1. Presenter: Artur M. KUCZAPSKI
Automation and Applied Informatics
Real-time Interfacing for Fault Detection and Auralization with MED-EL Cochlear Implant Processors Artur M. KUCZAPSKI, Gheorghe-Daniel ANDREESCU
SACI 2016
Presenter: Artur M. KUCZAPSKI

2. Content Cochlear Implants Challenges Project Scope
The I100 Detector Box
Real-time signal capturing with Arduino DUE
CI Signal Processing Software
Real-time Auralization
Conclusions

3. Microphone, Battery pack and Speech processor
Cochlear Implants
External Transmitter
Receiver / Stimulator
Cochlea
Microphone, Battery pack and Speech processor
Electrode array

4. Cochlear Implants Sound is divided in frequency bands (channel)
One electrode per channel
Electric impulses are modulated according to the envelope of each channel

5. Challenges First year after implantation is critical
Complex fitting procedure
Patients are mostly toddlers (1-3 years)
Reduced communication
Absolutely no feedback on hearing quality
Hardware defects frequently not discovered in time
Microphone characteristics
Audio Signal processing chain
Stimulation signals
Lack of feedback during fittings
No real perception how the sound quality changes upon fitting

6. Project Scope
Create data acquisition platform for further research and developments
Develop application to test CI Processor Integrity
Proof of concept for real-time auralization

7. The I100 Detector Box
Generate electrical stimulation pulses based on the information received from the CI external processor
Simulate a cochlear implant during telemetry
Testing and fault detection of external components of a MED-EL Cochlear Implant system
Available to anyone

8. Real-time signal capturing with Arduino DUE
Requirements
12 analog Channels (±10V)
µs impulses
100K Samples / Second / Channel
2.4 MB/Sec transfer to PC (16 bits / sample)

9. Real-time signal capturing with Arduino DUE
12 Analog I/O ports (0 – 3.3V / 12 bit)
1M Samples / Second (multiplexed)
83K Samples / Second / Channel
Native USB Port up to 1.5MB/Sec
Voltage adaptor Shield
Using only resistors and capacitors
1:10 division / V shift
10K input impedance (similar to cochlea)

10. Real-time signal capturing with Arduino DUE

11. Real-time signal capturing with Arduino DUE
Single Channel Recordings

12. Real-time signal capturing with Arduino DUE
12 Channel Recordings

13. CI Signal Processing Software
Real-time display of recorded impulses
Load fitting parameters from Med-El Maestro System data base
User interface to manually adjust fitting parameters
Converts fitting parameters into voltages
Converts recorded stimulation intensities into perceived sound intensities
Displays sound intensities for each channel

14. CI Signal Processing Software

15. Real-time Auralization
Uses the recorded stimulation impulses
Continuously computes the envelope of each channel
maximum pulse amplitude of the last 5 ms
Maps channel envelopes to sound levels using fitting data
Modulated sine wave is generated for each channel
The mix of the sine waves is replayed

16. Real-time Auralization

17. Real-time Auralization

18. Conclusions Real-time data acquisition platform: Software application:
Records stimulation impulses generated by CI processors
Easily accessible for researchers
Important support for further projects
Software application:
Display stimulation impulses
Map impulse amplitudes to sound levels using fitting data
Used for CI Processor integrity checks
Provides simple real-time auralization.