Integrity evaluation system in an implantable hearing prosthesis

Abstract

An implantable hearing prosthesis, comprising an integrated integrity system. The integrity system is configured to measure one or more electrical characteristics of at least one component of the prosthesis, to evaluate the integrity of the prosthesis based on the measurements, and to perform at least one diagnostic operation based on the evaluation.

1 . An implantable hearing prosthesis, comprising:
 an integrated integrity system configured to measure one or more electrical characteristics of at least one component of the prosthesis, to evaluate the integrity of the prosthesis based on the measurements, and to perform at least one diagnostic operation based on the evaluation.   
     
     
         2 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the least one diagnostic operation performed by the integrity system is a notification of an error identified during the evaluation. 
     
     
         3 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the least one diagnostic operation performed by the integrity system is an adjustment of one or more of settings in the device to correct an error identified during the evaluation. 
     
     
         4 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more of settings adjusted by the integrity system are selected from the group consisting of: a set of electrodes in use, distribution of the acoustic sound spectrum across the electrodes in use, acoustic threshold levels, maximum comfort level, and power supplied for implant operations. 
     
     
         5 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises a power supply and an array of electrodes, and wherein the integrity system is configured to measure one or more electrical characteristics selected from the group consisting of: the power supply voltage over a period of time and under various load conditions and impedance of one or more electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises a plurality of electrodes, and wherein the integrity system comprises:
 an integrity measurement unit configured to perform bipolar measurements on the plurality of electrodes; and   an evaluator configured to calculate normalized values for each bipolar pair to evaluate the integrity of the prosthesis and to perform one or more diagnostic operations based on the evaluated integrity.   
     
     
         7 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the bipolar measurements are voltage measurements. 
     
     
         8 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 7 , wherein the bipolar measurements are variable width bipolar voltage measurements. 
     
     
         9 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the bipolar measurements are impedance measurements. 
     
     
         10 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 9 , wherein the bipolar measurements are variable width bipolar impedance measurements. 
     
     
         11 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the integrity system further comprises:
 a memory for storing pre-determined values; and   a comparator for comparing measurements to the pre-determined values, wherein the integrity system evaluates the integrity of the prosthesis based on the comparison   
     
     
         12 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the integrity system measures a plurality of electrical characteristics, and wherein the integrity system further comprises:
 a comparator for comparing a first one of the plurality of measurements to a second one of the plurality of measurements, wherein the integrity system evaluates the integrity of the prosthesis based on the comparison.   
     
     
         13 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 12 , wherein the integrity system normalizes the first and second measurements prior to performing the comparison. 
     
     
         14 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 1 , further comprising external and implantable components configured to communicate via a radio frequency (RF) link, and wherein the integrity system is configured to measure the one or more electrical characteristics during idle periods in the RF link. 
     
     
         15 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the integrity system is configured to continually measure the one or more electrical characteristics. 
     
     
         16 . A method for evaluating the integrity of an implantable hearing prosthesis, comprising:
 measuring one or more electrical characteristics of at least one component of the prosthesis;   determining, based on the measurements, if there is error in the operation of the prosthesis; and   performing at least one diagnostic operation to a determine whether there is an error in the operation of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein performing at least one diagnostic operation comprises:
 providing a notification of the identified error.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein performing at least one diagnostic operation comprises:
 adjusting of one or more of settings in the device to correct the error.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , adjusting of one or more of settings in the device to correct the error comprises:
 adjusting settings selected from the group consisting of: a set of electrodes in use, distribution of the acoustic sound spectrum across the electrodes in use, acoustic threshold levels, maximum comfort level, and power supplied for implant operations.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises a power supply and an array of electrodes, and wherein measuring one or more electrical characteristics of at least one component of the prosthesis further comprises:
 measuring one or more electrical characteristics selected from the group consisting of: the power supply voltage over a period of time and under various load conditions and impedance of one or more electrodes.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises a plurality of electrodes, and wherein measuring one or more electrical characteristics of at least one component of the prosthesis further comprises:
 performing bipolar measurements on the plurality of electrodes.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 calculating normalized values for each bipolar pair; and   determining, based on the normalized values, if there is error in the operation of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the hearing prosthesis has a memory for storing pre-determined values, and wherein the method further comprises:
 comparing the measurements of the one or more electrical characteristics to the pre-determined values; and   determining, based on the comparison, if there is error in the operation of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 measuring a first electrical characteristic;   measuring a second electrical characteristic;   comparing the measurements of the first and second electrical characteristics to one another; and   determining, based on the comparison, if there is error in the operation of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 normalizing the measurements of the first and second electrical characteristics prior to performing the comparison.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises external and implantable components configured to communicate via a radio frequency (RF) link, and wherein the method comprises:
 measuring one or more electrical characteristics during idle periods in the RF link.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein measuring one or more electrical characteristics comprises:
 continually measuring the one or more electrical characteristics.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein measuring one or more electrical characteristics comprises:
 automatically measuring the one or more electrical characteristics.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein measuring one or more electrical characteristics comprises:
 measuring the one or more electrical characteristics in response to an input signal.   
     
     
         30 . An implantable hearing prosthesis, comprising:
 means for measuring one or more electrical characteristics of at least one component of the prosthesis;   means for determining, based on the measurements, if there is error in the operation of the prosthesis; and   means for performing at least one diagnostic operation to determine whether there is an error in the operation of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         31 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 30 , wherein the means for performing at least one diagnostic operation comprises:
 means for providing a notification of the identified error.   
     
     
         32 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 30 , wherein the means for performing at least one diagnostic operation comprises:
 means for adjusting of one or more of settings in the device to correct the error.   
     
     
         33 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 32 , wherein the means for adjusting of one or more of settings in the device to correct the error comprises:
 means for adjusting settings selected from the group consisting of: a set of electrodes in use, distribution of the acoustic sound spectrum across the electrodes in use, acoustic threshold levels, maximum comfort level, and power supplied for implant operations.   
     
     
         34 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 30 , wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises a power supply and an array of electrodes, and wherein the means for measuring one or more electrical characteristics of at least one component of the prosthesis further comprises:
 means for measuring one or more electrical characteristics selected from the group consisting of: the power supply voltage over a period of time and under various load conditions and impedance of one or more electrodes.   
     
     
         35 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 30 , wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises a plurality of electrodes, and wherein the means for measuring one or more electrical characteristics of at least one component of the prosthesis further comprises:
 means for performing bipolar measurements on the plurality of electrodes.   
     
     
         36 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 means for calculating normalized values for each bipolar pair; and   means for determining, based on the normalized values, if there is error in the operation of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         37 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 means for storing pre-determined values;   means for comparing the measurements of the one or more electrical characteristics to the pre-determined values; and   means for determining, based on the comparison, if there is error in the operation of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         38 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 means for measuring a first electrical characteristic;   means for measuring a second electrical characteristic;   means for comparing the measurements of the first and second electrical characteristics to one another; and   means for determining, based on the comparison, if there is error in the operation of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         39 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 means for normalizing the measurements of the first and second electrical characteristics prior to performing the comparison.   
     
     
         40 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 30 , wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises external and implantable components configured to communicate via a radio frequency (RF) link, and wherein the method comprises:
 means for measuring one or more electrical characteristics during idle periods in the RF link.