Skin flap thickness estimation
Presented herein are techniques for estimating skin flap thickness (“SFT”) of a recipient of an implantable medical device system. In particular, in accordance with the techniques presented herein, the implantable medical device comprises an external component having a magnet configured to magnetically couple the external component to an implantable component of the implantable medical device system through a skin flap of a recipient of the implantable medical device system. The SFT is estimated based on a strength of the magnet. One or more operational parameters for the implantable medical device system may be determined and/or set based on the estimated SFT.
1 . A method, comprising:
identifying a magnetization of a magnet of an external component of an implantable medical device system, the magnet being configured to magnetically couple the external component to an implantable component of the implantable medical device system by applying a magnetic field through a skin flap of a recipient of the implantable medical device system;
estimating a thickness of the skin flap based on the magnetization of the magnet;
determining at least one operational parameter of the implantable medical device system based on the estimated thickness of the skin flap; and
setting the at least one operational parameter of the implantable medical device system.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one operational parameter affects a battery autonomy for the external component.
3 . The method of claim 2 , comprising determining a range of battery autonomy times for the external component.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one operational parameter is related to a suitability of a battery type for the external component.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one operational parameter is related to a signal attenuation associated with the implantable medical device system.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the thickness of the skin flap comprises calculating a range of skin flap thicknesses corresponding to the magnetization of the magnet.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the thickness of the skin flap comprises identifying a weighted distribution of skin flap thicknesses corresponding to the magnetization of the magnet.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the at least one operational parameter on a display of a computing device.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the estimated thickness of the skin flap on a display of a computing device.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the thickness of the skin flap based on the magnetization of the magnet comprises:
using data associating each of a plurality of thicknesses of the skin flap to a respective, corresponding magnetization; and
selecting the thickness of the skin flap based on the data associating the thickness of the skin flap to the magnetization of the magnet of the external component.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the data comprises at least one of a lookup table, a chart, or an algorithmic model.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one operational parameter of the implantable medical device system is associated with coil tuning, an auditory detection sound threshold, or a sound stimulation comfort level.
13 . A method, comprising:
providing an external component of an implantable medical device system, wherein the external component comprises a magnet for magnetically coupling the external component to an implantable component by applying a magnetic field through a skin flap of a recipient of the implantable medical device system;
estimating a thickness of the skin flap based on a magnetization of the magnet; and
setting one or more operational parameters of the implantable medical device system based on the estimated thickness of the skin flap.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more operational parameters are related to a battery autonomy for the external component.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more operational parameters are related to a suitability of a battery type for the external component.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more operational parameters are related to a signal attenuation associated with the implantable medical device system.
17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying the one or more operational parameters on a display of a computing device.
18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying the estimated thickness of the skin flap on a display of a computing device.
19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein estimating the thickness of the skin flap comprises calculating a range of skin flap thicknesses corresponding to the magnetization of the magnet.
20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein estimating the thickness of the skin flap comprises identifying a weighted distribution of skin flap thicknesses corresponding to the magnetization of the magnet.
21 . One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, are operable to:
estimate, based on a magnetization of a magnet of an external component of an implantable medical device system, a thickness of a skin flap through which the magnet is configured to apply a magnetic field to magnetically couple the external component to an implantable component of the implantable medical device system; and
cause at least one operational parameter of the implantable medical device system to be set based on the estimated thickness of the skin flap.
22 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 21 , wherein the at least one operational parameter is related to a battery autonomy for the external component.
23 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 22 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are further operable to:
determine the at least one operational parameter by determining a range of battery autonomy times for the external component.
24 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 21 , wherein the at least one operational parameter is related to a suitability of a battery type for the external component.
25 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 21 , wherein the at least one operational parameter is related to a signal attenuation associated with the implantable medical device system.
26 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are further operable to:
estimate the thickness of the skin flap by calculating a range of skin flap thicknesses corresponding to the magnetization of the magnet.
27 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are further operable to:
estimate the thickness of the skin flap by identifying a weighted distribution of skin flap thicknesses corresponding to the magnetization of the magnet.
28 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are further operable to:
cause the at least one operational parameter to be displayed on a display of a computing device.
29 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are further operable to:
cause the estimated thickness of the skin flap to be displayed on a display of a computing device.