Cochlear Limited

The University of Melbourne

Hearworks Pty, Limited

Christopher John James

Peter John Blamey

Ibrahim Bouchataoui

Konrad Wildi

Lois Martin

Hugh Joseph McDermott

Mattheus J P Killian

Koen Van Den Heuvel

Bastiaan Van Dijk

Mark Christopher Flynn

Rami Banna

Matthijs Killian

Stefan Lievens

Ernst Von Wallenberg

Thomas Stainsby

Hugh J Mcdermott

Erwin Cas

Koen Van Den Huevel

Mark Majoral

A method for adjusting parameters of a hearing prosthesis system includes adjusting a control to shift an audiogram associated with a first stimulator, applying a prescription rule using the shifted audiogram to adjust a cross-over frequency that defines a first frequency range and a second frequency range. The first stimulator is configured to apply stimulation signals in the first frequency range and a second stimulator is configured to apply stimulation signals in the second frequency range. The method also includes applying the prescription rule using the shifted audiogram to determine gain and maximum power output (MPO) levels for the first frequency range associated with the first stimulator.

Control for hearing prosthesis fitting

A method and system for fitting and adjusting the operation of an acoustic hearing prosthesis or a hybrid electric and acoustic hearing prosthesis. A graphic user interface allows for the acoustic and electric fitting parameters to be viewed and adjusted in a comparable way. The method further allows for the parameters for acoustic stimulation of the acoustic channels to be adjusted in response to behavioral or objective measurement of response to known stimuli, so as to achieve a desired response curve.

Fitting an auditory prosthesis

The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for determining prescription rules for a hearing prosthesis. A method in accordance with the present disclosure includes identifying a threshold hearing level and an uncomfortable loudness level for a channel of a hearing prosthesis. In one example, the threshold hearing level and the uncomfortable loudness level are determined in response to a stimulation signal generated utilizing the hearing prosthesis in situ on a recipient. In the present example, the stimulation signal corresponds to the channel of the hearing prosthesis. The method further includes developing a prescription rule based on the threshold hearing level and the uncomfortable loudness level. Generally, the prescription rule includes at least one of a linear compression scheme and a wide dynamic range compression scheme.

Acoustic prescription rule based on an in situ measured dynamic range

Methods, systems, and devices for processing an audio signal are provided. An example method includes mapping a fundamental frequency of an audio signal to a modulation frequency. An output of the mapping is less than the fundamental frequency when the fundamental frequency is greater than an intersection frequency. The intersection frequency is a frequency at which the output of the mapping is the fundamental frequency.

Modulation of speech signals

A method and system for fitting and adjusting the operation of an acoustic hearing prosthesis or a hybrid electric and acoustic hearing prosthesis. A graphic user interface allows for the acoustic and electric fitting parameters to be viewed and adjusted in a comparable way. The method further allows for the parameters for acoustic stimulation of the acoustic channels to be adjusted in response to behavioral or objective measurement of responses to known stimuli, so as to achieve a desired response curve.

Methods and systems are disclosed for determining an amplitude of one or more stimulation signals corresponding to a subject signal for use by a stimulating medical device having a first group of stimulation channels mapping to a second group of electrodes, respectively. Such a method, for example, includes: obtaining the subject signal; filtering the subject signal with a first plurality of band-pass filters (BPFs) having substantially contiguous pass-bands, respectively, to obtain a first set of one or more signals; selecting at least one of the stimulation channels based on the first set; filtering the subject signal with a second plurality of BPFs having significantly overlapping pass-bands, respectively, to obtain a second set of one or more signals; and determining at least one stimulation amplitude for the at least one selected stimulation channel, respectively, based on the second set of signals.

Stimulation channel selection for a stimulating medical device

The present application discloses systems and methods to address situations in a binaural hearing prosthesis configuration in which each hearing prosthesis receives audio signals that have differing audio signal measures (e.g., signal to noise ratios (SNRs)). In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided and includes receiving a first audio signal from a first transducer, receiving a second audio signal from a second transducer, evaluating the first audio signal and determining thereby a first audio signal measure, evaluating the second audio signal and determining thereby a second audio signal measure, based on the evaluating, identifying from among the first audio signal and the second audio signal a particular audio signal that has a certain quality with respect to the audio signal measures (e.g., the highest SNR), and applying stimulation to a recipient in accordance with the identified audio signal.

Signal evaluation in binaural and hybrid hearing prosthesis configurations

Methods and systems are disclosed for determining the stimulation channels for application of stimulation by a medical device, such as a cochlear implant or an auditory brain stimulator. In embodiments, the medical device filters a received signal to obtain a plurality of band-pass filtered signals, each corresponding to one or more stimulation channels. The medical device then selects a stimulation channel for application of stimulation based on the amplitudes of the band-pass filtered signals. The medical device determines whether to apply stimulation on the adjacent stimulation channels by determining if the amplitude of the corresponding adjacent stimulation channel exceeds an information limit. If the amplitudes for either adjacent channel fall below the information limit, the corresponding adjacent stimulation channel is eliminated from consideration. The medical device further may determine the amplitudes for application of stimulation on the adjacent stimulation channels, if selected, using a pitch steering function. This pitch steering function may specify a current level difference between the selected stimulation channel and the adjacent stimulation channel to use in applying the stimulation.

A bimodal hearing prosthesis configured to deliver electrical and acoustic stimulation to a recipient such that a frequency range of a received sound that is represented by the electrical stimulation is perceived simultaneously with the frequency range of the received sound that is represented by the acoustic stimulation.

Simultaneous delivery of electrical and acoustical stimulation in a hearing prosthesis

In one embodiment, an apparatus for processing sound includes a means () for analyzing a sound signal into a number of frequency bands and a means () for applying variable gain to each frequency band independently. Gain in applied under control of a number of gain comparator means () each of which generates a number of statistical distribution estimates in respect of each signal and compares those estimates to predetermined hearing response parameters stored in memory (). The numerous gain compensated frequency bands are then combined () in order to generate a single sound signal. The apparatus may be implemented in dedicated hardware embodiment or by software running on a microprocessor.

Adaptive dynamic range optimization sound processor

In one embodiment, an apparatus for processing sound includes a means () for analysing a sound signal into a number of frequency bands and a means () for applying variable gain to each frequency band independently. Gain in applied under control of a number of gain comparator means () each of which generates a number ot statistical distribution estimates in respect of each signal and compares those estimates to predetermined hearing presponse parameters stored in memory (). The numerous gain compensated frequency bands are then combined () in order to generate a single sound signal. The apparatus may be implemented in dedicated hardware embodiment or by software running on a microprocessor.

In one embodiment an apparatus for processing sound includes a means ( ) for analyzing a sound signal into a number frequency bands and a means ( ) for applying variable gain to each frequency band independently. Gain is applied under control of a number of gain comparator means ( ) each of which generates a number of statistical estimates in respect of each signal and compares those estimates to predetermined hearing response parameters stored in memory ( ). The numerous gain compensated frequency bands are then combined ( ) in order to generate a single sound signal. The apparatus may be implemented in dedicated hardware embodiment or by software running on a microprocessor.

Growing community of inventors

Toulouse, France

Christopher John James