Patent Publication Number: US-2012029595-A1

Title: Bilateral Sound Processor Systems and Methods

Description:
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. 
     Cochlear implant patients rely on the uptime and availability of their cochlear implant system hardware in order to maintain their sense of hearing. However, the reliability of a patient&#39;s external cochlear implant system equipment, such as a sound processor, may be limited. In addition, a patient&#39;s sound processor may be subject to damage, theft, or loss. As a result, a cochlear implant patient may keep a secondary sound processor that can be used in place of a primary sound processor in the event that the primary sound processor is unavailable. However, sound processors are very expensive, so this redundancy comes at a cost to the patient. This problem is even worse for bilateral patients (i.e., patients with two cochlear implants) who heretofore have had to keep two secondary sound processors on hand. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary sound processor includes a storage facility configured to maintain data representative of a first program set associated with a first cochlear implant and data representative of a second program set associated with a second cochlear implant, a detection facility configured to detect when the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the first cochlear implant and to detect when the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the second cochlear implant, and an operation facility configured to operate in accordance with the first program set in response to a detection that the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the first cochlear implant and to operate in accordance with the second program set in response to a detection that the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the second cochlear implant. 
     Another exemplary sound processor includes a storage facility configured to maintain data representative of a first program set associated with a first cochlear implant and data representative of a second program set associated with a second cochlear implant, a communication facility configured to selectively communicate with the first cochlear implant and the second cochlear implant, a detection facility configured to detect when the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the first cochlear implant and to detect when the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the second cochlear implant, and an operation facility configured to process audio signals in accordance with the first program set in response to a detection by the detection facility that the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the first cochlear implant and to process audio signals in accordance with the second program set in response to a detection by the detection facility that the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the second cochlear implant. 
     An exemplary method includes a sound processor maintaining data representative of a first program set associated with a first cochlear implant and data representative of a second program set associated with a second cochlear implant, detecting a communicative coupling of the sound processor to the first cochlear implant, and operating in accordance with the first program set in response to the detecting of the communicative coupling to the first cochlear implant. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings, identical or similar reference numbers designate identical or similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary cochlear implant system according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary cochlear implant fitting system according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary components of an exemplary fitting subsystem according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates exemplary components of an exemplary sound processor according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary implementation of the cochlear implant fitting system of  FIG. 2  according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary method of operation of the exemplary sound processor of  FIG. 4  according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 7  illustrate an exemplary loading of data representative of multiple program sets onto a sound processor according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary communicative coupling of a sound processor to a first cochlear implant of a bilateral cochlear implant patient according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary communicative coupling of the sound processor of  FIG. 8  to a second cochlear implant of the bilateral cochlear implant patient of  FIG. 8  according to principles described herein. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary computing device according to principles described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Bilateral sound processor systems and methods are described herein. As described in more detail below, a sound processor may be configured to maintain a first program set associated with a first cochlear implant and a second program set associated with a second cochlear implant. The sound processor may be configured to detect a communicative coupling to either of the first or second cochlear implants and operate in accordance with the program set associated with the cochlear implant to which the sound processor is communicatively coupled. Accordingly, for example, the sound processor can dynamically adapt to multiple cochlear implants and properly process audio signals regardless of the cochlear implant to which the sound processor is communicatively coupled. 
     Numerous advantages may be associated with the methods and systems described herein. For example, a bilateral cochlear implant patient may selectively use a single sound processor with either her left or right cochlear implant. This may allow the bilateral cochlear implant patient to switch a single sound processor from one cochlear implant to another (e.g., from a nondominant ear to a dominant ear) to compensate for a sound processor that is lost, damaged, stolen, or otherwise unavailable (e.g., has a dead battery). Additionally or alternatively, a bilateral cochlear implant patient may keep a single secondary sound processor as a backup for both of the patient&#39;s primary sound processors, thereby reducing the cost to the patient. 
     As used herein, the term “program set” refers to any program or combination of programs (e.g., sound processing programs) executable by a sound processor included in a cochlear implant system. Hence, a program set may specify a particular mode in which the sound processor is to operate and/or define a set of control parameters selected to optimize a listening experience of a cochlear implant patient. In some examples, a program set may be configured to facilitate measurement of one or more electrode impedances, performance of one or more neural response detection operations, and/or performance of one or more diagnostics procedures associated with the cochlear implant system. A fitting subsystem may adjust one or more control parameters associated with a particular program set in response to patient feedback and/or user input in order to customize the particular program set to a particular cochlear implant of the patient. 
     To facilitate an understanding of the methods and systems described herein, an exemplary cochlear implant system  100  will be described in connection with  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , cochlear implant system  100  may include a microphone  102 , a sound processor  104 , a headpiece  106  having a coil  108  disposed therein, a cochlear implant  110  (also referred to as an “implantable cochlear stimulator”), and a lead  112  with a plurality of electrodes  114  disposed thereon. Additional or alternative components may be included within cochlear implant system  100  as may serve a particular implementation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , microphone  102 , sound processor  104 , and headpiece  106  may be located external to a cochlear implant patient. In some alternative examples, microphone  102  and/or sound processor  104  may be implanted within the patient. In such configurations, the need for headpiece  106  may be obviated. 
     Microphone  102  may detect an audio signal and convert the detected signal to a corresponding electrical signal. The electrical signal may be sent from microphone  102  to sound processor  104  via a communication link  116 , which may include a telemetry link, a wire, and/or any other suitable communication link. 
     Sound processor  104  is configured to direct cochlear implant  110  to 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 processor  104  may process the audio signal detected by microphone  102  in accordance with a selected sound processing strategy to generate appropriate stimulation parameters for controlling cochlear implant  110 . Sound processor  104  may 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 processor  104  will be described in more detail below. 
     Sound processor  104  may be configured to transcutaneously transmit, in accordance with a program set associated with cochlear implant  110 , one or more control parameters and/or one or more power signals to cochlear implant  110  with coil  108  by way of a communication link  118 . These control parameters may be configured to specify one or more stimulation parameters, operating parameters, and/or any other parameter by which cochlear implant  110  is 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 processor  104  may also be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the control parameters. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , coil  108  may be housed within headpiece  106 , which may be affixed to a patient&#39;s head and positioned such that coil  108  is communicatively coupled to a corresponding coil included within cochlear implant  110 . In this manner, control parameters and power signals may be wirelessly transmitted between sound processor  104  and cochlear implant  110  via communication link  118 . It will be understood that data communication link  118  may include a bi-directional communication link and/or one or more dedicated uni-directional communication links. In some alternative embodiments, sound processor  104  and cochlear implant  110  may be directly connected with one or more wires or the like. 
     Cochlear implant  110  may be configured to generate electrical stimulation representative of an audio signal detected by microphone  102  in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters transmitted thereto by sound processor  104 . Cochlear implant  110  may be further configured to apply the electrical stimulation to one or more stimulation sites within the cochlea via one or more electrodes  114  disposed along lead  112 . In some examples, cochlear implant  110  may include a plurality of independent current sources each associated with a channel defined by one or more of electrodes  114 . In this manner, different stimulation current levels may be applied to multiple stimulation sites simultaneously by way of multiple electrodes  114 . In such examples, cochlear implant system  100  may be referred to as a “multi-channel cochlear implant system.” 
     To facilitate application of the electrical stimulation generated by cochlear implant  110 , lead  112  may be inserted within a duct of the cochlea such that electrodes  114  are in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the cochlea. As used herein, the term “in communication with” refers to electrodes  114  being adjacent to, in the general vicinity of, in close proximity to, directly next to, or directly on the stimulation site. Any number of electrodes  114  (e.g., sixteen) may be disposed on lead  112  as may serve a particular implementation. 
     In certain examples, cochlear implant  110 , a corresponding program set, and/or a corresponding cochlear implant patient may be associated with a unique identifier (e.g., a unique serial number) stored within cochlear implant  110 . The unique identifier may be configured to distinguish cochlear implant  110 , a corresponding program set, and/or a corresponding cochlear implant patient from other cochlear implants, program sets, and/or cochlear implant patients. In some examples, the unique identifier may be detectable by sound processor  104  and/or other devices (e.g., by a fitting station) communicatively coupled to cochlear implant  110  and used to identify cochlear implant  110 . As will be explained in more detail below, sound processor  104  may be configured to detect the unique identifier to identify cochlear implant  110  and selectively operate in accordance with a specific program set associated with cochlear implant  110  based on the identification of cochlear implant  110 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary cochlear implant fitting system  200  (or simply “fitting system  200 ”) that may be used to fit sound processor  104  to a patient. As used herein, the terms “fitting a sound processor to a patient” and “fitting a cochlear implant system to a patient” will be used interchangeably to refer to performing one or more fitting operations associated with sound processor  104  and/or any other component of cochlear implant system  100 . Such fitting operations may include, but are not limited to, adjusting one or more control parameters by which sound processor  104  and/or cochlear implant  110  operate, 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 in  FIG. 2 , fitting system  200  may include a fitting subsystem  202  configured to be selectively and communicatively coupled to sound processor  104  of cochlear implant system  100  by way of a communication link  204 . Fitting subsystem  202  and sound processor  104  may communicate using any suitable communication technologies, devices, networks, media, and protocols supportive of data communications. 
     Fitting subsystem  202  may be configured to perform one or more of the fitting operations described herein. To this end, fitting subsystem  202  may 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&#39;s programming interface (“CPI”) device, and/or any other suitable component as may serve a particular implementation. An exemplary implementation of fitting subsystem  202  will be described in more detail below. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary components of fitting subsystem  202 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , fitting subsystem  202  may include a communication facility  302 , a user interface facility  304 , a fitting facility  306 , a program loading facility  308 , and a storage facility  310 , 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 facility  302  may be configured to facilitate communication between fitting subsystem  202  and sound processor  104 . For example, communication facility  302  may be implemented by a CPI device, which may include any suitable combination of components configured to allow fitting subsystem  202  to interface and communicate with sound processor  104 . Communication facility  302  may 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 processor  104  and/or wirelessly receive data (e.g., feedback data, impedance measurement data, neural response data, etc.) from sound processor  104 . 
     Communication facility  302  may additionally or alternatively be configured to facilitate communication between fitting subsystem  302  and one or more other devices. For example, communication facility  302  may be configured to facilitate communication between fitting subsystem  302  and 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 facility  304  may be configured to provide one or more user interfaces configured to facilitate user interaction with fitting subsystem  202 . For example, user interface facility  304  may 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 facility  304  may be configured to provide the GUI to a display device (e.g., a computer monitor) for display. 
     Fitting facility  306  may be configured to perform one or more of the fitting operations described herein. For example, fitting facility  306  may be configured to adjust one or more control parameters by which sound processor  104  and/or cochlear implant  110  operate, direct sound processor  104  to 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 system  100 . 
     In some examples, fitting facility  306  may be configured to selectively use one or more programs sets that have been loaded onto sound processor  104  to fit sound processor  104  to a patient. The loading of the one or more program sets may be performed by program loading facility  308 , as will be described inmore detail below. In some examples, fitting facility  306  may be configured to use a first program set to fit sound processor  104  to a first cochlear implant associated with a first ear of a patient and a second program set to fit sound processor  104  to a second cochlear implant associated with a second ear of the patient. 
