A question about CIs...

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Phi4Sius

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Okay, I get how CIs work and everything. I get that the BTE processor takes a battery that powers it. I guess my main question is: how do the internal components of the CI power themselves?
 
Phi4Sius said:
Okay, I get how CIs work and everything. I get that the BTE processor takes a battery that powers it. I guess my main question is: how do the internal components of the CI power themselves?
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The power comes from the battery from the BTE. The internal isn't "on" unless the external is connected.
 
The coil acts like a transformer along with providing the instructions on how to energize the electrodes. So yes, the internal processor is only powered on while the external processor is powered on and the coil attached. Along with everything that happens, for some makes, the processor reads the internal processor code to make sure Bilateral users don't mix up the external controllers.

Pretty cool what they can do with technology.
Any other questions, please ask. What I still find fascinating is that all this happens while I can receive 3500 electrode signals per second. To me, that sounds really fast but with computer chip speeds these days, that is actually pretty slow.

I'll ramble a little hear about computer speed.
I remember learning in an Automotive Electronics course in 1991 when talking about Engine Control Computers. A little background. We were learning about some of the new fuel injected engine. An engine has a "reluctor" wheel which is a round plate that has notches cut into them so when the engine is running, the computer can know exactly where the crankshaft is. There can be as many as 180 notches in the wheel. The sensor can detect this change from the blank space to the metal that was not notched out so in essence, the computer can see the change 360 times in a crank revolution. What was really interesting at the time, the 8 cylinder was popular and the average engine had 6-8 sensors that the computer needed to get a reading in order to calculate how much fuel each injector need to spray into the cylinder to make the engine run right. Today, computers have to know if the cylinder fired correctly or if the next time it needs more or less fuel. This is all for efficiency. If this doesn't sound fast, consider that engines today can have a maximum speed around 7,000 revolutions per minute and this is limited to the mechanical limits of the parts inside the engine, not the computing power. I remember hearing back then that the computer can make all the calculations and still be asleep more than 1/2 the time waiting for the next signal. So basically the computer gets between 252,000 and 336,000 inputs per second back then. Today’s engines 18 years later have so much more ability to run right and the computing power is so much more than it was back then.

As far as CI's, they are pretty impressive but it is more about how the computer programmer can make the technology work for us. The hard parts are the hard parts, they all do basically the same thing. The external processor is where the brains are that works the magic. I think this is why it is so important to have an upgradeable external processor and am pretty sure each of the companies views this in a similar way.

Sorry to ramble.
 
Thank you both for the explanations! Greatly appreciated.

Okay, another question. I know two of the top three companies that create and provide Cochlear Implants: Cochlear, and Advanced Bionics. Which company is the third one?
 
Phi4Sius said:
Thank you both for the explanations! Greatly appreciated.

Okay, another question. I know two of the top three companies that create and provide Cochlear Implants: Cochlear, and Advanced Bionics. Which company is the third one?
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Med-El.
 
SteveESP52 said:
I think this is why it is so important to have an upgradeable external processor and am pretty sure each of the companies views this in a similar way.

Sorry to ramble.
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You've said it perfectly.

This is exactly why the early users of AB who have Clarion implants are pissed off that they cannot use Harmony processors. The internal parts cannot tolerate the powerful external processor. It's not backward compatible. For years, the Clarion users have been complaining to AB about it. AB kept saying that they're working on it. It does suck though...because the Clarion users do not have BTE like Harmony.

Cochlear users from 10/18 years ago can STILL use Freedom. It's just going to be slightly different in the mapping. Freedom Implant is a little different than the N24 Contour implant...(not much, and I can't remember why), but all the implants has been backward compatible.

I'm not familiar with Med-El, but I believe the older users of Med-El can still use the new processors...correct me if I'm wrong.

Hopefully, AB has learned their lesson that no matter what, they should always make sure that the upgrade processors is backward compatible or there will be a mob.
 
Have you seen their website yet?
If not then here's the link
For Cochlear Freedom
Cochlear: World leader in advanced hearing solutions. Nucleus cochlear implants and the Baha system.

It will show Baha and Nucleus Freedom. You click on freedom to read more information on it

For Advanced Bionics
Hearing Loss :: Deafness :: Hearing Implant :: Deaf Children :: Deaf Hearing :: Advancedbionics.com
Click on restore hearing

For Med-el
Cochlear Implants | Middle Ear Implants | Electric Acoustic Stimulation | MED-EL - The Hearing Implant Company

Here's the basic information that I know about all 3
Cochlear have 22 electrodes (amount of stimulation sites in cochlea) and self-curling array so it hug the cochlea, it have soft tip to try preserve residual hearing (it mean how much your hearing's left, but sometimes it destroy it all like it did for me) its most reliable implant compared to other 2. It have many different way for the electrode to work like faster or slower speed, or whatever to fit the individual preference, the external component is water resistant to rain, snow and sweat.
It have split array option (2 array) for patient with severe ossification in cochlea (its when people got sick with menginitis that caused them to become deaf from bony growth in the cochlea so it is difficult for surgeon to insert just one full array)

Advanced Bionics have 16 electrodes, it have different option on how you want the electrodes to work like 2 or more electrodes fire at a time or 1 at a time, faster or slower as well. Its water resistant as well, have t-mic option its the microphone that located close to ear canal to get natural sound input instead of other 2 companies that have microphone on top of the processor (top behind the ear) they only have single array option.

