Methods and systems for automatically determining an implant side associated with a cochlear implant

An exemplary method includes a fitting subsystem detecting a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant associated with a patient to a sound processor connected to the fitting subsystem and automatically determining, in response to the communicative coupling, an implant side associated with the cochlear implant in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The natural sense of hearing in human beings involves the use of hair cells in the cochlea that convert or transduce acoustic signals into auditory nerve impulses. Hearing loss, which may be due to many different causes, is generally of two types: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss occurs when the normal mechanical pathways for sound to reach the hair cells in the cochlea are impeded. These sound pathways may be impeded, for example, by damage to the auditory ossicles. Conductive hearing loss may often be overcome through the use of conventional hearing aids that amplify sound so that acoustic signals can reach the hair cells within the cochlea. Some types of conductive hearing loss may also be treated by surgical procedures.

Sensorineural hearing loss, on the other hand, is caused by the absence or destruction of the hair cells in the cochlea, which are needed to transduce acoustic signals into auditory nerve impulses. People who suffer from sensorineural hearing loss may be unable to derive significant benefit from conventional hearing aid systems, no matter how loud the acoustic stimulus. This is because the mechanism for transducing sound energy into auditory nerve impulses has been damaged. Thus, in the absence of properly functioning hair cells, auditory nerve impulses cannot be generated directly from sounds.

To overcome sensorineural hearing loss, numerous cochlear implant systems—or cochlear prostheses—have been developed. Cochlear implant systems bypass the hair cells in the cochlea by presenting electrical stimulation directly to the auditory nerve fibers by way of one or more channels formed by an array of electrodes implanted in the cochlea. Direct stimulation of the auditory nerve fibers leads to the perception of sound in the brain and at least partial restoration of hearing function.

When a cochlear implant is initially implanted in a patient, and during follow-up tests and checkups thereafter, it is usually necessary to “fit” the cochlear implant to the patient. To this end, an implant record associated with the cochlear implant may be created and stored by a fitting system. The implant record may specify an implant side associated with the cochlear implant. In other words, the implant record may specify the ear (i.e., the right ear or the left ear) with which the cochlear implant is associated. It is important for the implant side information maintained by the implant record to be accurate—especially in the case of a bilateral cochlear implant patient (i.e., a patient who has a separate cochlear implant for each ear). However, because the implant side information has heretofore been input manually, human error may occasionally result in implant records having erroneous implant side information.

SUMMARY

An exemplary method includes a fitting subsystem detecting a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant associated with a patient to a sound processor connected to the fitting subsystem and automatically determining, in response to the communicative coupling, an implant side associated with the cochlear implant in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors.

Another exemplary method includes a fitting subsystem detecting a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant associated with a patient to a sound processor connected to the fitting subsystem, automatically selecting an implant side of the cochlear implant in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors, automatically populating an implant record associated with the cochlear implant with data representative of the selected implant side, and presenting information indicative of the selected implant side within a graphical user interface.

An exemplary system includes a detection facility configured to detect a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant associated with a patient to a sound processor connected to a fitting station and an implant side management facility communicatively coupled to the detection facility and configured to automatically determine, in response to the communicative coupling, an implant side associated with the cochlear implant in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Methods and systems for automatically determining an implant side associated with a cochlear implant are described herein. As described in more detail below, a fitting subsystem may be configured to detect a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant associated with a patient to a sound processor connected to the fitting subsystem and automatically determine, in response to the communicative coupling, an implant side associated with the cochlear implant in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors.

As used herein, an “implant side” associated with a cochlear implant refers to a particular ear (i.e., the right ear or the left ear) associated with the cochlear implant. Hence, a cochlear implant used to provide a sensation of sound to the right ear has an associated “right implant side.” Likewise, a cochlear implant used to provide a sensation of sound to the left ear has an associated “left implant side.”

As used herein, “side implant side selection factors” may include any factor associated with one or more cochlear implants associated with a patient, one or more implant records associated with a patient, one or more default parameters, one or more actions performed by a user of the fitting subsystem, and/or any other factor as may serve a particular implementation.

In some examples, the fitting subsystem may be further configured to automatically populate an implant record associated with the cochlear implant with data representative of the determined implant side. As used herein, an “implant record” refers to a data record or the like that is descriptive of a particular cochlear implant. For example, an implant record may include information descriptive of an implant side, a type, a unique identifier (e.g., an electronic serial number), and/or any other information associated with a particular cochlear implant as may serve a particular implementation. An implant record may be “unassociated” or “associated.” An unassociated implant record has not yet been populated with a unique identifier associated with a cochlear implant (which populating typically occurs the first time that the cochlear implant communicatively couples to a sound processor connected to the fitting subsystem). Conversely, an “associated” implant record has been populated with the unique identifier. An implant record may additionally be “inactive” or “active.” An “inactive” implant record has been marked as corresponding to an explanted cochlear implant. Conversely, an “active” implant record has been marked as corresponding to an explanted cochlear implant.

