Bionic ear programming system
First Claim
1. A method of programming a bionic ear implant comprising;
- conducting a pre-evaluation stage focused on sorting and identifying bad electrode contacts, reducing fitting time and improving patient performance;
conducting a programming stage wherein T and M levels are adjusted based on information derived during the pre-evaluation stage;
conducting a post-evaluation stage wherein wired speech understanding tests are automatically run in order to provide an objective programming choice; and
launching each of the three stages, the pre-evaluation stage, the programming stage, and the post-evaluation stage, from a single programming window;
wherein said pre-evaluation stage includes generating a template for use during the programming stage that includes estimated T and M levels; and
wherein generating said template further includes removing from the template bad electrode contacts.
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Abstract
A method of programming a bionic ear cochlear implant provides access to the full functionality of the implant, while still providing a simple-to-administer, more reliable, and faster fitting experience for the patient and clinician. The method includes (a) conducting a pre-evaluation stage focused on sorting and identifying bad electrode contacts, reducing fitting time and improving patient performance; (b) conducting a programming stage wherein T and M levels are adjusted based on information derived during the pre-evaluation stage; and (c) conducting a post-evaluation stage wherein wired speech understanding tests are automatically run in order to provide an objective programming choice. The pre-evaluation stage automatically runs a set of objective tests, and then, based on the result of such tests, generates a template for the clinician to use during the programming stage. The objective tests, inter alia, identify and remove bad electrode contacts from the template. The post-evaluation stage quickly runs some unattended wired speech understanding tests that allow objective rather than subjective programming choices to be made.
44 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of programming a bionic ear implant comprising;
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conducting a pre-evaluation stage focused on sorting and identifying bad electrode contacts, reducing fitting time and improving patient performance; conducting a programming stage wherein T and M levels are adjusted based on information derived during the pre-evaluation stage; conducting a post-evaluation stage wherein wired speech understanding tests are automatically run in order to provide an objective programming choice; and launching each of the three stages, the pre-evaluation stage, the programming stage, and the post-evaluation stage, from a single programming window; wherein said pre-evaluation stage includes generating a template for use during the programming stage that includes estimated T and M levels; and wherein generating said template further includes removing from the template bad electrode contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A bionic ear implant programming system comprising:
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means for conducting a pre-evaluation stage focused on sorting and identifying bad electrode contacts, reducing fitting time and improving patient performance; means for conducting a programming stage wherein T and M levels are adjusted based on information derived during the pre-evaluation stage; means for conducting a post-evaluation stage wherein wired speech understanding tests are automatically run in order to provide an objective programming choice; and means for launching each of the three stages, the pre-evaluation stage, the programming stage, and the post-evaluation stage, from a single programming window. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification