Triphasic Pulses to Reduce Undesirable Side-Effects in Cochlear Implants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016106980-A1
Application number	US-201514976131-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	Jul 19, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An arrangement is described for generating electrode stimulation signals to electrode contacts in an implanted cochlear implant electrode array. A signal processor processes an input sound signal to generate stimulation timing signals for signal channels associated with the electrode contacts. A pulse generator produces the electrode stimulation signals for each electrode contact based on the stimulation timing signals. A pulse adapter controls a signal format of the pulse generator in response to a somatic response input signal reflecting presence or absence of an undesired somatic response to the electrode stimulation signals. The signal format is an initial signal format based on biphasic stimulation pulses when the somatic response input signal reflects absence of the undesired somatic response, and an adapted signal form based on triphasic stimulation pulses when the somatic response input signal reflects presence of the undesired somatic response.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for generating electrode stimulation signals to electrode contacts in an implanted cochlear implant electrode array, the system comprising:
a signal processor configured to process an input sound signal to generate a plurality of stimulation timing signals for signal channels associated with the electrode contacts; a pulse generator configured to produce the electrode stimulation signals for each electrode contact based on the stimulation timing signals; and a pulse adapter configured to control a signal format of the pulse generator in response to a somatic response input signal reflecting presence or absence of an undesired somatic response to the electrode stimulation signals, wherein:
i. the signal format is an initial signal format based on biphasic stimulation pulses when the somatic response input signal reflects absence of the undesired somatic response, and
ii. the signal format is an adapted signal form based on triphasic stimulation pulses when the somatic response input signal reflects presence of the undesired somatic response.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the triphasic stimulation pulses include first and third phase pulses matching each other in phase and opposite in phase to a second phase pulse.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein all the phase pulses are equal in amplitude.

4 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein all the phase pulses are equal in duration.

5 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the adapted signal format includes one or more inter-phase gap periods between adjacent phase pulses.

6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more inter-phase gap periods are variable in duration to adjust the one or more undesired somatic responses.

7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the adapted signal format applies the stimulation pulses to the electrode contacts sequentially to one electrode contact at a time.

8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the adapted signal format applies the stimulation pulses to the electrode contacts in parallel to multiple electrode contacts at a time.

9 . A computer program product encoded in a non-transitory computer-readable medium for generating electrode stimulation signals to electrode contacts in an implanted cochlear implant electrode array, the product comprising:
program code for processing an input sound signal to generate a plurality of stimulation timing signals for signal channels associated with the electrode contacts; program code for producing the electrode stimulation signals for each electrode contact based on the stimulation timing signals; and program code for controlling a signal format of the electrode stimulation signals based on presence or absence of an undesired somatic response to the electrode stimulation signals, wherein:
i. the signal format is an initial signal format based on biphasic stimulation pulses when the undesired somatic response is absent, and
ii. the signal format is an adapted signal form based on triphasic stimulation pulses when the undesired somatic response is present.

10 . The product according to claim 9 , wherein the triphasic stimulation pulses include first and third phase pulses matching each other in phase and opposite in phase to a second phase pulse.

11 . The product according to claim 10 , wherein all the phase pulses are equal in amplitude.

12 . The product according to claim 10 , wherein all the phase pulses are equal in duration.

13 . The product according to claim 10 , wherein the adapted signal format includes one or more inter-phase gap periods between adjacent phase pulses.

14 . The product according to claim 13 , wherein the one or more inter-phase gap periods are variable in duration to adjust the undesired somatic response.

15 . The product according to claim 9 , wherein the adapted signal format applies the stimulation pulses to the electrode contact sequentially to one electrode contact at a time.

16 . The product according to claim 9 , wherein the adapted signal format applies the stimulation pulses to the electrode contacts in parallel to multiple electrode contacts at a time.

17 . A method of generating electrode stimulation signals to electrode contacts in an implanted cochlear implant electrode array, the method comprising:
processing an input sound signal to generate a plurality of stimulation timing signals for signal channels associated with the electrode contacts; producing the electrode stimulation signals for each electrode contact based on the stimulation timing signals; and controlling a signal format of the electrode stimulation signals based on presence or absence of an undesired somatic response to the electrode stimulation signals, wherein:
i. the signal format is an initial signal format based on biphasic stimulation pulses when the undesired somatic response is absent, and
ii. the signal format is an adapted signal form based on triphasic stimulation pulses when the undesired somatic response is present.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the triphasic stimulation pulses include first and third phase pulses matching each other in phase and opposite in phase to a second phase pulse.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein all the phase pulses are equal in amplitude.

20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein all the phase pulses are equal in duration.

21 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the adapted signal format includes one or more inter-phase gap periods between adjacent phase pulses.

22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the one or more inter-phase gap periods are variable in duration to adjust the undesired somatic response.

23 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the adapted signal format applies the stimulation pulses to the electrode contact sequentially to one electrode contact at a time.

24 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the adapted signal format applies the stimulation pulses to the electrode contacts in parallel to multiple electrode contacts at a time.

Assignees

• Med El Elektromed Geraete Gmbh

Inventors

• Sürth Werner
• Schatzer Reinhold

Classifications

• A61N1/36038 Primary

  Cochlear stimulation · CPC title

• A61N1/0541

  Cochlear electrodes · CPC title

• A61N1/36032 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic