Combination hearing aid and cochlear implant system

Inventors

Mazanec, Paul R.

Assignees

Envoy Medical Inc

Abstract

Cochlear implant systems can comprise a cochlear implant system comprising a cochlear electrode, a stimulator, an input source, and an implantable battery and/or communication module. The signal processor may be programmed with a transfer function and be configured to receive input signals from the input source and output a stimulation signal to the stimulator based on the received input signals with the transfer function. The system may be configured to receive a status indicator signal indicative of whether an external auditory aid device is active and update the transfer function of the signal processor if the external auditory aid device is active. For example, the signal processor can operate programmed with a first transfer function if the external auditory aid device is not active and with a second transfer function if the external auditory aid device is active.

Core Innovation

An implantable cochlear implant system uses one or more transfer functions in an implanted signal processor to output a stimulation signal to a stimulator based on one or more input signals representative of a received stimulus. The system detects an active external auditory aid device that affects the stimulus received via the input source and the one or more input signals, and when the external auditory aid device is active, the implanted signal processor updates the transfer function to compensate for operation of the external auditory aid device.

The invention addresses the situation where operation of the external auditory aid device alters frequency-dependent gain, which can cause skewed acoustic-to-stimulation processing if uncompensated. It compensates by using different transfer functions or operating profiles for different external-aid operating conditions, including using a second operating profile when the external aid is active. The second operating profile may be based on received operating characteristics of the external auditory aid device and on a gain profile of the external auditory aid device.

The disclosed system updates transfer functions based on a received status indicator signal that indicates whether the external auditory aid device is active. The status indicator signal is provided over a wireless communication link, including optional Bluetooth or NFC signaling, and may include continuous, initial, or intermittent signaling. The document further describes optional approaches that involve modifying internal automatic gain control and establishing or calibrating preferred transfer functions via an external programmer/fitting hub using wireless communication and efficacy testing of multiple transfer functions, including selecting and saving optimized transfer functions.

Claims Coverage

The partial content contains two independent claims relating to transfer-function compensation for an external auditory aid device being active. Across the dependent claims, the coverage includes transfer-function updates by operating-profile switching, derivation of compensation from external operating characteristics and gain profiles, optional disabling of AGC, wireless status-indicator signaling including Bluetooth pairing, efficacy testing of multiple transfer functions, and limiting the external auditory aid device to an external hearing aid.

The independent-claim core is updating transfer functions in an implanted signal processor to compensate for an external auditory aid device affecting the received stimulus. The dependent-claim coverage further specifies when and how the update occurs, including switching operating profiles, using external operating characteristics and gain profiles, optionally disabling AGC, receiving activation status via wireless signaling such as Bluetooth pairing, plus efficacy testing and the option to limit the external auditory aid device to an external hearing aid.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications