| Method for establishing a network in bilateral cochlear implant systems -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method for establishing a network in bilateral cochlear implant systemsRelated Patent Categories: Surgery: Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Electrical Therapeutic Systems, Promoting Auditory Function, Producing Aural Effects By Stimulation, By Partially Or Wholly Implanted DeviceMethod for establishing a network in bilateral cochlear implant systems description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080027511, Method for establishing a network in bilateral cochlear implant systems. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/218,615, filed Aug. 13, 2002, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/313,694, filed Aug. 20, 2001, which application, including its Appendix A, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The teachings of the present disclosure relate to bionic ear implants, and more particularly to an ear level high resolution bilateral programming system for use with a bionic ear implant. [0003] A new generation of cochlear implants, commonly referred to as a "bionic ear" implant, has recently been introduced to the cochlear implant community. A representative bionic ear implant is the CII Bionic Ear.TM. cochlear implant system introduced by Advanced Bionics Corporation, of Sylmar Calif. A bionic ear implant is capable of delivering electrical stimulation to a patient at rates and resolutions which surpass that of conventional cochlear implants. [0004] Early research indicates that cochlear implant patients will benefit from additional synchronized and processed speech information conveyed to the brain via both the right and left auditory nerve pathways. Several configurations are available to implement such a system, including, e.g.: (a) bilateral implants controlled by a single master speech processor; (b) bilateral implants driven by independent external speech processors; and (c) bilateral implants driven by synchronized external speech processors. The teachings of the present disclosure relate primarily to configurations (b) & (c). [0005] Of significance to configuration (c) is its ability to interface with patients who use presently available technology platforms; specifically ear level early-generation speech processors. (The early-generation speech processors are referred to herein as "CI" processors, whereas the more recent bionic ear processors are referred to as the "CII" processors.) With or without a hardware change to a standalone behind-the-ear (BTE) processor, there is a need for an adapter module whereby two standalone BTE units may be synchronized both temporally and tonotopically to maximize the CI patients listening experience. There is also a need for a peer-to-peer network and protocol consisting of two BTE units during normal operation, or two BTE units plus a host controller (PC, PDA, etc . . . ) during a fitting session. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present disclosure addresses the above and other needs by providing an adapter module that allows two standalone BTE units to be synchronized both temporally and tonotopically in order to maximize the CI patients listening experience. Further, the present disclosure provides a peer-to-peer network and protocol that consists of two BTE units during normal operation, or two BTE units plus a host controller (PC, PDA, etc . . . ) during fitting. [0007] The system provided by the present disclosure includes (a) a communications interposer adapted to be inserted between the BTE battery and the BTE housing or modified BTE devices; (b) a communication channel over which communication takes place between the connected devices, including the protocol governing access to such channel; (c) the synchronization mechanisms used to achieve synchronization between the connected devices; and (d) a bilateral fitting paradigm. Each of these four components of present disclosure are summarized below. [0008] (a) Communications Interposer. The communications interposer is a plug-in module designed for use with the Clarion.RTM. BTE (a CI device). It interfaces mechanically to the existing clinicians programming interface (CPI) contacts found on the underside of a standard platinum series BTE. The interposer module contains the interface electronics to the physical layer (any necessary antennae or connectors) and a replicated battery port on its underside to allow insertion as usual of a BTE battery. [0009] (b) Communication Channel. The communication channel may be a wired or wireless link configured to use proprietary technology (e.g. the implantable speech processor's 10.7 MHz ITEL channel) or industry standard channels (e.g. the newly allocated 400 MHz medical band, Bluetooth, 802.11, etc . . . ). One preferred embodiment uses wired interconnections of multiple speech processors and a fitting station via the buffered serial ports that are standard on Texas Instruments DSP products. In the case of wired links, interference is not a problem and the fundamentals of an enhanced packet protocol are utilized. For a wireless embodiment, bandwidth and interference issues bound the ultimate capability and robustness of the system. Any time there is a need to maintain communications in real time between two operating processors, there are many tradeoffs to consider, leaving certain implementations fundamentally superior to others. Conversely, developing new applications to run over an industry standard link utilizing industry standard protocols (e.g. Bluetooth) may simplify the development of new applications. [0010] (c) Synchronization. The raw bandwidth and necessary protocol overhead of a chosen physical medium dictates the nature of information that can be passed over the network in real time. This, in turn, limits the degree to which parallel speech processors can synchronize their activities and/or share information. In a preferred embodiment, a maximally efficient data link layer is used that allows for arbitrary data exchange and device synchronization. Disadvantageously, varying degrees of reduced functionality are mandated as the system's communication bandwidth is reduced and/or as protocol overheads increase. To minimize such reduced functionality, several steps are taken. First, a fitting mechanism is used that tonotopically ranks electrode contact position in the contra-lateral cochlea, followed by assignment of audio frequency bands to those optimal contacts. Second, an operational mode is used that offers noise cancellation and directional hearing by making use of phase information available from the contra-lateral microphones. Third, an operational mode is described for listening in stereo. [0011] (d) Bilateral fitting Paradigm. A fitting procedure, based on trans-cochlear pitch discrimination, is used so as to reduce channel interaction and optimally interleave channel information across available electrode contacts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein: [0013] FIG. 1 is shows a simple binaural interposer; [0014] FIG. 2 shows a binaural programming cable suitable for use with a Clinician Programming Interface (CPI) device; [0015] FIG. 3 depicts a BioNet BTE interposer; [0016] FIG. 4 shows a BioNet Wireless BTE communications controller; [0017] FIG. 5 depicts a first configuration for a binaural fitting cable; [0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a second configuration for a binaural fitting cable; [0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a third configuration for a binaural fitting cable; [0020] FIG. 8 shows a fourth configuration of a fitting cable; [0021] FIG. 9 shows a binaural standalone approach; Continue reading about Method for establishing a network in bilateral cochlear implant systems... 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