Sensitive measurements in a hearing prosthesis

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to taking measurements in a hearing prosthesis. In an embodiment, a power circuit, which may be a switched mode power circuit, is shut down during performance of the measurements to reduce interference. Then, power capacitively stored by the power circuit is used to power the hearing prosthesis during performance of the measurements. In an embodiment, the power circuit increases its voltage just prior to performance of the measurements. This serves to increase the amount of energy capactively stored by the power circuit and thus extends the period of time during which the measurements may be taken while the power circuit is shut off

1 . A method for performing a measurement using a hearing prosthesis, the method comprising:
 applying stimulation to a recipient, using a stimulation circuit, to cause a hearing percept by the recipient;   providing power to the stimulation circuit during the application of the stimulation;   performing a measurement using the hearing prosthesis;   increasing the power provided to the stimulation circuit prior to commencement of the measurement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing power to the stimulation circuit during the application of the stimulation comprises providing power at a first level during the application of the stimulation; and wherein increasing the power comprises increasing the power to a second level, the method further comprising:
 decreasing the power to a third level during the performance of the measurement; and   increasing the power to the first level after performance of the measurement.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein decreasing the power to a third level during performance of the measurement comprises:
 turning off the power circuit such that the power provided during performance of the measurement is capacitively stored power;   providing the capacitively stored power at the third level to a first set of circuits of the stimulation circuit; and   terminating power provided to a second set of circuits of the stimulation circuit.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein terminating power to a second set of circuits comprises:
 terminating power to a communications circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 decreasing, to a fourth level, the power provided to a third set of circuits of the stimulation circuit during performance of the measurement. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 decreasing a frequency of a clock signal provided to a set of circuits of the stimulation circuit during performance of the measurement.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 maintaining the clock signal provided to a second set of circuits of the stimulation circuit during performance of the measurement.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a command to a component of the hearing prosthesis to modify a behavior of the component.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing a measurement comprises:
 measuring an evoked compound action potential (ECAP).   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing prosthesis is a cochlear implant system. 
     
     
         11 . A hearing prosthesis comprising:
 a stimulation circuit configured to apply stimulation to cause a hearing percept by a recipient;   a power circuit configured to provide power to the stimulation circuit; and   a measurement control circuit configured to perform a measurement using the hearing prosthesis;   wherein the measurement control circuit is configured to increase power provided from the power circuit to the stimulation circuit prior to commencement of the measurement.   
     
     
         12 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement control circuit in providing power to the stimulation circuit during the application of the stimulation is configured to provide power at a first level during the application of the stimulation, and increase the power to a second level prior to commencement of the measurement; and
 wherein the measurement control circuit is configured such that the power decreases to a third level during the performance of the measurement and increases to the first level after performance of the measurement.   
     
     
         13 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 12 , wherein the power circuit comprises a capacitor for capacitively storing power; and
 wherein the measurement control circuit in decreasing the power to a third level during performance of the measurement is configured to turn off the power circuit such that the power provided during performance of the measurement is the capacitively stored power; and wherein the measurement control circuit is configured to provide the capacitively stored power at the third level to a first set of circuits of the stimulation circuit, and terminate power provided to a second set of circuits of the stimulation circuit.   
     
     
         14 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 13 , wherein the measurement control circuit in terminating power to a second set of circuits is configured to terminate power to a communications circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device. 
     
     
         15 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 13 , wherein the measurement control circuit is configured to decrease, to a fourth level, the power provided to a third set of circuits of the stimulation circuit during performance of the measurement. 
     
     
         16 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement control circuit is configured to decrease a frequency of a clock signal provided to a set of circuits of the stimulation circuit during performance of the measurement. 
     
     
         17 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 16 , wherein the measurement control circuit is configured such that the frequency of the clock signal provided to a second set of circuits of the stimulation circuit is maintained during performance of the measurement. 
     
     
         18 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement control circuit is configured to transmit a command to a component of the hearing prosthesis to modify a behavior of the component. 
     
     
         19 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 11 , wherein the measurement is an evoked compound action potential (ECAP). 
     
     
         20 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 11 , wherein the hearing prosthesis is a cochlear implant system. 
     
     
         21 . A hearing prosthesis comprising:
 means for applying stimulation to a recipient to cause a hearing percept by the recipient;   means for providing power to the means for applying stimulation during the application of the stimulation;   means for performing a measurement; and   means for increasing the power provided to the means for applying stimulation prior to commencement of the measurement.