To facilitate an understanding of the methods and systems described herein, an exemplary cochlear implant system100will be described in connection withFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 1, cochlear implant system100may include a microphone102, a sound processor104, a headpiece106having a coil108disposed therein, a cochlear implant110(also referred to as an “implantable cochlear stimulator”), and a lead112with a plurality of electrodes114disposed thereon. Additional or alternative components may be included within cochlear implant system100as may serve a particular implementation.

As shown inFIG. 1, microphone102, sound processor104, and headpiece106may be located external to a cochlear implant patient. In some alternative examples, microphone102and/or sound processor104may be implanted within the patient. In such configurations, the need for headpiece106may be obviated.

Microphone102may detect an audio signal and convert the detected signal to a corresponding electrical signal. The electrical signal may be sent from microphone102to sound processor104via a communication link116, which may include a telemetry link, a wire, and/or any other suitable communication link.

Sound processor104is configured to direct cochlear implant110to generate and apply electrical stimulation (also referred to herein as “stimulation current”) to one or more stimulation sites within a cochlea of the patient. To this end, sound processor104may process the audio signal detected by microphone102in accordance with a selected sound processing strategy to generate appropriate stimulation parameters for controlling cochlear implant110. Sound processor104may include or be implemented by a behind-the-ear (“BTE”) unit, a portable speech processor (“PSP”), and/or any other sound-processing unit as may serve a particular implementation. Exemplary components of sound processor104will be described in more detail below.

Sound processor104may be configured to transcutaneously transmit, in accordance with a sound processing program associated with cochlear implant110, one or more control parameters and/or one or more power signals to cochlear implant110with coil108by way of a communication link118. These control parameters may be configured to specify one or more stimulation parameters, operating parameters, and/or any other parameter by which cochlear implant110is to operate as may serve a particular implementation. Exemplary control parameters include, but are not limited to, stimulation current levels, volume control parameters, program selection parameters, operational state parameters (e.g., parameters that turn a sound processor and/or a cochlear implant on or off), audio input source selection parameters, fitting parameters, noise reduction parameters, microphone sensitivity parameters, microphone direction parameters, pitch parameters, timbre parameters, sound quality parameters, most comfortable current levels (“M levels”), threshold current levels (“T levels”), channel acoustic gain parameters, front and backend dynamic range parameters, current steering parameters, pulse rate values, pulse width values, frequency parameters, amplitude parameters, waveform parameters, electrode polarity parameters (i.e., anode-cathode assignment), location parameters (i.e., which electrode pair or electrode group receives the stimulation current), stimulation type parameters (i.e., monopolar, bipolar, or tripolar stimulation), burst pattern parameters (e.g., burst on time and burst off time), duty cycle parameters, spectral tilt parameters, filter parameters, and dynamic compression parameters. Sound processor104may also be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the control parameters.

As shown inFIG. 1, coil108may be housed within headpiece106, which may be affixed to a patient's head and positioned such that coil108is communicatively coupled to a corresponding coil included within cochlear implant110. In this manner, control parameters and power signals may be wirelessly transmitted between sound processor104and cochlear implant110via communication link118. It will be understood that data communication link118may include a bi-directional communication link and/or one or more dedicated uni-directional communication links. In some alternative embodiments, sound processor104and cochlear implant110may be directly connected with one or more wires or the like.

Cochlear implant110may be configured to generate electrical stimulation representative of an audio signal detected by microphone102in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters transmitted thereto by sound processor104. Cochlear implant110may be further configured to apply the electrical stimulation to one or more stimulation sites within the cochlea via one or more electrodes114disposed along lead112. In some examples, cochlear implant110may include a plurality of independent current sources each associated with a channel defined by one or more of electrodes114. In this manner, different stimulation current levels may be applied to multiple stimulation sites simultaneously by way of multiple electrodes114. In such examples, cochlear implant system100may be referred to as a “multi-channel cochlear implant system.”

To facilitate application of the electrical stimulation generated by cochlear implant110, lead112may be inserted within a duct of the cochlea such that electrodes114are in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the cochlea. As used herein, the term “in communication with” refers to electrodes114being adjacent to, in the general vicinity of, in close proximity to, directly next to, or directly on the stimulation site. Any number of electrodes114(e.g., sixteen) may be disposed on lead112as may serve a particular implementation.

FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary cochlear implant fitting system200(or simply “fitting system200”) that may be used to fit a cochlear implant patient. As used herein, the terms “fitting a cochlear implant patient” and “fitting a cochlear implant to a patient” will be used interchangeably to refer to performing one or more fitting operations associated with sound processor104, cochlear implant110, and/or any other component of cochlear implant system100in order to optimize performance of cochlear implant system100for the patient. Such fitting operations may include, but are not limited to, adjusting one or more control parameters by which sound processor104and/or cochlear implant110operate, measuring one or more electrode impedances, performing one or more neural response detection operations, and/or performing one or more diagnostics procedures associated with the cochlear implant system.

