Pulse skipping strategy
First Claim
1. A stimulation channel selection method for an implantable cochlear stimulation (ICS) system having a multiplicity of channels, comprising:
- computing a probability for each channel within the multiplicity of channels; and
selecting at least one of the channels for stimulation during a frame;
wherein the selecting of the at least one of the channels for stimulation during the frame comprises;
selecting a channel;
obtaining a random number;
comparing the random number to the probability of the channel; and
selecting the channel for stimulation if the probability of the channel is greater than the random number.
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Abstract
Improved skipping strategies for cochlear or other multi-channel neural stimulation implants selects N out of M channels for stimulation during a given stimulation frame. A microphone transduces acoustic energy into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is processed by a family of bandpass filters, or the equivalent, to produce a number of frequency channels. In a first embodiment, a probability based channel selection strategy computes a probably for each of the M channels based on the strength of each channel. N channels are probabilistically selected for stimulation based on their individual probability. The result is a randomized “stochastic” stimulus presentation to the patient. Such randomized stimulation reduces under representation of weaker channels for steady state input conditions such as vowels. In second, third and fourth embodiments, a variable threshold is adjusted to obtain the selection of N channels per frame.
55 Citations
3 Claims
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1. A stimulation channel selection method for an implantable cochlear stimulation (ICS) system having a multiplicity of channels, comprising:
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computing a probability for each channel within the multiplicity of channels; and selecting at least one of the channels for stimulation during a frame; wherein the selecting of the at least one of the channels for stimulation during the frame comprises; selecting a channel; obtaining a random number; comparing the random number to the probability of the channel; and selecting the channel for stimulation if the probability of the channel is greater than the random number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification