BioNet for bilateral cochlear implant systems
First Claim
1. A bilateral cochlear implant system comprising:
- a local bionic ear system having a local BTE unit associated therewith, and a remote bionic ear system having a remote BTE unit associated therewith, each BTE unit comprising a processor, a battery module and a cochlear array;
two interposer modules, one adapted to be inserted between the processor and battery module of the local BTE unit, and the other adapted to be inserted between the processor and battery module of the remote BTE unit;
communication channel means for allowing signal communications to take place between the local BTE unit and the remote BTE unit;
synchronization means for synchronizing the signal communications that occur over the communication channel means; and
a bilateral fitting paradigm for cooperatively programming the local BTE unit and the remote BTE unit, wherein the bilateral fitting paradigm uses trans-cochlear pitch discrimination, wherein pitch discrimination reduces channel interaction and optimally interleaves channel information across available electrode contacts.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for allowing bilateral cochlear implant systems to be networked together. An adapter module that forms part of the system allows two standalone BTE units to be synchronized both temporally and tonotopically in order to maximize a patients listening experience. The system further allows a peer-to-peer network and protocol that includes two BTE units during normal operation, or two BTE units plus a host controller (PC, PDA, etc. . . . ) during fitting. The bilateral cochlear network includes four main components: (a) a communications interposer adapted to be inserted between the BTE battery and the BTE housing or modified BTE devices; (b) a communication channel over which communication takes place between the connected devices, including the protocol governing access to such channel; (c) the synchronization mechanisms used to achieve synchronization between the connected devices; and (d) a bilateral fitting paradigm.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A bilateral cochlear implant system comprising:
-
a local bionic ear system having a local BTE unit associated therewith, and a remote bionic ear system having a remote BTE unit associated therewith, each BTE unit comprising a processor, a battery module and a cochlear array; two interposer modules, one adapted to be inserted between the processor and battery module of the local BTE unit, and the other adapted to be inserted between the processor and battery module of the remote BTE unit; communication channel means for allowing signal communications to take place between the local BTE unit and the remote BTE unit; synchronization means for synchronizing the signal communications that occur over the communication channel means; and a bilateral fitting paradigm for cooperatively programming the local BTE unit and the remote BTE unit, wherein the bilateral fitting paradigm uses trans-cochlear pitch discrimination, wherein pitch discrimination reduces channel interaction and optimally interleaves channel information across available electrode contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification