Power efficient electrical stimulation

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for neural stimulation with improved power consumption and/or effectiveness. The stimulus generator is arranged, for example via a look up table, to recognise proposed stimuli which will be masked by earlier or simultaneous stimuli. Such masked stimuli are either deleted, or replaced by another stimulus.

What is Claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of neural stimulation, of the type in which successive stimuli are presented on an electrode array having one or more electrodes, said stimuli being generated by a stimulus generation device, the method including the steps of:
 determining a stimulus set for one or more periods;   analyzing each proposed stimulus set using a predetermined instruction set which is adapted to locate factors indicative of a likely masking effect;   if masking effects are detected, altering said stimulus set for one or more of said periods; and   presenting the stimuli via said electrode array to a neural structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined instruction set is responsive to stimuli in previous periods. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined instruction set is responsive to the selected electrodes defined by said stimulus set. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein if said predetermined instruction set determines that a stimulus will be masked, said stimulus is deleted from the stimulation set. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein if said predetermined instruction set determines that a stimulus will be masked, said stimulus is deleted from the stimulation set, and an alternative stimulus is added to said stimulation set. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said neural stimulation is cochlear stimulation, and said stimulus generator includes an impanted component. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined instruction set is responsive to a look up table of stimuli which are likely to be masked. 
     
     
         8 . A method of electrically stimulating a recipient, comprising:
 determining a stimulus set of electrical stimuli;   analyzing the stimulus set to determine if any of said stimuli are likely to be masked upon delivery of the stimulus set to the recipient; and   altering the stimulus set upon a determination that any of the stimuli are likely to be masked.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the action of altering the stimulus set corresponds to deleting one or more of the stimuli likely to be masked.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 adding at least one alternative stimuli to the stimulus set upon the deletion of one or more stimuli determined to be likely masked.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 upon a determination that a first stimuli of the stimulus is likely to be masked upon delivery, preventing the first stimuli of the stimulus from being delivered by a first electrode;   upon a determination that the first stimuli of the stimulus is likely to be masked upon delivery, delivering a new stimuli corresponding to the stimuli prevented from being delivered by a second electrode; and   after the analysis of the stimulus set, upon a lack of determination that the first stimuli of the stimulus is likely to be masked upon delivery, delivering the first stimuli of the stimulus by the first electrode.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the action of preventing the first stimuli of the stimulus from being delivered by the first electrode corresponds to deleting the first stimuli.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the action of altering the stimulus set corresponds to deleting all stimuli of the stimulus set determined to be likely masked.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 delivering said altered stimulus set to the recipient.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 adding at least one stimuli to the stimulus set upon a determination that any of the stimuli are likely to be masked.