As shown inFIG. 2, fitting system200may include a fitting subsystem202configured to be selectively and communicatively coupled to sound processor104of cochlear implant system100by way of a communication link204. Fitting subsystem202and sound processor104may communicate using any suitable communication technologies, devices, networks, media, and protocols supportive of data communications.

Fitting subsystem202may be configured to perform one or more of the fitting operations described herein. To this end, fitting subsystem202may be implemented by any suitable combination of computing and communication devices including, but not limited to, a fitting station, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a handheld device, a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone), a clinician's programming interface (“CPI”) device, and/or any other suitable component as may serve a particular implementation. An exemplary implementation of fitting subsystem202will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 3illustrates exemplary components of fitting subsystem202. As shown inFIG. 3, fitting subsystem202may include a communication facility302, a user interface facility304, a fitting facility306, a detection facility308, an implant side management facility310, and a storage facility312, which may be communicatively coupled to one another using any suitable communication technologies. Each of these facilities will now be described in more detail.

Communication facility302may be configured to facilitate communication between fitting subsystem202and cochlear implant system100(e.g., sound processor104and/or cochlear implant110). For example, communication facility302may be implemented by a CPI device, which may include any suitable combination of components configured to allow fitting subsystem202to interface and communicate with sound processor104. Communication facility302may additionally or alternatively include one or more transceiver components configured to wirelessly transmit data (e.g., program data and/or control parameter data) to sound processor104and/or wirelessly receive data (e.g., feedback data, impedance measurement data, neural response data, etc.) from sound processor104.

In some examples (e.g., during a fitting of a bilateral cochlear implant patient), communication facility302may facilitate selective and/or concurrent communication between multiple sound processors (e.g., right and left sound processors). In this manner, communication facility302may be configured to communicate with a first cochlear implant associated with a first ear (e.g., the right ear) of the patient by way of a first sound processor and a second cochlear implant associated with a second ear (e.g., the left ear) of the patient by way of a second sound processor.

Communication facility302may additionally or alternatively be configured to facilitate communication between fitting subsystem202and one or more other devices. For example, communication facility302may be configured to facilitate communication between fitting subsystem202and one or more computing devices (e.g., by way of the Internet and/or one or more other types of networks), reference implants, and/or any other computing device as may serve a particular implementation.

User interface facility304may be configured to provide one or more user interfaces configured to facilitate user interaction with fitting subsystem202. For example, user interface facility304may provide a graphical user interface (“GUI”) through which one or more functions, options, features, and/or tools associated with one or more fitting operations described herein may be provided to a user and through which user input may be received. In certain embodiments, user interface facility304may be configured to provide the GUI to a display device (e.g., a computer monitor) for display. In some examples, as will be described in more detail below, user interface facility304may be configured to provide one or more GUIs that are configured to facilitate creation and/or management of one or more implant records and/or present information indicative of an automatically determined implant side associated with a cochlear implant.

Fitting facility306may be configured to perform one or more fitting operations. For example, fitting facility306may be configured to adjust one or more control parameters by which sound processor104and/or cochlear implant110operate, direct sound processor104to measure one or more electrode impedances, perform one or more neural response detection operations, and/or perform one or more diagnostics procedures associated with cochlear implant system100.

Detection facility308may be configured to detect a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant (e.g., cochlear implant110) to a sound processor (e.g., sound processor104) connected to fitting subsystem202. The detection may be made in any suitable way. For example, detection facility308may be configured to detect a signal transmitted thereto by the cochlear implant when the cochlear implant “locks” to the sound processor.

Implant side management facility310may be configured to automatically determine, in response to a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant to a sound processor connected to fitting subsystem202, an implant side associated with the cochlear implant in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors. Such implant side selection factors may include any factor associated with one or more other cochlear implants associated with the patient, one or more implant records associated with the patient, one or more default parameters, one or more actions performed by a user of fitting subsystem202, and/or any other factor as may serve a particular implementation. Various ways in which implant side management facility310may use the implant side factors to automatically determine an implant side associated with a cochlear implant will be described in more detail below.

In some examples, after automatically determining an implant side associated with a cochlear implant, implant side management facility310may be further configured to automatically populate an implant record associated with the cochlear implant with data representative of the determined implant side. As will be described in more detail below, information representative of the determined implant side may be presented to a user of fitting subsystem202, who may override the determined implant side by selecting a different implant side to be associated with the cochlear implant.

Storage facility312may be configured to maintain fitting data314associated with one or more fitting operations, implant record data316representative of one or more implant records associated with one or more cochlear implants, patient data318representative of data descriptive of or otherwise associated with one or more cochlear implant patients, control parameter data320representative of one or more control parameters, and program data322representative of one or more sound processing programs, any or all of which may be maintained within one or more data sets. Storage facility312may be configured to maintain additional or alternative data as may serve a particular implementation.

