METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A NETWORK IN BILATERAL COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS
A method for establishing a network to allow communications between plural BTE units of a bilateral cochlear implant system. The bilateral cochlear network includes four main components: (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.
1 . A method of establishing a network to allow communications between plural BTE units of a bilateral cochlear implant system, the method comprising:
(a) inserting a communications interposer module into each BTE unit that is to be part of the network;
(b) establishing a communication channel over which communication may take place between interposer modules of the BTE units of the network and other remote devices; and
(c) synchronizing communications that take place between the BTE units over the network.
2 . The method of claim 1 further including utilizing a fitting system platform to assist with communications that occur between BTE units over the network, wherein the fitting system platform includes a host fitting station, and wherein the method further includes loading the host fitting station with appropriate fitting software, and plugging a PC card into the host fitting station for allowing communications with the BTE units.
3 . The method of claim 2 further including performing bilateral pitch ranking and channel allocation over the network.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the communications interposer module includes a control module, the control module comprising electronic circuitry that is interposed between electrical contacts of a BTE interface port and the communications interposer module.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the communications interposer module further comprises a wireless transceiver housed within the module and connected to the electrical contacts of the BTE interface port.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the wireless transceiver is selected from the group comprising Bluetooth, ISM, Medical Band, FIS ITEL, and the like.
7 . The method of claim 4 wherein the communications interposer module further including a wireless network interface module coupled to the control module and an antenna coupled to the wireless network interface module.
8 . The method of claim 4 wherein the communications interposer module further including a wired network interface module coupled to the control module.