Med-el Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh

Med-el Elektro-medizinische Gerate Gesellschaft M.b.h.

Reinhold Schatzer

Peter Schleich

Dirk Meister

Mathias Kals

Peter Nopp

Werner Sürth

Richard Penninger

Werner SÜRTH

Daniel Hofer

A signal processing arrangement generates electrical stimulation signals to stimulation contacts in an implanted cochlear implant array. An input sound signal is decomposed into dominant psychophysically relevant frequency components, with each frequency component changing over time in frequency and level. Each frequency component is coded as a patient-specific, frequency-specific function of stimulation location, rate, and level to produce a sequence of requested stimulation events having an instantaneous frequency and level. And the electrical stimulation signals are generated from the requested stimulation events for delivery by the stimulation contacts to adjacent auditory neural tissue.

Rate and place of stimulation matched to instantaneous frequency

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.

Triphasic pulses to reduce undesirable side-effects in cochlear implants

An arrangement for operating a cochlear implant system is described. Stimulation signals are applied to stimulation electrodes in a cochlear implant electrode with an initial signal format using biphasic electrical stimulation pulses. One or more undesired somatic responses to the stimulation pulses are identified. The one or more undesired somatic responses are reduced by selecting an adapted signal format using charge-balanced triphasic electrical stimulation pulses to apply stimulation signals to one or more of the stimulation electrodes.

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Birgitz, Austria

Reinhold Schatzer