Patent ID: 7835799

Claim:
An adaptive method for place-pitch or place-frequency ranking a neural stimulation system, comprising: (a) connecting a pulse generator to an array of spaced-apart electrode contacts, wherein the pulse generator includes means for generating a stimulus pulse and delivering it to a selected electrode pair, said electrode pair comprising first and second electrode contacts, said first and second electrode contacts being selected from said spaced-apart electrode contacts or virtual electrode contacts formed by sharing the stimulus pulse between a group of said spaced-apart electrode contacts, and wherein an array of spaced-apart electrode contacts is adapted to be implanted so as to be positioned to stimulate frequency-sensitive nerves; (b) spatially defining the electrode pair so that the first electrode contact forms part of a target stimulus channel, and the second electrode contact forms part of a competing stimulus channel of the neural stimulation system; (c) applying a monopolar stimulus in a first-ordered sequence first to the target stimulus channel and second to the competing stimulus channel; (d) determining whether the pitch or frequency perceived as a result of the stimulus applied to the target stimulus channel is higher, lower, or the same as the pitch or frequency perceived as a result of the stimulus applied to the competing stimulus channel; (e) applying a monopolar stimulus in a second-ordered sequence first to the competing stimulus channel and second to the target stimulus channel; (f) determining whether the pitch or frequency perceived as a result of the stimulus applied to the competing stimulus channel is higher, lower, or the same as the pitch or frequency perceived as a result of the stimulus applied to the target stimulus channel; (g) determining whether the pitches or frequencies perceived as a result of application of the first-ordered sequence stimuli and the second-ordered sequence stimuli were correctly perceived by the frequency-sensitive nerves, and if so, concluding that there is no pitch or frequency confusion between the target and competing stimulus channels; (h) in the event a determination is made that the pitches or frequencies perceived as a result of application of the first-ordered sequence stimuli and the second-ordered sequence stimuli are not correct, then spatially defining a new electrode pair having a different spatial separation distance between electrode contacts and repeating steps (b) through (f) using the new electrode pair; (l) repeating steps (c)-(h) as needed, each time changing the spatial separation distance of the target stimulus channel and the competing stimulus channel until a determination is made that there is no pitch or frequency confusion between the target stimulus channel and the competing stimulus channel; and (j) identifying those stimulus channels where pitch or frequency confusion exists.