     In some examples, fitting facility  306  may be configured to initialize sound processor  104  prior to fitting sound processor  104  to a patient. Such initialization may include, but is not limited to, associating sound processor  104  with a particular patient (e.g., associating sound processor  104  with patient-specific fitting data and/or associating sound processor  104  with one or more unique identifiers associated with the patient), associating sound processor  104  with one or more particular cochlear implants  110  (e.g., associating sound processor  104  with one or more unique identifiers associated with the one or more particular cochlear implants  110 ), loading data onto sound processor  104 , clearing data from sound processor  104 , and/or otherwise preparing sound processor  104  for a fitting session in which sound processor  104  is to be fitted to a patient. 
     Program loading facility  308  may be configured to load data representative of one or more programs sets onto sound processor  104  for use by sound processor  104  during and/or after a fitting session. In some examples, program loading facility  308  may be configured to load program data representative of a plurality of program sets onto sound processor  104  during a data transfer or fitting session. In this manner, a user (e.g., an audiologist) of fitting subsystem  202  may direct sound processor  104  to switch between multiple program sets during a fitting session (e.g., to fit sound processor  104  to multiple cochlear implants). 
     In some examples, program loading facility  308  may be configured to load program data representative of a plurality of program sets onto sound processor  104  by transmitting the program data to sound processor  104  and directing sound processor to cache the program data as a library of program sets in a storage medium (e.g., memory) included within sound processor  104 . The program data may include any type of data (e.g., digital signal processing (“DSP”) code) and may be cached within sound processor  104  for any amount of time as may serve a particular implementation. 
     Program loading facility  308  may be implemented by a fitting station and/or other computing device utilized by a clinician or other user to fit sound processor  104  to a patient. In this manner, the loading of the program data may be performed during an initialization of sound processor  104  and/or at any point during or after a fitting session in which sound processor  104  is fit to the patient. 
     Storage facility  310  may be configured to maintain program set data  312  representative of one or more program sets, unique identifier data  314  representative of one or more unique identifiers, and patient data  316  representative of data descriptive of or otherwise associated with one or more cochlear implant patients. Storage facility  310  may be configured to maintain additional or alternative data as may serve a particular implementation. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates exemplary components of sound processor  104 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , sound processor  104  may include a communication facility  402 , a detection facility  404 , an operation facility  406 , and a storage facility  408 , 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 facility  402  may be configured to facilitate communication between sound processor  104  and fitting subsystem  202  and/or cochlear implant  110 . For example, communication facility  402  may be configured to facilitate a communicative coupling of sound processor  104  to a CPI device in order to communicate with fitting subsystem  202 . Communication facility  402  may be further configured to facilitate a communicative coupling of sound processor  104  to cochlear implant  110 . For example, communication facility  402  may include transceiver components configured to wirelessly transmit data (e.g., program set data including control parameters and/or power signals) to cochlear implant  110  and/or wirelessly receive data (e.g., unique identifier data) from cochlear implant  110 . 
     Detection facility  404  may be configured to detect when sound processor  104  is communicatively coupled to one or more cochlear implants. For example, detection facility  404  may be configured to detect when sound processor  104  is communicatively coupled to a first cochlear implant and detect when sound processor  104  is communicatively coupled to a second cochlear implant. The detection may be made in any suitable way. In some examples, detection facility  404  may be configured to detect the transmission/receipt of signals to/from a cochlear implant. Additionally or alternatively, detection facility  404  may be configured to detect a first unique identifier associated with the first cochlear implant and identify the first cochlear implant based on the first unique identifier and detect a second unique identifier associated with the second cochlear implant and identify the second cochlear implant based on the second unique identifier, as will be explained in more detail below. 
     Operation facility  406  may be configured to perform one or more signal processing heuristics on an audio signal presented to the patient. For example, operation facility  406  may 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, operation facility  406  may generate and/or adjust one or more control parameters governing an operation of cochlear implant  110  (e.g., one or more stimulation parameters defining the electrical stimulation to be generated and applied by cochlear implant  110 ). In some examples, operation facility  406  may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more program sets provided by fitting subsystem  202  and/or otherwise stored within storage facility  408 . 
