Patent ID: 6289247
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A multichannel cochlear prosthesis comprising;an electrode array insertable into the cochlea, the electrode array comprising a flexible carrier on which a multiplicity of spaced-apart electrode contacts are positioned, wherein each electrode contact is connected to a respective wire that passes through the carrier to a proximal end of the carrier;a multichannel implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS), the ICS comprising a multiplicity of current generators, wherein each current generator is connected to a respective electrode contact of the electrode array through the respective wire of the electrode contact, and wherein each current generator includes circuitry responsive to control signals for applying a current pulse of a specified amplitude, polarity and duration to its respective electrode contact;a speech processor (SP) electronically coupled to the ICS, the SP including electronic circuitry that generates and sends the control signals to the ICS as a function of a selected speech processing strategy and received audio signals;microphone means for generating the audio signals received by the SP;wherein the control signals generated by the SP produce a pattern of electrical stimulation at the electrode contacts that yields speech intelligibility; andselection means for selecting one of a multiplicity of speech processing strategies for use within the SP, wherein the multiplicity of speech processing strategies includes a simultaneous analog stimulation (SAS) strategy, a continuous interleaved sampler (CIS) strategy, and at least one strategy whose temporal characteristics lie somewhere in between fully simultaneous or non-simultaneous, and whose stimulating waveform(s) thus comprise(s) a hybrid combination of analog or pulsatile waveforms.