FIG. 4illustrates exemplary components of sound processor104. As shown inFIG. 4, sound processor104may include a communication facility402, a processing facility404, and a storage facility406, any or all of which may be in communication with one another using any suitable communication technologies. Each of these facilities will now be described in more detail.

Communication facility402may be configured to facilitate communication between sound processor104and fitting subsystem202. For example, communication facility402may be configured to facilitate electrical coupling of sound processor104to a CPI device in order to communicate with fitting subsystem202. Communication facility402may be further configured to facilitate communication between sound processor104and cochlear implant110. For example, communication facility402may include transceiver components configured to wirelessly transmit data (e.g., control parameters and/or power signals) to cochlear implant110and/or wirelessly receive data from cochlear implant110.

Processing facility404may be configured to perform one or more signal processing heuristics on an audio signal presented to the patient. For example, processing facility404may perform one or more pre-processing operations, spectral analysis operations, noise reduction operations, mapping operations, and/or any other types of signal processing operations on a detected audio signal as may serve a particular implementation. In some examples, processing facility404may generate and/or adjust one or more control parameters governing an operation of cochlear implant110(e.g., one or more stimulation parameters defining the stimulation pulses to be generated and applied by cochlear implant110). In some examples, processing facility404may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more sound processing programs provided by fitting subsystem202and/or otherwise stored within storage facility406.

Storage facility406may be configured to maintain program data408representative of one or more sound processing programs, control parameter data410representative of one or more control parameters, and implant record data412representative of an implant record associated with one or more cochlear implants associated with sound processor104. Storage facility406may be configured to maintain additional or alternative data as may serve a particular implementation.

FIG. 5illustrates an exemplary implementation500of fitting system200. In implementation500, a fitting station502may be selectively and communicatively coupled to a sound processor504-1by way of a CPI device506-1. Sound processor504-1is depicted in the form of a BTE unit for illustrative purposes only. Fitting station502may be selectively and communicatively coupled to any other type of sound processor as may serve a particular implementation.

Fitting station502may include any suitable computing device and/or combination of computing devices and be configured to at least partially implement fitting subsystem202by performing one or more of the fitting operations described herein. For example, fitting station502may display one or more GUIs configured to facilitate selection of one or more measurements to perform using sound processor504-1, selection of one or more sound processing programs by which sound processor504-1operates, adjustment of one or more control parameters by which sound processor504-1operates, management of one or more implant records associated with a cochlear implant that is associated with sound processor504-1, and/or any other fitting operation as may serve a particular implementation. Fitting station502may be utilized by an audiologist, a clinician, and/or any other user to fit one or more cochlear implants to a patient using sound processor504-1.

Sound processor504-1may be configured to selectively and communicatively couple to one or more cochlear implants. In this manner, sound processor504-1may be configured to facilitate the fitting of the one or more cochlear implants by fitting station502.

CPI device506-1may be configured to facilitate communication between fitting station502and sound processor504-1. In some examples, CPI device506-1may be selectively and communicatively coupled to fitting station502and/or sound processor504-1by way of one or more ports included within fitting station502and sound processor504-1.

In some examples, implementation500may be used to fit right and left cochlear implants to a bilateral cochlear implant patient. For example, each cochlear implant may be alternatingly coupled to sound processor504-1so that fitting station502may perform one or more fitting operations on the left and right cochlear implants.

FIG. 6illustrates an exemplary alternative implementation600of fitting system200that may be used to fit a bilateral cochlear implant patient. In implementation600, a fitting station502may be selectively and communicatively coupled to first and second sound processors504-1and504-2(collectively referred to herein as “sound processors504”) by way of corresponding CPI devices506-1and506-2(collectively referred to herein as “CPI devices506”). Sound processor504-1may be associated with a first cochlear implant (e.g., a cochlear implant associated with a right ear of a patient) and sound processor504-2may be associated with a second cochlear implant (e.g., a cochlear implant associated with a left ear of the patient).

FIG. 7illustrates an exemplary method700of automatically determining an implant side associated with a cochlear implant. WhileFIG. 7illustrates exemplary steps according to one embodiment, other embodiments may omit, add to, reorder, and/or modify any of the steps shown inFIG. 7. One or more of the steps shown inFIG. 7may be performed by any component or combination of components of fitting subsystem202and/or fitting station502.

In step702, a fitting subsystem detects a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant associated with a patient to a sound processor connected to a fitting subsystem. The fitting subsystem may detect the communicative coupling in any of the ways described herein.

In step704, the fitting subsystem automatically determines, in response to the communicative coupling, an implant side associated with the cochlear implant in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors. The determination may be performed in any of the ways described herein.

Various examples of automatically determining an implant side associated with a cochlear implant will now be provided. It will be recognized that the examples given herein are merely illustrative of the many different ways in which a fitting subsystem may automatically determine an implant side associated with a cochlear implant and that the scenarios associated with each of the examples are merely illustrative of the many different scenarios in which the methods and systems described herein may be employed.

FIG. 8illustrates an exemplary scenario800in which a cochlear implant802-1is communicatively coupled to sound processor504-1, which may be connected to fitting station502by way of CPI device506-1, as described in connection withFIG. 5. As shown inFIG. 8, cochlear implant802-1is associated with a first ear (e.g., the right ear) of a patient804. In some examples, as shown, patient804may have a second cochlear implant802-2associated with a second ear (e.g., the left ear). Cochlear implants802-1and802-2may be implanted in patient804using any suitable technique as may serve a particular implementation. Alternatively, patient804may only have a single cochlear implant (e.g., cochlear implant802-1) implanted therein. Scenario800will be used to describe various ways in which fitting subsystem202may automatically determine an implant side associated with a cochlear implant.

In some examples, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant by determining that an implant record associated with the cochlear implant is stored by a sound processor to which the cochlear implant is communicatively coupled and obtaining data representative of the implant side from the implant record.

To illustrate, sound processor504-1may store an implant record associated with cochlear implant802-1. The implant record may include at least some of the same information included in an implant record maintained by a fitting subsystem, and may be imported by a fitting subsystem not previously associated with patient804(e.g., by a fitting subsystem located at a clinic to which patient804has moved). For example, the implant record stored by sound processor504-1may include information indicating that cochlear implant802-1is associated with a right side of patient804. Fitting station502may obtain data representative of the implant side associated with cochlear implant802-1by analyzing the implant record stored by sound processor504-1, importing the implant record from sound processor504-1, and/or in any other manner as may serve a particular implementation.

Additionally or alternatively, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant by determining that the sound processor to which the cochlear implant is communicatively coupled is formatted for a particular implant side and designating the implant side associated with the cochlear implant as being the particular implant side.

To illustrate, fitting station502may detect that sound processor504-1is formatted for the right side of patient804by analyzing program data and/or any other data associated with sound processor504-1. Based on this information, fitting station502may determine that cochlear implant802-1is associated with the right side.

In some examples, fitting station502may determine that first and second active implant records are associated with patient804and that an implant record stored by sound processor504-1indicates the same implant side as the first implant record. Fitting station502may present an option to a user thereof to deactivate the first implant record (e.g., mark the first implant record as corresponding to an explanted cochlear implant) and replace it with the implant record stored by sound processor504-1. Fitting station502may additionally or alternatively provide a warning that the determined implant side is already associated with another cochlear implant corresponding to the first implant record and that the first implant record will be marked to indicate that the another cochlear implant has been explanted in response to a confirmation of the determined implant side by the user.

Additionally or alternatively, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant by identifying an inactive implant record previously associated with the cochlear implant and maintained by fitting subsystem202and obtaining data representative of the implant side from the inactive implant record.

To illustrate, an implant record maintained by fitting station502and associated with cochlear implant802-1may be inadvertently modified or marked to indicate that cochlear implant802-1has been explanted and is no longer in use. Upon connection of cochlear implant802-1to sound processor504-1, fitting station502may identify the inactive implant record as being previously associated with cochlear implant802-1(e.g., by matching a unique identifier of cochlear implant802-1to a unique identifier included in the inactive implant record). Data representative of the implant side of cochlear implant802-1may then be obtained by fitting station502from the inactive implant record. In some examples, fitting station502may be further configured to mark the inactive implant record as active.

Additionally or alternatively, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant used by a patient by determining that, during a single fitting session, an additional cochlear implant associated with the patient was communicatively coupled to the sound processor connected to fitting subsystem202prior to the cochlear implant being communicatively coupled to the sound processor, determining an implant side associated with the additional cochlear implant, and designating the implant side associated with the cochlear implant as being contralateral to the implant side associated with the additional cochlear implant.

To illustrate, fitting station502may determine that, during a particular fitting session, cochlear implant802-2was communicatively coupled to sound processor504-1prior to cochlear implant802-1being communicatively coupled to sound processor504-1. Fitting station502may determine that cochlear implant802-2is associated with the left side of patient804(e.g., by analyzing an implant record associated with cochlear implant802-2and/or in any other manner). The likelihood of another cochlear implant that is associated with the left side being communicatively coupled to sound processor504-1during the same fitting session is relatively low. Therefore, fitting station502may automatically designate the implant side associated with cochlear implant802-1as being contralateral to the implant side associated with cochlear implant802-2(i.e., associated with the right side of patient804).

Additionally or alternatively, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant used by a patient by determining that a single unassociated implant record exists (i.e., is maintained by fitting subsystem202) for the patient and obtaining data representative of the implant side from the single unassociated implant record.

