Event detection in an implantable auditory prosthesis
Inventors
Johnston, Benjamin Peter • Carter, Paul Michael • Kay, Stuart John • Lam, Andrea • Kumar, Shaun Ashwin • Pesch, Joerg
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12350030-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the physical state of a stimulating assembly to, for example, detect the occurrence of an adverse event. More specifically, an elongate stimulating assembly comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced contacts is at least partially implanted into a recipient. Electrical measurements are performed at one or more of the plurality of contacts and the electrical measurements are evaluated relative to one another to determine the physical state of the stimulating assembly.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to real-time event-detection for an implantable auditory prosthesis in which a stimulating assembly is at least partially inserted into a cochlea of a recipient. The stimulating assembly includes a plurality of electrodes, and current is successively sourced via at least a subset of the plurality of electrodes, with the sourced current sunk via at least one extra-cochlear electrode.
In response to each sourced current, other electrodes that are not used for sourcing the current are disconnected while voltages are measured on a plurality of the other electrodes. The measured voltages obtained in response to each sourced current are collected to generate a plurality of voltage sets, and relative magnitudes of the voltages within the plurality of voltage sets are analyzed to detect at least one of a fold or a buckle in the stimulating assembly.
The invention supports localized monitoring and bipolar monitoring where deviations from expected monotonic decay or growth patterns indicate adverse events such as tip foldover and deformation or buckling. It also supports generating feedback to a user that indicates the presence of the at least one of a fold or a buckle, including a graph display, an estimated shape image, and audible and haptic cues.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001 (method) and clm-00013 (system). Both independent claims include 4 inventive features centered on detecting a fold or buckle by analyzing relative voltage magnitudes collected during electrode stimulation with unused electrodes disconnected.
Detecting a fold or buckle using voltage-set relative magnitudes
Measure a plurality of voltages at other electrodes of the stimulating assembly obtained in response to each sourced current while the other electrodes are disconnected; collect the voltages to generate a plurality of voltage sets; and analyze relative magnitudes of the voltages within the plurality of voltage sets to detect the at least one of a fold or a buckle in the stimulating assembly.
Successively sourced electrode current with extra-cochlear sinking
Successively source current via at least a subset of the plurality of electrodes of the stimulating assembly; and in response to each sourced current via one of the plurality of electrodes, sink the sourced current via at least one extra-cochlear electrode.
Disconnecting unused electrodes during voltage measurement
In response to each sourced current, disconnect other electrodes of the plurality of electrodes that are not used for sourcing the current; and in response to each sourced current, measure a voltage at a plurality of the other electrodes of the plurality of electrodes while the other electrodes are disconnected.
Event detection processor analyzing collected voltage sets
An event detection processor successively sources current via at least a subset of the plurality of electrodes; sinks the sourced current via at least one extra-cochlear electrode; disconnects other electrodes not used for sourcing; measures voltage at a plurality of other electrodes while those other electrodes are disconnected; collects the voltages to generate a plurality of voltage sets; and analyzes relative magnitudes of the voltages within the plurality of voltage sets to detect the at least one of a fold or a buckle in the stimulating assembly.
Across the independent claims, detection of a fold or buckle is performed by analyzing relative magnitudes of voltages collected into voltage sets generated during successively sourced electrode stimulation with extra-cochlear current sinking and with unused electrodes disconnected during voltage measurement.
Stated Advantages
Reducing revision surgery.
Reducing reliance on post-operative X-rays and radiation exposure.
Documented Applications
Real-time event-detection for implantable auditory prostheses, including cochlear implants, by detecting folds or buckles in an intra-cochlear stimulating assembly and providing feedback to a user and/or surgeon.
Providing user feedback such as a graph display, an estimated shape image, and audible and haptic cues indicating the presence of at least one of a fold or a buckle.
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