Med-el Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh

Philipp Spitzer

Stefan Strahl

Konrad Eugen Schwarz

Martin Zimmerling

Marek Polak

Angelika Dierker

Tanja Schulze

Florian Feichtner

A system and method detect neuronal action potential signals from tissue responding to electrical stimulation signals. A sparse signal space model for a set of tissue response recordings has a signal space separable into a plurality of disjoint component manifolds including a neural action potential (NAP) component manifold corresponding to tissue response to electrical stimulation signals. A response measurement module is configured to: i. map a tissue response measurement signal into the sparse signal model space to obtain a corresponding sparse signal representation, ii. project the sparse signal representation onto the NAP component manifold to obtain a sparse NAP component representation, iii. when the sparse NAP component representation is greater than a minimum threshold value, report and recover a detected NAP signal in the tissue response measurement signal.

Detecting neuronal action potentials using a sparse signal representation

A hearing implant fitting system includes a physiological database containing physiological data characterizing auditory neural tissue response to electrical stimulation. A neural action potential (NAP) measurement system measures NAP signals from cochlear tissue responding to electrical stimulation signals delivered by one or more of the electrode contacts, including: deriving a compound discharge latency distribution (CDLD) of the cochlear tissue by deconvolving: (1) a tissue response measurement signal taken responsive to the delivered electrical stimulation signals, with (2) an elementary unit response signal representing voltage change at a measurement electrode contact due to the electrical stimulation, and then comparing the CDLD to physiological data from the physiological database to detect an NAP signal from the tissue response measurement signal. A fitting display provides to the fitting audiologist a visual display representing the CDLD and the NAP signal for fitting the electrode array to an implanted patient.

Detecting neuronal action potentials using a convolutive compound action potential model

Arrangements are described for determining a physiological characteristic of the auditory pathway (as whole or selected parts such as an inner ear). Electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to inner ear neural tissue and corresponding tissue response signals are developed by measuring over time response of the auditory pathway to each electrical stimulation pulse, with each tissue response signal forming a response curve including at least one physiological landmark such as a local maximum and a local minimum. A multi-dimensional polynomial is fit over the tissue response signals, and calculation starting points are defined based on prominent physiologic landmarks such as a local maximum and a local minimum for one selected tissue response signal. A line of minimum principal curvature of the multi-dimensional polynomial over the plurality of tissue response signals that intersect the calculation starting points is calculated to determine a physiological characteristic of the auditory pathway.

Determination of neuronal action potential amplitude based on multidimensional differential geometry

An arrangement is described for fitting a hearing prosthesis system to a prosthesis patient. The PAMR measurement determines a post-auricular muscle reflex (PAMR) response of the patient to an auditory stimulus signal. For example, the PAMR response may include a PAMR amplitude growth function or a PAMR threshold stimulus level at which a PAMR is measured in the patient. Then a patient fitting module sets an operating characteristic of the hearing prosthesis system based on the PAMR response.

Post-auricular muscle response based hearing prosthesis fitting

An audio prostheses having a set of operating parameters is fit to an implanted patient. An audio stimulation pattern is initiated to the audio prosthesis. A fit adjustment process is performed during the audio stimulation pattern, which includes: changing a set of selected operating parameter values. Patient feedback is received that indicates a subjective performance evaluation of operation of the audio prosthesis. The process is repeated (e.g., continuously) to collect performance evaluation data related to the operating parameter values. Then the operating parameters are set based on the performance evaluation data.

Method for fitting a cochlear implant with patient feedback

An artifact monitoring stimulation system and corresponding method are described. An implantable electrode stimulator applies an electrical stimulation pulse to target tissue using implantable electrode contacts. An artifact monitor module monitors the electrode contacts during and after the stimulation pulse to observe an artifact signal resulting from the stimulation pulse to determine a operating characteristic associated with the stimulation system, the stimulated tissue and/or electrode-electrolyte interface properties.

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Innsbruck, Austria

Philipp Spitzer