Triphasic Pulses to Reduce Undesirable Side-Effects in Cochlear Implants

摘要

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.

主权项

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, andii. 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.