Synchronized Diagnostic Measurement for Cochlear Implants

Abstract

Objective measurement of cochlear implant operation is described which coordinates the delivery to a patient of an acoustic signal and an electrical signal including coordinating a delay time between the acoustic signal and the electrical signal. The acoustic signal is developed as an acoustic stimulation input to the ear canal of a patient, and the electrical signal is developed as an electrical stimulation input to intracochlear electrodes of a cochlear implant. The evoked response in the patient to the delivered signals is then measured including measuring a far field response associated with the skin surface of the patient.

1 . A method for objective diagnostic measurement for cochlear implant subjects, the method comprising:
 in an audio diagnostic measurement system:
 coordinating the delivery to a patient of an acoustic signal and an electrical signal so that:
 i. the acoustic signal is developed as an acoustic stimulation input to the ear canal of a patient, and 
 ii. the electrical signal is developed as an electrical stimulation input to intracochlear electrodes of a cochlear implant, 
 
 wherein coordinating the delivery includes coordinating a delay time between the acoustic signal and the electrical signal; and 
   measuring an evoked response in the patient to the delivered signals, wherein the evoked response includes a far field response associated with the skin surface of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 analyzing the measured response to diagnose auditory perception of the patient.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein diagnosing the auditory perception includes determining a frequency-specific response relative to specific position of the electrodes in the cochlea. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 customizing operation of the cochlear implant for the patient based on the measured response.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein measuring the evoked response includes measuring a near field response in associated tissue near the intracochlear electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cochlear implant is a bilateral cochlear implant. 
     
     
         7 . An objective measurement system for a cochlear implant, the system comprising:
 an acoustic stimulation input for developing an acoustic signal to the ear canal of a patient;   an electrical stimulation input for developing an electrical signal for intracochlear electrodes of a cochlear implant;   a control module for coordinating the delivery of the acoustic signal and the stimulation signal including coordinating a delay time between the acoustic signal and the electrical signal; and   a measurement module for measuring the evoked response in the patient to the delivered signals, including a far field measurement sensor for measuring a far field response associated with the skin surface of the patient.   
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a diagnosis module for analyzing the measured response to diagnose auditory perception of the patient.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the diagnosis module analyzes the measured response by determining a frequency-specific response relative to specific position of the electrodes in the cochlea. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a fitting module for customizing operation of the cochlear implant for the patient based on the measured response.   
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the measurement module includes a near field measurement sensor for measuring a near field response in associated tissue near the intracochlear electrodes. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the cochlear implant is a bilateral cochlear implant.