Forward masking method for estimating neural response

1. A method of recording and processing neural response (NR) using a stimulating electrode and a recording electrode, the method comprising:

(a) recording a response in which the first stimulus and the second stimulus are separated by a time gap greater than the relative refractory period (Rmp_distant), while a first supra-threshold stimulus pulse, S 1 , is delivered to a target nerve and, thereafter, a second stimulus pulse, S 2 is delivered to the target nerve, wherein S 2 is initiated outside of the relative refractory period of the action potential elicited by delivery of S 1 ;

(b) recording a response in which a first stimulus and a second stimulus are separated by a time gap of less than the relative refractory period (Rmp), while a supra-threshold stimulus pulse, S 3 , which is essentially identical to S 1 , is delivered to the target nerve, and a second stimulus pulse, S 4 , essentially identical to S 2 is delivered to the target nerve, wherein S 4 is initiated within the relative refractory period of the action potential of the target nerve elicited by delivery of S 3 ;

(c) recording a stimulus pulse (Rm), while a supra-threshold stimulus pulse, S 5 , essentially identical to S 1 , is delivered to the target nerve; and

(d) processing the recordings to yield an estimate NR in accordance with the relation: estimated NR=(Rmp_distant−Rm)−Time Shift(Rmp−Rm).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the recordings is the same duration.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein S 1 and S 2 are essentially identical.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target nerve is a cochlear nerve.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulating electrode and recording electrode are part of an electrode array.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimuli S 1 , S 2 , S 3 and S 4 are delivered in a monopolar mode.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target nerve is a spinal cord nerve.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , and S 5 are all charged-balance, biphasic stimuli, the first phase of each stimuli having a negative polarity.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , and S 5 are all current-controlled, constant-current stimuli.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the steps (a), (b) or (c) is repeated in order to provide an averaged value of at least one of Rmp_distant, Rmp, or Rm, which averaged value is used in step (d).

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(e) repeating all of the steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) at least once and averaging the obtained value of all estimated NRs to obtained an averaged estimated NR.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (d) processing the recording is accomplished by uploading Rmp_distant, Rmp and Rm from the implanted device to a microprocessor located in an implanted device, so that all processing is accomplished inside the implanted device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the implanted device is a spinal cord stimulator.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the implanted device is an implanted cochlear stimulator.

15. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the step (d) processing the recording is accomplished by uploading the Rmp_distant; the Rmp and Rm from the implanted device and processing the recordings with a microprocessor that is located in an external device; and

wherein the external device has a communications link with the implanted device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the external device is a behind-the-ear (BTE) device of a cochlear stimulator.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the steps (a), (b) and (c) are accomplished by sampling and recording Rmp_distant, Rmp and Rm in digital form and storing them in a memory.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step (d) is performed by retrieving the digital recordings of Rmp_distant, Rmp and Rm from memory, and using a microprocessor capable of numerical functions such as adding and subtracting data points in data arrays, which functions may be used to calculate estimated NR.