Sensitive measurements in a hearing prosthesis

摘要

Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to taking measurements in a hearing prosthesis. In an embodiment, a power circuit, which may be a switched mode power circuit, is shut down during performance of the measurements to reduce interference. Then, power capacitively stored by the power circuit is used to power the hearing prosthesis during performance of the measurements. In an embodiment, the power circuit increases its voltage just prior to performance of the measurements. This serves to increase the amount of energy capacitively stored by the power circuit and thus extends the period of time during which the measurements may be taken while the power circuit is shut off.

主权项

1. A method for performing an evoked compound action potential (ECAP) measurement using a cochlear implant system having a switch mode voltage conversion circuit that interferes with the ECAP measurement while it is performed, the method comprising:
supplying, with the switch mode voltage conversion circuit, voltage to an energy storage device; temporarily increasing the voltage supplied by the switch mode voltage conversion circuit to the energy storage device to boost an amount of energy stored in the energy storage device; after supplying increased voltage to the energy storage device for a period of time, shutting down the switch mode voltage conversion circuit; and while the switch mode voltage conversion circuit is shut down, performing the ECAP measurement using the energy stored in the energy storage device.