Cochlear implant stimulation with variable number of electrodes

• US 7,941,223 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Med El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
• Original Assignee: Med El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
• Inventors: Schleich, Peter, Nobbe, Andrea, Aschbacher, Ernst, Nopp, Peter, Zierhofer, Clemens M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NATASHA
• Application Number:
  US11/872,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 607/55, 607/56, 607/57, 607/137
• US Class Current: 607/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation

Abstract

A system and method for activating electrodes in an implanted electrode array with a stimulation signal is described. A stimulation definition stage, for each of a plurality of defined sound signal characteristics (C), assigns each electrode to one of a plurality of stimulation groups (G) each having an associated group stimulation amplitude function (A), where (G) varies with (C). An electrode stimulator activates each electrode as the stimulation signal varies based on spectral components of the stimulation signal.

Claims

1. A method of activating electrodes in an implanted electrode array with a stimulation signal, the method comprising:

for each of a plurality of defined sound signal characteristics (C) that vary over time, assigning each electrode to one of a plurality of stimulation groups (G) each having an associated group stimulation amplitude function (A), where the stimulation groups (G) and the electrodes assigned to them vary over time with the sound signal characteristics (C); and

activating each electrode as the stimulation signal varies based on spectral components of the stimulation signal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein activating each electrode is further based on electrode location.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein activating each electrode is further based on a stimulation group pulse rate defined for each stimulation group.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the group stimulation amplitude function (A) for each stimulation group has a constant value.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the group stimulation amplitude function (A) for each stimulation group reflects non-linear response characteristics of tissue stimulated by each electrode.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the group stimulation amplitude function (A) reflects spatial interaction between the electrodes.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the implanted electrode array is part of a cochlear implant system.

8. A system for activating electrodes in an implanted electrode array with a stimulation signal, the system comprising:

a stimulation definition stage that, for each of a plurality of defined sound signal characteristics (C) that vary over time, assigns each electrode to one of a plurality of stimulation groups (G) each having an associated group stimulation amplitude function (A), where the stimulation groups (G) and the electrodes assigned to them vary over time with the sound signal characteristics (C); and

an electrode stimulator for activating each electrode as the stimulation signal varies based on spectral components of the stimulation signal.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein activating each electrode is further based on electrode location.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein activating each electrode is further based on a stimulation group pulse rate defined for each stimulation group.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the group stimulation amplitude function (A) for each stimulation group has a constant value.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein the group stimulation amplitude function (A) for each stimulation group reflects non-linear response characteristics of tissue stimulated by each electrode.

13. A system according to claim 8, wherein the group stimulation amplitude function (A) reflects spatial interaction between the electrodes.

14. A system according to claim 8, wherein the implanted electrode array is part of a cochlear implant system.

15. A non-transitory computer program product for use on a computer system for activating electrodes in an implanted electrode stimulator with a stimulation signal, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

program code for, for each of a plurality of defined sound signal characteristics (C) that vary over time, assigning each electrode to one of a plurality of stimulation groups (G) each having an associated group stimulation amplitude function (A), where the stimulation groups (G) and the electrodes assigned to them vary over time with the sound signal characteristics (C); and

program code for activating each electrode as the stimulation signal varies based on spectral components of the stimulation signal.

16. A non-transitory computer program product according to claim 15, wherein activating each electrode is further based on electrode location.

17. A non-transitory computer program product according to claim 15, wherein activating each electrode is further based on a stimulation group pulse rate defined for each stimulation group.

18. A non-transitory computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the group stimulation amplitude function (A) for each stimulation group has a constant value.

19. A non-transitory computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the group stimulation amplitude function (A) for each stimulation group reflects non-linear response characteristics of tissue stimulated by each electrode.

20. A non-transitory computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the group stimulation amplitude function (A) reflects spatial interaction between the electrodes.

21. A non-transitory computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the implanted electrode array is part of a cochlear implant system.