Methods and systems of optimizing stimulation current applied to a cochlear implant patient
View Patent ↗Methods of optimizing stimulation current applied to a cochlear implant patient include determining a plurality of narrowband spectral modulation detection thresholds for the patient and adjusting a stimulation current applied to the patient in accordance with the narrowband spectral modulation detection thresholds. Systems for optimizing stimulation current applied to a cochlear implant patient include an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon, an implantable cochlear stimulator coupled to the electrode array and configured to apply a stimulation current to one or more locations along a cochlea of a patient via one or more of the electrodes, and a fitting station communicatively coupled to the implantable cochlear stimulator. The fitting station is configured determine a plurality of narrowband spectral modulation detection thresholds and adjust the stimulation current in accordance with the narrowband spectral modulation detection thresholds.
1. A method of measuring a spectral modulation detection threshold within a frequency range for a cochlear implant patient, comprising:
applying a flat electrical stimulus within the frequency range to the patient;
applying a spectrally modulated electrical stimulus within the frequency range to the patient; and
modulating a spectral contrast of the spectrally modulated electrical stimulus to a smallest value at which the patient is able to distinguish between the flat electrical stimulus and the spectrally modulated electrical stimulus.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the smallest value corresponds to the spectral modulation detection threshold.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a stimulation current applied via one or more electrodes corresponding to the frequency range in accordance with the spectral modulation detection threshold.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjusting of the stimulation current comprises reallocating at least a portion of the stimulation current to another frequency range.
5. A method of measuring a spectral modulation detection threshold within a frequency range for a cochlear implant patient, comprising:
applying a flat stimulus within the frequency range to the patient;
applying a spectrally modulated stimulus within the frequency range to the patient; and
modulating a spectral contrast of the spectrally modulated stimulus to a smallest value at which the patient is able to distinguish between the flat stimulus and the spectrally modulated stimulus;
wherein the spectrally modulated stimulus has a modulation frequency substantially equal to 0.5 cycles per octave.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spectrally modulated electrical stimulus has a modulation frequency substantially equal to 1.0 cycles per octave.
7. A method of measuring a spectral modulation detection threshold within a frequency range for a cochlear implant patient, comprising:
applying a flat stimulus within the frequency range to the patient;
applying a spectrally modulated stimulus within the frequency range to the patient; and
modulating a spectral contrast of the spectrally modulated stimulus to a smallest value at which the patient is able to distinguish between the flat stimulus and the spectrally modulated stimulus;
wherein the flat stimulus and the spectrally modulated stimulus are applied in accordance with a cued, two-interval, two-alternative, forced-choice paradigm.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spectrally modulated electrical stimulus has a ripple pattern.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spectrally modulated electrical stimulus has a modulation frequency substantially equal to 0.5 cycles per octave.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the flat electrical stimulus and the spectrally modulated electrical stimulus in accordance with a cued, two-interval, two-alternative, forced-choice paradigm.
11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the smallest value corresponds to the spectral modulation detection threshold.
12. The method of claim 5 , further comprising adjusting a stimulation current applied via one or more electrodes corresponding to the frequency range in accordance with the spectral modulation detection threshold.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the adjusting of the stimulation current comprises reallocating at least a portion of the stimulation current to another frequency range.
14. The method of claim 5 , further comprising applying the flat electrical stimulus and the spectrally modulated electrical stimulus in accordance with a cued, two-interval, two-alternative, forced-choice paradigm.
15. The method of claim 7 , wherein the smallest value corresponds to the spectral modulation detection threshold.
16. The method of claim 7 , further comprising adjusting a stimulation current applied via one or more electrodes corresponding to the frequency range in accordance with the spectral modulation detection threshold.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the adjusting of the stimulation current comprises reallocating at least a portion of the stimulation current to another frequency range.
18. The method of claim 7 , wherein the spectrally modulated stimulus has a modulation frequency substantially equal to 0.5 cycles per octave.
19. The method of claim 7 , wherein the spectrally modulated stimulus has a modulation frequency substantially equal to 1.0 cycles per octave.
20. The method of claim 7 , wherein the spectrally modulated stimulus has a ripple pattern.