A Binaural CI Research Platform for Oticon Medical SP/XP Implants Enabling ITD/ILD and Variable Rate Processing

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Binaural hearing research requires precise control over auditory stimuli.
• Existing platforms may lack portability or real-time processing capabilities for cochlear implant users.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, portable, real-time research platform for binaural auditory studies.
• To enable precise manipulation of interaural time and level differences in cochlear implant users.

Main Methods:

• Development of a system with behind-the-ear devices, calibrated microphones, analog-to-digital converter, and PC-based software (Master Hearing Aid).
• Integration with Oticon Medical SP and XP generation cochlear implants for simultaneous bilateral stimulation.
• Real-time processing of four microphone inputs and synchronized binaural output.

Main Results:

• The platform achieves precise control of interaural electrode timing (±1 µs) and energy differences (±2%).
• Supports instantaneously variable stimulation rates for pitch perception studies.
• Enables acute investigation of perceptual changes due to altered processing strategies.

Conclusions:

• This research platform offers unprecedented flexibility for studying binaural hearing mechanisms in cochlear implant users.
• It facilitates real-time experimentation on interaural time differences, interaural level differences, and stimulation rate effects.
• The system advances the capabilities for investigating auditory perception and developing new signal processing strategies.