Stimulation channel selection methods

• US 20060271114A1
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Voelkel, Andrew W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,751,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation

Abstract

Methods of selecting a number of channels for stimulation within a neural stimulation system include determining an amplitude of a multiplicity of stimulation signals each corresponding to a channel within a multiplicity of channels in the implantable stimulation system, using the amplitudes of the stimulation signals to determine a probability of each of the stimulation signals, and using the probabilities of one or more of the stimulation signals to randomly select a predetermined number of channels from the multiplicity of channels through which one or more of the stimulation signals are applied to a patient during a stimulation frame.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an amplitude of a multiplicity of stimulation signals each corresponding to a channel within a multiplicity of channels in an implantable stimulation system;

using said amplitudes of said stimulation signals to determine a probability of each of said stimulation signals; and

using said probabilities of one or more of said stimulation signals to randomly select a predetermined number of channels from said multiplicity of channels through which one or more of said stimulation signals are applied to a patient during a stimulation frame.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined number of channels through which one or more of said stimulation signals are applied to said patient during said stimulation frame is less than a total number of channels within said multiplicity of channels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining said amplitude of said multiplicity of said stimulation signals comprises determining an envelope for each of said multiplicity of said stimulation signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of using said amplitudes of said stimulation signals to determine said probability of each of said stimulation signals further comprises:

summing said amplitudes of said stimulation signals; and

computing said probability of said each of said stimulation signals by dividing each of said amplitudes by said sum of said amplitudes and multiplying a result of said division by said predetermined number of channels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of using said probabilities to randomly select said predetermined number of said channels from said multiplicity of channels further comprises:

selecting a channel from said multiplicity of channels, said channel having a corresponding stimulation signal;

obtaining a random number;

comparing said random number to a probability of said stimulation signal corresponding to said channel; and

selecting said channel through which said stimulation signal is applied during said stimulation frame if said probability of said stimulation signal is greater than said random number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of selecting said channel from said multiplicity of channels comprises randomly selecting a channel which has not previously been selected during said stimulation frame.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting said probabilities of one or more of said stimulation signals based on one or more center frequencies of one or more channels within said multiplicity of channels.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said multiplicity of channels comprises a total number of channels of said implantable stimulation system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said implantable stimulation system comprises an implantable cochlear stimulation system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said implantable stimulation system comprises at least one or more of a spinal cord stimulation system and a deep brain stimulation system.