     For example, operation facility  406  may be configured to operate in accordance with a first program set associated with a first cochlear implant in response to a detection (e.g., a detection by detection facility  404 ) that sound processor  104  is communicatively coupled to the first cochlear implant. Similarly, operation facility  406  may be configured to operate in accordance with a second program set associated with a second cochlear implant in response to a detection that sound processor  104  is communicatively coupled to the second cochlear implant. Accordingly, operation facility  406  may be configured to dynamically adapt its operation depending on the cochlear implant to which sound processor  104  is communicatively coupled, as will be explained in more detail below. 
     Storage facility  408  may be configured to maintain first program set data  410  representative of a first program set associated with a first cochlear implant, second program set data  412  representative of a second program set associated with a second cochlear implant, and unique identifier data  414  representative of one or more unique identifiers (e.g., a first unique identifier associated with the first cochlear implant and/or the first program set and a second unique identifier associated with the second cochlear implant and/or the second program set). Storage facility  408  may be configured to maintain additional or alternative data as may serve a particular implementation. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary implementation  500  of fitting system  200 . In implementation  500 , a fitting station  502  may be selectively and communicatively coupled to a BTE unit  504  by way of a CPI device  506 . BTE unit  504  is merely exemplary of the many different types of sound processors that may be used in accordance with the systems and methods described herein. Fitting station  502  may be selectively and communicatively coupled to any other type of sound processor as may serve a particular implementation. 
     Fitting station  502  may include any suitable computing device and/or combination of computing devices and may be configured to perform one or more of the fitting operations described herein. For example, fitting station  502  may display one or more GUIs configured to facilitate loading of one or more program sets onto BTE unit  504 , selection of one or more programs by which BTE unit  504  operates, adjustment of one or more control parameters by which BTE unit  504  operates, and/or any other fitting operation as may serve a particular implementation. Fitting station  502  may be utilized by an audiologist, a clinician, and/or any other user to fit BTE unit  504  to a patient. 
     CPI device  506  may be configured to facilitate communication between fitting station  502  and BTE unit  504 . In some examples, CPI device  506  may be selectively and communicatively coupled to fitting station  502  and/or BTE unit  504  by way of one or more ports included within fitting station  502  and BTE unit  504 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary method  600  of operation of a bilateral sound processor. While  FIG. 6  illustrates exemplary steps according to one embodiment, other embodiments may omit, add to, reorder, and/or modify any of the steps shown in  FIG. 6 . One or more of the steps shown in  FIG. 6  may be performed by any component or combination of components of sound processor  104 . 
     In step  602 , a sound processor maintains data representative of a first program set associated with a first cochlear implant and data representative of a second program set associated with a second cochlear implant. For example, as described above, sound processor  104  may be configured to maintain first program set data  410  representative of a first program set associated with a first cochlear implant and second program set data  412  representative of a second program set associated with a second cochlear implant. In some examples, both the first and second program sets may be associated with a particular bilateral cochlear implant patient (e.g., the first program set may be associated with a first cochlear implant implanted in the patient and associated with a first ear of the patient and the second program set may be associated with a second cochlear implant implanted in the patient and associated with a second ear of the patient). 
     The first and second program sets may be loaded onto sound processor  104  and/or fitted to a corresponding patient using fitting subsystem  202 . For example,  FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary loading of multiple program sets onto a sound processor during or prior to a fitting session in which the program sets are used to fit the sound processor to a patient. As shown in  FIG. 7 , first program set  702 - 1  and second program set  702 - 2  (collectively referred to as “program sets  702 ”) may be loaded onto BTE unit  504  by fitting station  502 . The loading is represented in  FIG. 7  by arrow  704 . In some examples, the loading of program sets  702  onto BTE unit  504  may be performed by transmitting data representative of program sets  702  to BTE unit  504  and directing BTE unit  504  to cache the data as a library of program sets in a storage medium included within the sound processor. 
