Level-dependent stimulation methods and systems
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- simultaneously applying, by cochlear implant system, stimulation current to a stimulation site within a patient via at least one stimulating electrode and compensating current via one or more additional electrodes of opposite polarity as said at least one stimulating electrode, said compensating current configured to affect at least one excitation field caused by said stimulation current; and
dynamically adjusting, by the cochlear implant system, said simultaneously applied compensating current as a function of an amplitude of said stimulation current by increasing an amplitude of said compensating current if said amplitude of said stimulation current decreases and decreasing an amplitude of said compensating current if said amplitude of said stimulation current increases.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of applying stimulation to a stimulation site within a patient include applying stimulation current to the stimulation site via at least one stimulating electrode, applying compensating current configured to affect at least one excitation field caused by the stimulation current via one or more additional electrodes, and dynamically adjusting the compensating current as a function of an amplitude of the stimulation current. Systems for applying stimulation to a stimulation site within a patient include an implantable stimulator, at least one stimulating electrode electrically coupled to the implantable stimulator, and one or more additional electrodes electrically coupled to the implantable stimulator. The stimulator is configured to apply stimulation current to the stimulation site via the at least one stimulating electrode, apply compensating current configured to affect at least one excitation field caused by the stimulation current via the one or more additional electrodes, and dynamically adjust the compensating current as a function of an amplitude of the stimulation current.
41 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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simultaneously applying, by cochlear implant system, stimulation current to a stimulation site within a patient via at least one stimulating electrode and compensating current via one or more additional electrodes of opposite polarity as said at least one stimulating electrode, said compensating current configured to affect at least one excitation field caused by said stimulation current; and dynamically adjusting, by the cochlear implant system, said simultaneously applied compensating current as a function of an amplitude of said stimulation current by increasing an amplitude of said compensating current if said amplitude of said stimulation current decreases and decreasing an amplitude of said compensating current if said amplitude of said stimulation current increases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator; at least one stimulating electrode electrically coupled to said implantable cochlear stimulator; and one or more additional electrodes electrically coupled to said implantable cochlear stimulator; wherein said implantable cochlear stimulator is configured to; simultaneously apply stimulation current to a stimulation site within a patient via said at least one stimulating electrode and compensating current via said one or more additional electrodes of opposite polarity as said at least one stimulating electrode, said compensating current configured to affect at least one excitation field caused by said stimulation current; and dynamically adjust said simultaneously applied compensating current as a function of an amplitude of said stimulation current by increasing an amplitude of said compensating current if said amplitude of said stimulation current decreases and decreasing an amplitude of said compensating current if said amplitude of said stimulation current increases. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A cochlear implant system comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator; and a signal processing unit coupled to the implantable cochlear stimulator, the signal processing unit configured to direct the implantable cochlear stimulator to simultaneously apply stimulation current to a stimulation site within a patient via at least one stimulating electrode and compensating current via one or more additional electrodes of opposite polarity as said at least one stimulating electrode, the compensating current configured to affect at least one excitation field caused by the stimulation current, and dynamically adjust the simultaneously applied compensating current as a function of an amplitude of the stimulation current by increasing an amplitude of the compensating current if the amplitude of the stimulation current decreases and decreasing an amplitude of the compensating current if the amplitude of the stimulation current increases. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification