Optimizing pitch allocation in a cochlear implant
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting a cochlear implant system, the method comprising:
- using an interface of a software program to present variations of a musical melody to a user through a multi-electrode array implanted into the cochlea of the user, wherein the multi-electrode array has an associated implant fitting line that defines a relationship between cochlear places of implant electrodes and associated audio frequencies;
allowing the user to select at the interface a preferred variation of the musical melody; and
determining a correct slope of the implant fitting line of the multi-electrode array based on the variation of the musical melody selected by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Errors in pitch allocation within a cochlear implant are corrected in order to provide a significant and profound improvement in the quality of sound perceived by the cochlear implant user. The disclosure provides a tool for determining the implant fitting curve for cochlear implant system to correct pitch warping. The method presents familiar musical tunes to determine the implant fitting slope (relative alignment). In addition, in one embodiment, speech sounds may be used to determine the offset of the fitting line (absolute alignment). The use of music and speech to determine the implant fitting curve (line) and the slope is facilitated by using techniques to implement virtual electrodes to more precisely direct stimuli to the location or “place” on the cochlea.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting a cochlear implant system, the method comprising:
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using an interface of a software program to present variations of a musical melody to a user through a multi-electrode array implanted into the cochlea of the user, wherein the multi-electrode array has an associated implant fitting line that defines a relationship between cochlear places of implant electrodes and associated audio frequencies; allowing the user to select at the interface a preferred variation of the musical melody; and determining a correct slope of the implant fitting line of the multi-electrode array based on the variation of the musical melody selected by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for adjusting a cochlear implant system, the method comprising:
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(a) determining a best slope of an implant fitting line of an implanted multi-electrode array in the cochlea of a user, comprising using an interface of a software program to present variations of a musical tune to the user by varying the slope of the implant fitting line of the multi-electrode array, wherein the implant fitting line defines a relationship between cochlear places of implant electrodes and associated audio frequencies, and allowing the user to select at the interface a variation of the tune presented with a first implant fitting line slope; and (b) determining an offset of the implant fitting line relative to an intrinsic fitting line of the user'"'"'s cochlea, comprising using the interface of the software program to present variations of a familiar sound to the user by varying the offset of the implant fitting line of the multi-electrode array, and allowing the user to select at the interface a variation of the familiar sound at a first offset. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for finding the slope of an implant fitting line, the method comprising:
determining the slope of an implant fitting line of a multi-electrode array implanted in the cochlea of a user, comprising using an interface of a software program to present variations of a musical tune to the user with a different slope of the implant fitting line at each presentation through the multi-electrode array, and allowing the user to select at the interface a variation of the musical tune with a first slope, wherein the implant fitting line defines a relationship between cochlear places of implant electrodes and associated audio frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for fitting a cochlear implant system, the method comprising:
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using an interface of a software program to present a first musical melody to a user through a multi-electrode array of a cochlear implant system implanted in the cochlea of the user, the first musical melody comprising a series of notes, each note having a predetermined frequency; using the interface to present a second musical melody to the user, wherein the second musical melody varies the frequency of one or more of the notes of the first melody in a predetermined manner such that the second musical melody comprises a distorted version of the first musical melody; receiving at the interface a user selection of one of the first musical melody and the second musical melody as preferable to the user; and adjusting an implant fitting line of the multi-electrode array based on the user selection, wherein the implant fitting line defines a relationship between cochlear places of implant electrodes and associated audio frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for adjusting a cochlear implant system, the method comprising:
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using an interface of a software program to present variations of a musical melody to a user through an implanted multi-electrode array, the multi-electrode array having an associated implant fitting line that defines a relationship between cochlear places of implant electrodes and associated audio frequencies, wherein presenting the variations comprises varying the frequency of one or more of the notes of the musical melody to present a distorted version of the musical melody to the user; allowing the user to select at the interface a variation of the musical melody that most closely conforms to the musical melody as remembered by the user, wherein the variation of the musical melody that most closely conforms to the musical melody as remembered by the user comprises a distorted version of the musical melody; and determining a correct slope of the implant fitting line of the multi-electrode array based on the variation of the musical melody selected by the user.
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31. A method for adjusting a cochlear implant system, the method comprising:
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using an interface of a software program to present variations of a musical melody to a user through an implanted multi-electrode array, the multi-electrode array having an associated implant fitting line that defines a relationship between cochlear places of implant electrodes and associated audio frequencies, wherein presenting the variations comprises varying the frequency of one or more of the notes of the musical melody to present a distorted version of the musical melody to the user; allowing the user to select at the interface a variation of the musical melody that most closely conforms to the musical melody as remembered by the user; and determining a correct slope of the implant fitting line of the multi-electrode array based on the variation of the musical melody selected by the user using differences in relative frequencies between an original version of the musical melody and the selected variation of the musical melody to determine the correct slope.
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Specification