     Once programs sets  702  are loaded onto BTE unit  504 , fitting station  502  may be utilized to fit BTE unit  504  to a patient. For example, an audiologist may use fitting station  502  and first program set  702 - 1  to fit BTE unit  504  to a first cochlear implant implanted in the patient and associated with a first ear of the patient. Similarly, the audiologist may use fitting station  502  and second program set  702 - 2  to fit BTE unit  504  to a second cochlear implant implanted in the patient and associated with a second ear of the patient. Accordingly, BTE unit  504  may store program sets  702  associated with and/or be fitted to both cochlear implants of a bilateral cochlear implant patient. 
     Returning to  FIG. 6 , in step  604 , a communicative coupling of the sound processor to the first cochlear implant is detected. For example, detection facility  404  may be configured to detect that sound processor  104  is communicatively coupled to a first cochlear implant implanted in a bilateral cochlear implant patient. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary communicative coupling of a sound processor to a first cochlear implant implanted in a bilateral cochlear implant patient and associated with a first ear of the patient. As shown, a bilateral cochlear implant patient  800  (or simply “patient  800 ”) having a first cochlear implant  802 - 1  and a second cochlear implant  802 - 2  (collectively referred to as “cochlear implants  802 ”) may facilitate the communicative coupling of BTE unit  504  to first cochlear implant  802 - 1  by way of a communication link  804  (e.g., by placing BTE unit  504  behind patient&#39;s  800  right ear and positioning a corresponding headpiece to communicate with first cochlear implant  802 - 1 ). 
     BTE unit  504  may be configured to detect the communicative coupling with first cochlear implant  802 - 1  in any suitable manner. For example, BTE unit  504  may be configured to detect a transmission/receipt of signals to/from first cochlear implant  802 - 1 . 
     In some examples, BTE unit  504  may be configured to identify the particular cochlear implant to which it is communicatively coupled. For example, BTE unit  504  may be configured to detect a first unique identifier (e.g., a first unique serial number) associated with first cochlear implant  802 - 1 . In some examples, BTE unit  504  may be configured to receive data representative of the first unique identifier from first cochlear implant  802 - 1  and identify first cochlear implant  802 - 1  based on the first unique identifier. Upon receiving the first unique identifier, BTE unit  504  may compare the first unique identifier to unique identifier data maintained by BTE unit  504  to identify first cochlear implant  802 - 1 , patient  800 , and/or one or more programs sets associated with first cochlear implant  802 - 1  and/or patient  800 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 6 , in step  606 , the sound processor may operate in accordance with the first program set in response to the detecting of the communicative coupling of the sound processor to the first cochlear implant. As described above, for example, operation facility  406  of sound processor  104  may be configured to operate (e.g., process audio signals) in accordance with the first program set in response to a detection that sound processor  104  is communicatively coupled to the first cochlear implant. 
     Returning to  FIG. 8 , BTE unit  504  may be configured to operate in accordance with a first program set (e.g., first program set  702 - 1 ) associated with first cochlear implant  802 - 1  in response to a detection of the communicative coupling of BTE unit  504  to first cochlear implant  802 - 1 . For example, BTE unit  504  may be configured to perform one or more signal processing heuristics on an audio signal presented to patient  800  in accordance with the sound processing program(s) and/or control parameters of the first program set. Accordingly, BTE unit  504  may be configured to dynamically adapt its operation based on the particular cochlear implant to which it is coupled. By so doing, BTE unit  504  may be configured to successfully operate in conjunction with a plurality of cochlear implants without the risk of overstimulation of one cochlear implant based on the control parameters and/or sound processing programs associated with another cochlear implant. 
