memory means communicating with said processing means to provide values for stimulation parameters to said processing means to define said stimulus signals in at least one stimulation mode, wherein sense signals are processing by said processing means in accordance with a predetermined algorithm to define a threshold stimulation level for said at least one stimulation mode, said threshold stimulation level being stored in said memory means. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An auditory prosthesis comprising
stimulation means; -
a processing means for providing electrical stimulus signals to said stimulation means;
sensor means adapted to sense electrical activity of the stapedius muscle, said sensor means communicating with said processing means by sending stapedius signals; and
memory means communicating with said processing means to provide values for stimulation parameters to said processing means, said processing means being adapted to define said stimulus signals in accordance with said values;
wherein said processing means is adapted to process said stapedius signals in accordance with a predetermined algorithm to define a maximum comfortable stimulation level, said value being stored in said memory means. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An auditory prosthesis adapted to automatically derive threshold and maximum comfortable stimulation levels so as to determine a dynamic range for electrical stimuli, said prosthesis comprising:
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a stimulation device;
a processor that provides electrical stimulus signals to said stimulation device;
a first sensor adapted to sense electrical activity associated with the stapedius muscle;
a second sensor adapted to sense an electrical response of nervous tissue correlating to an acoustic percept; and
a memory communicating with said processor to provide values for stimulation parameters;
said processor being arranged and constructed to said stimulus signals, in accordance with said values, said first and second sensors communicating with said processor, wherein said processor is constructed and arranged to process said signals from said sensors in accordance with a predetermined algorithm to define a threshold stimulation level and a maximum comfortable stimulation level for for said stimulus signals said levels being stored in said memory.- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for automatically setting threshold stimulation levels and maximum comfortable stimulation levels in a multichannel auditory prosthesis, said prosthesis including an implanted stimulation device, memory means, first sensor means for detecting electrical activity associated with the stapedius muscle, and second sensor means for detecting an electrical response of nervous tissue to stimulation, including the steps for each channel, which may be performed in any suitable order, of
(a) providing stimulus signals from a predefined level and gradually increasing the amplitude until a predefined neural response is detected by said second sensor means,using the amplitude at that point to determine a threshold stimulation level value, and storing said value in said memory means; - and
(b) providing stimulus signals at a predefined lower limit and gradually increasing amplitude of said signal until a predefined level of stapedius activity is detected by said first sensor means, the amplitude at that point being used to determine a maximum comfortable stimulation level value, and storing said value in said memory means.
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43. A cochlear implant for implantation into a patient, said patient having a cochlea and a stapedius muscle, said cochlear implant comprising:
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a microphone sensing ambient sounds and generating corresponding sound signals;
a processor receiving said sound signals and generating corresponding stimulation signals in accordance with at least one operational parameter;
an electrode extending into said cochlea for applying said stimulation signals; and
a stapedius sensor for sensing an attribute of said stapedius muscle and generating a stapedius muscle signal indicative of said attribute;
wherein said processor is adapted to modify said operational parameter in accordance with said stapedius muscle signal. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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Specification