To illustrate, a user of fitting station502may manually create an implant record for patient804before patient804arrives at a clinic to be fitted.FIG. 9illustrates an exemplary GUI900that may be displayed by fitting station502and that may be configured to facilitate manual creation of an implant record. As shown inFIG. 9, GUI900includes a plurality of fields into which data associated with a cochlear implant may be input by the user. For example, GUI900may be used by a user to input an implant side, type, surgery date, initial fitting date, and one or more notes associated with cochlear implant802-1.

A manually created implant record is unassociated until a cochlear implant and its corresponding sound processor become communicatively coupled to fitting station502. At this point, the unique identifier associated with the cochlear implant may be acquired from the cochlear implant and included in the manually created implant record. The implant record is then considered to be associated.

Hence, returning toFIG. 8, fitting station502may detect the existence of a single unassociated implant record associated with patient804. Fitting station502may assume that the single unassociated implant record corresponds to cochlear implant802-1and obtain data representative of the implant side of cochlear implant802-1from the single unassociated implant record.

Additionally or alternatively, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant used by a patient by determining that a first unassociated implant record and a second unassociated implant record exist for the patient, determining that an implant type of the cochlear implant matches data included in only the first unassociated implant record, and obtaining data representative of the implant side from the first unassociated implant record.

To illustrate, a user of fitting station502may manually create unassociated implant records for two different types of cochlear implants, one of which may match the type of cochlear implant802-1. Fitting station502may select the matching implant record for association with cochlear implant802-1and obtain data representative of the implant side from the selected implant record.

Additionally or alternatively, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant used by a patient by determining that a single associated implant record not associated with the cochlear implant exists for the patient and designating the implant side associated with the cochlear implant as being contralateral to an implant side designated by the single associated implant record.

To illustrate, fitting station502may determine that a single associated implant record not associated with cochlear implant802-1exists for patient804. Because the single associated implant record is not associated with cochlear implant802-1(i.e., the implant record is associated with a different cochlear implant), fitting subsystem202may assume that cochlear implant802-1is associated with an implant side contralateral to that specified by the single associated implant record.

Additionally or alternatively, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant used by a patient by determining that no implant records exist for the patient and selecting, in response to the determination that no implant records exist for the patient, a default implant side as the implant side associated with the cochlear implant.

To illustrate, fitting station502may determine that no implant records exist for patient804. In response, fitting station502may select a default implant side as the implant side associated with cochlear implant504-1. The default implant side may be definable by the clinician. For example, marketing research may indicate that a majority of cochlear implants are associated with the right side of patients. Hence, the default implant side may be defined to be the right side.

In some examples, fitting station502may determine, based on a unique identifier associated with cochlear implant802-1, that cochlear implant802-1belongs to a patient other than the patient associated with a patient file currently open by the fitting station502. To illustrate, a clinician may have inadvertently opened a patient file associated with a patient other than patient804. In this case, when cochlear implant802-1and sound processor504-1become communicatively coupled to fitting station502, fitting station502may recognize that patient804is not the same as the patient associated with the opened patient file. Fitting station502may accordingly not allow automatic selection of an implant side associated with cochlear implant802-1and notify a user of fitting station502that patient804is not associated with the opened patient file.

In some examples, a cochlear implant emulation device may be selectively and communicatively coupled to sound processor504-1. The term “cochlear implant emulation device,” as used herein, refers to a device that is not implanted in a patient but that is configured to emulate a cochlear implant (e.g., cochlear implant802-1). For example, a cochlear implant emulation device may include an implantable cochlear device (e.g., a cochlear implant) bundled with a resistive load. A cochlear implant emulation device may also be referred to as a “reference implant.”

To illustrate,FIG. 10illustrates an exemplary scenario1000in which a cochlear implant emulation device1002is communicatively coupled to sound processor504-1in place of cochlear implant802-1. Cochlear implant emulation device1002may be used to perform diagnostic and/or troubleshooting procedures on a cochlear implant system. For example, if a cochlear implant system of which cochlear implant802-1is a part stops working correctly, cochlear implant emulation device1002may be substituted for cochlear implant802-1, as shown inFIG. 10, in order to determine whether cochlear implant802-1is the source of a problem. Scenario1000will be used to describe various ways in which fitting subsystem202may automatically determine an implant side associated with a cochlear implant emulation device that has been communicatively coupled to fitting subsystem202.

In some examples, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant emulation device by determining that a single associated implant record exists for a patient and obtaining data representative of the implant side from the single associated implant record.

To illustrate, fitting station502may determine that a single associated implant record associated with cochlear implant802-1and corresponding to patient804exists within a database maintained or otherwise used by fitting station502. Fitting station502may therefore assume that cochlear implant emulation device1002has replaced cochlear implant802-1and designate cochlear implant emulation device1002as being associated with the same implant side with which cochlear implant802-1is associated. To this end, fitting station502may obtain data representative of the implant side from the single associated implant record associated with cochlear implant802-1.