     BTE unit  504  may be further configured to detect a communicative decoupling of BTE unit  504  from first cochlear implant  802 - 1  and a subsequent communicative coupling of BTE unit  504  to second cochlear implant  802 - 2 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , patient  800  can switch BTE unit  504  from first cochlear implant  802 - 1  to second cochlear implant  802 - 2  (e.g., by switching BTE unit  504  from the right ear to the left ear and positioning the corresponding headpiece to communicate with second cochlear implant  802 - 2 ). As a result, BTE unit  504  may communicatively decouple from first cochlear implant  802 - 1  and communicatively couple to second cochlear implant  802 - 2  by way of communication link  904 . 
     BTE unit  504  may be configured to detect that communication with first cochlear implant  802 - 1  has been broken and that communication with second cochlear implant  802 - 2  has been established in any suitable manner. In some examples, BTE unit  504  may be configured to receive data representative of a second unique identifier associated with second cochlear implant  802 - 2  from second cochlear implant  802 - 2  and identify second cochlear implant  802 - 2  based on the second unique identifier. 
     In response to a detection of the communicative coupling of BTE unit  504  to second cochlear implant  802 - 2 , BTE unit  504  may be configured to operate in accordance with a second program set (e.g., second program set  702 - 2 ) associated with second cochlear implant  802 - 2 . For example, BTE unit  504  may be configured to perform one or more signal processing heuristics on an audio signal presented to patient  800  in accordance with the sound processing program(s) and/or control parameters of the second program set. Accordingly, BTE unit  504  may be configured to dynamically adapt to and operate in accordance with a communicative coupling to either of first cochlear implant  802 - 1  and second cochlear implant  802 - 2 . 
     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. 10  illustrates an exemplary computing device  1000  that may be configured to perform one or more of the processes described herein. As shown in  FIG. 10 , computing device  1000  may include a communication interface  1002 , a processor  1004 , a storage device  1006 , and an input/output (“I/O”) module  1008  communicatively connected via a communication infrastructure  1010 . While an exemplary computing device  1000  is shown in  FIG. 10 , the components illustrated in  FIG. 10  are not intended to be limiting. Additional or alternative components may be used in other embodiments. Components of computing device  1000  shown in  FIG. 10  will now be described in additional detail. 
     Communication interface  1002  may be configured to communicate with one or more computing devices. Examples of communication interface  1002  include, 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 interface  1002  may 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 interface  1002  may be configured to interface with any suitable communication media, protocols, and formats, including any of those mentioned above. 
     Processor  1004  generally 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. Processor  1004  may direct execution of operations in accordance with one or more applications  1012  or other computer-executable instructions such as may be stored in storage device  1006  or another non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
     Storage device  1006  may 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 device  1006  may 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 device  1006 . For example, data representative of one or more executable applications  1012  (which may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the software applications described herein) configured to direct processor  1004  to perform any of the operations described herein may be stored within storage device  1006 . In some examples, data may be arranged in one or more databases residing within storage device  1006 . 
     I/O module  1008  may 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 module  1008  may 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. 
     I/O module  1008  may include one or more devices for presenting output to a user, including, but not limited to, a graphics engine, a display (e.g., a display screen, one or more output drivers (e.g., display drivers), one or more audio speakers, and one or more audio drivers. In certain embodiments, I/O module  1008  is configured to provide graphical data to a display for presentation to a user. The graphical data may be representative of one or more graphical user interfaces and/or any other graphical content as may serve a particular implementation. 
     In some examples, any of the facilities described herein may be implemented by or within one or more components of computing device  1000 . For example, one or more applications  1012  residing within storage device  1006  may be configured to direct processor  1004  to perform one or more processes or functions associated with communication facility  302 , user interface facility  304 , fitting facility  306 , program loading facility  308 , communication facility  402 , detection facility  404 , and/or operation facility  406 . Likewise, storage facility  310  and/or storage facility  408  may be implemented by or within storage device  1006 . 
     In the preceding description, various exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. For example, certain features of one embodiment described herein may be combined with or substituted for features of another embodiment described herein. The description and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.