Patent ID: 6415185
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A method of objectively gathering stimulation data associated with programming an implantable cochlea stimulation (ICS) system, the ICS system including an implantable electrode array having intra-cochlear electrode contacts, at least one extra-cochlear electrode contact, means for applying an electrical stimulus to a selected pair of the electrode contacts, and means for sensing an evoked potential occurring between a selected pair of the electrode contacts, the method comprising:selecting a pair of sensing electrodes that includes the at least one extra-cochlear electrode contact through which an evoked potential is to be sensed; applying a stimulus of a selected magnitude; monitoring the selected sensing electrodes for the occurrence of an evoked potential during a prescribed time period, wherein the prescribed time period comprises a time window that begins about 5 milliseconds, and ends about 12 milliseconds, following application of the stimulus; readjusting the energy of the electrical stimulus as a function of whether the evoked potential is sensed during the prescribed time period; measuring the magnitude of the evoked potential sensed during the prescribed time period; and using the measured magnitude of the evoked potential to generate data useful in programming the ICS system.