Additionally or alternatively, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant emulation device by determining that two associated implant records exist for a patient, determining that no other cochlear implant associated with the patient is communicatively coupled to fitting subsystem202while the cochlear implant emulation device is communicatively coupled to a sound processor that is connected to fitting subsystem202, and selecting, in response to the determination that no other cochlear implant associated with the patient is communicatively coupled to fitting subsystem202, a default implant side as the implant side associated with the cochlear implant emulation device.

To illustrate, fitting station502may determine that two associated implant records exist for patient804. Fitting station502may further determine that no other cochlear implants other than cochlear implant emulation device1002are communicatively coupled to fitting station502. In response, fitting station502may select a default implant side as the implant side associated with cochlear implant emulation device1002.

In some examples, in response to a communicative coupling of cochlear implant emulation device1002to sound processor504-1, fitting station502may determine that no associated implant records exist for a patient. In these instances, fitting station502may abstain from designating an implant side for cochlear implant emulation device1002.

FIG. 11illustrates an exemplary scenario1100in which a first cochlear implant802-1is communicatively coupled to sound processor504-1and a second cochlear implant802-2is communicatively coupled to sound processor504-2. Sound processors504-1and504-2may be connected to fitting station502by way of CPI devices506-1and506-2, as described in connection withFIG. 6. As shown inFIG. 11, cochlear implant802-1is associated with a first ear (e.g., the right ear) of patient804and cochlear implant802-2is associated with a second ear (e.g., the left ear) of patient804. Scenario1100is illustrative of a scenario in which a bilateral cochlear implant patient may be fitted by fitting station502and will be used to describe an additional way in which fitting subsystem202may automatically determine an implant side associated with a cochlear implant.

In some examples, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a first cochlear implant communicatively coupled to a first sound processer connected to fitting subsystem202by determining that a second cochlear implant associated with a patient is concurrently and communicatively coupled to a second sound processor connected to fitting subsystem202, determining an implant side associated with the second cochlear implant, and designating the implant side associated with the first cochlear implant as being contralateral to the implant side associated with the second cochlear implant.

To illustrate, fitting station502may determine that first cochlear implant802-1and second cochlear implant802-2are concurrently and communicatively coupled to fitting station502by way of first sound processor504-1and second sound processor504-2, respectively. Fitting station502may determine that second cochlear implant802-2is associated with the left side of patient804by analyzing an implant record associated with second cochlear implant802-2and/or in any other suitable manner. Fitting station502may then assume that first cochlear implant802-1is associated with the contralateral side (i.e., the right side of patient804) and designate first cochlear implant802-1as such.

FIG. 12illustrates an exemplary scenario1200in which cochlear implant emulation device1002has replaced second cochlear implant802-2as being communicatively coupled to sound processor504-2. Hence, scenario1200represents a modified version of scenario1100shown inFIG. 11. Scenario1200will be used to describe an additional way in which fitting subsystem202may automatically determine an implant side associated with a cochlear implant emulation device.

In some examples, fitting subsystem202may automatically determine the implant side associated with a cochlear implant emulation device by determining that two associated implant records exist for a patient, determining that a cochlear implant associated with the patient is communicatively coupled to a first sound processor connected to fitting subsystem202while the cochlear implant emulation device is communicatively coupled to a second sound processor, determining, based on one of the two associated implant records that is associated with the cochlear implant, an implant side associated with the cochlear implant, and designating the implant side associated with the cochlear implant emulation device as being contralateral to the implant side associated with the cochlear implant.

To illustrate, fitting station502may determine that cochlear implant802-1is communicatively coupled to sound processor504-1while cochlear implant emulation device1002is communicatively coupled to sound processor504-2. Fitting station502may further determine that two associated implant records exist for patient804. Fitting station502may analyze one of the two associated implant records that is associated with cochlear implant802-1to determine that cochlear implant802-1is associated with the right side of patient804. Fitting station502may then assume that cochlear implant emulation device1002is associated with the contralateral side (i.e., the left side of patient804) and designate cochlear implant emulation device1002as such.

In some examples, in response to an automatic determination of a fitting side associated with a cochlear implant, fitting subsystem202may automatically populate an implant record associated with the cochlear implant with data representative of the determined implant side. Fitting subsystem202may be further configured to provide an override option configured to allow a user to override the determined implant side by selecting a different implant side to be associated with the cochlear implant. The override option may be provided within a GUI, for example. To illustrate,FIG. 13illustrates an exemplary GUI1300that may be provided for display and configured to facilitate overriding of an automatically determined implant side for a particular cochlear implant. As shown inFIG. 13, an implant side field1302may be automatically populated with a determined implant side. A user may select a down arrow1304to override the determined implant side and select a different implant side to be associated with the cochlear implant. In response, a warning message1306may be displayed within GUI1300warning the user that he or she is about to override the implant side associated with the cochlear implant. Fitting subsystem202may facilitate overriding of an automatically determined implant side in any other way as may serve a particular implementation.

FIG. 14illustrates another exemplary method1400of automatically determining an implant side associated with a cochlear implant. WhileFIG. 14illustrates exemplary steps according to one embodiment, other embodiments may omit, add to, reorder, and/or modify any of the steps shown inFIG. 14. One or more of the steps shown inFIG. 14may be performed by any component or combination of components of fitting subsystem202and/or fitting station502.

In step1402, a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant associated with a patient to a sound processor connected to a fitting subsystem is detected. Step1402may be performed in any of the ways described herein.

In step1404, an implant side of the cochlear implant is automatically select in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors. Step1404may be performed in any of the ways described herein.

In step1406, an implant record associated with the cochlear implant is automatically populated with data representative of the selected implant side. Step1406may be performed in any of the ways described herein.

In step1408, information indicative of the selected implant side is presented within a graphical user interface. Step1408may be performed in any of the ways described herein.

In certain embodiments, one or more of the components and/or processes described herein may be implemented and/or performed by one or more appropriately configured computing devices. To this end, one or more of the systems and/or components described above may include or be implemented by any computer hardware and/or computer-implemented instructions (e.g., software) embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to perform one or more of the processes described herein. In particular, system components may be implemented on one physical computing device or may be implemented on more than one physical computing device. Accordingly, system components may include any number of computing devices, and may employ any of a number of computer operating systems.

In certain embodiments, one or more of the processes described herein may be implemented at least in part as instructions executable by one or more computing devices. In general, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) receives instructions, from a tangible computer-readable medium, (e.g., a memory, etc.), and executes those instructions, thereby performing one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. Such instructions may be stored and/or transmitted using any of a variety of known non-transitory computer-readable media.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium (also referred to as a processor-readable medium) includes any non-transitory medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may be read by a computer (e.g., by a processor of a computer). Such a non-transitory medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media and/or volatile media. Non-volatile media may include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media may include, for example, dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”), which typically constitutes a main memory. Common forms of non-transitory computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other non-transitory medium from which a computer can read.

FIG. 15illustrates an exemplary computing device1500that may be configured to perform one or more of the processes described herein. As shown inFIG. 15, computing device1500may include a communication interface1502, a processor1504, a storage device1506, and an input/output (“I/O”) module1508communicatively connected via a communication infrastructure1510. While an exemplary computing device1500is shown inFIG. 15, the components illustrated inFIG. 15are not intended to be limiting. Additional or alternative components may be used in other embodiments. Components of computing device1500shown inFIG. 15will now be described in additional detail.

Communication interface1502may be configured to communicate with one or more computing devices. Examples of communication interface1502include, without limitation, a wired network interface (such as a network interface card), a wireless network interface (such as a wireless network interface card), a modem, and any other suitable interface. Communication interface1502may additionally or alternatively provide such a connection through, for example, a local area network (such as an Ethernet network), a personal area network, a telephone or cable network, a satellite data connection, a dedicated URL, or any other suitable connection. Communication interface1502may be configured to interface with any suitable communication media, protocols, and formats, including any of those mentioned above.

Processor1504generally represents any type or form of processing unit capable of processing data or interpreting, executing, and/or directing execution of one or more of the instructions, processes, and/or operations described herein. Processor1504may direct execution of operations in accordance with one or more applications1512or other computer-executable instructions such as may be stored in storage device1506or another non-transitory computer-readable medium.

Storage device1506may include one or more data storage media, devices, or configurations and may employ any type, form, and combination of data storage media and/or device. For example, storage device1506may include, but is not limited to, a hard drive, network drive, flash drive, magnetic disc, optical disc, random access memory (“RAM”), dynamic RAM (“DRAM”), other non-volatile and/or volatile data storage units, or a combination or sub-combination thereof. Electronic data, including data described herein, may be temporarily and/or permanently stored in storage device1506. For example, data representative of one or more executable applications1512(which may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the software applications described herein) configured to direct processor1504to perform any of the operations described herein may be stored within storage device1506. In some examples, data may be arranged in one or more databases residing within storage device1506.

I/O module1508may be configured to receive user input and provide user output and may include any hardware, firmware, software, or combination thereof supportive of input and output capabilities. For example, I/O module1508may include hardware and/or software for capturing user input, including, but not limited to, a keyboard or keypad, a touch screen component (e.g., touch screen display), a receiver (e.g., an RF or infrared receiver), and/or one or more input buttons.

In some examples, any of the facilities described herein may be implemented by or within one or more components of computing device1500. For example, one or more applications1512residing within storage device1506may be configured to direct processor1504to perform one or more processes or functions associated with communication facility302, user interface facility304, fitting facility306, detection facility308, implant side management facility310, communication facility402, and/or processing facility404. Likewise, storage facility312and/or storage facility406may be implemented by or within storage device1506.