Med-el
Have 12 electrodes, it have 2 implant option, ceramic housing or new one with titanium and silicone housing. Its smallest implant out of all, it have multiple wearing option as well. It will show the picture on the website. It have many different array designs for complicate cases. (Compressed, medium, regular and split array) and regular array is the longest, thinniest one out of all so it cover more of cochlea than other 2 so you get more low frequency sound.

Good luck!
 
SkullChick said:
Have you seen their website yet?
If not then here's the link
For Cochlear Freedom
Cochlear: World leader in advanced hearing solutions. Nucleus cochlear implants and the Baha system.

It will show Baha and Nucleus Freedom. You click on freedom to read more information on it

For Advanced Bionics
Hearing Loss :: Deafness :: Hearing Implant :: Deaf Children :: Deaf Hearing :: Advancedbionics.com
Click on restore hearing

For Med-el
Cochlear Implants | Middle Ear Implants | Electric Acoustic Stimulation | MED-EL - The Hearing Implant Company

Here's the basic information that I know about all 3
Cochlear have 22 electrodes (amount of stimulation sites in cochlea) and self-curling array so it hug the cochlea, it have soft tip to try preserve residual hearing (it mean how much your hearing's left, but sometimes it destroy it all like it did for me)
its most reliable implant compared to other 2.
It have many different way for the electrode to work like faster or slower speed, or whatever to fit the individual preference,
the external component is water resistant to rain, snow and sweat.
It have split array option (2 array) for patient with severe ossification in cochlea (its when people got sick with menginitis that caused them to become deaf from bony growth in the cochlea so it is difficult for surgeon to insert just one full array)

Advanced Bionics have 16 electrodes, it have different option on how you want the electrodes to work like 2 or more electrodes fire at a time or 1 at a time, faster or slower as well. Its water resistant as well, have t-mic option its the microphone that located close to ear canal to get natural sound input instead of other 2 companies that have microphone on top of the processor (top behind the ear) they only have single array option.

Med-el
Have 12 electrodes, it have 2 implant option, ceramic housing or new one with titanium and silicone housing. Its smallest implant out of all, it have multiple wearing option as well. It will show the picture on the website. It have many different array designs for complicate cases. (Compressed, medium, regular and split array) and regular array is the longest, thinniest one out of all so it cover more of cochlea than other 2 so you get more low frequency sound.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

The AB is also self curling and soft tipped.
The reliabilty issue is debatable. After the recall AB now has the same reliability numbers as Cochlear. Also, Cochlear does not count "soft failures" in their numbers and AB does. Cochlear only says you had a failure if the implant totally stops working, AB says if it was removed, it was a failure
Also, AB is water resistant as well.
 
faire_jour said:
The AB is also self curling and soft tipped.
Also, AB is water resistant as well.
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I know AB is water resistant, read it again I mentioned it.
And no AB implant is not self curling and soft tipped. Read their website they didn't mention anything about it being soft tipped and self curling.
I'm not even trying to bring AB down. Its also good it has fastest speed, highest dynamic ranges, each electrodes is individual. I'm not cochlear freedom miliant trying to "sell" that its better than other 2. I love that Med-el is great for complicated case. AB is great for music lover. Freedom is great for reliability.
 
SkullChick said:
I know AB is water resistant, read it again I mentioned it.
And no AB implant is not self curling and soft tipped. Read their website they didn't mention anything about it being soft tipped and self curling.
I'm not even trying to bring AB down. Its also good it has fastest speed, highest dynamic ranges, each electrodes is individual. I'm not cochlear freedom miliant trying to "sell" that its better than other 2. I love that Med-el is great for complicated case. AB is great for music lover. Freedom is great for reliability.
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My daughter's audiologist showed me the self curling tip. I saw it with my own eyes. The most recent implant designer was a former Cochlear engineer.
 
faire_jour said:
My daughter's audiologist showed me the self curling tip. I saw it with my own eyes. The most recent implant designer was a former Cochlear engineer.
Click to expand...

Ok fine maybe they didn't update the website.
Sheesh why are you so defensive? I put in good info on all 3 brands and fairly. none of that "this one is the best" didn't I?
I liked you when I first read about you and I bookmarked your blog I thought she's gorgeous and great that you guys are using signs along with speech but lately I'm starting to dislike you because you're harsh defensive person. I don't think I ever seen you actually being super nice and friendly to other commenter.
So please stop and don't turn this into brand war. Phi4sius only want information and I want Phi to feel comfortable asking question I don't want this to turn into something else that makes Phi feel uncomfortable and leave this thread.
Just chill out
 
SkullChick said:
Ok fine maybe they didn't update the website.
Sheesh why are you so defensive? I put in good info on all 3 brands and fairly. none of that "this one is the best" didn't I?
I liked you when I first read about you and I bookmarked your blog I thought she's gorgeous and great that you guys are using signs along with speech but lately I'm starting to dislike you because you're harsh defensive person. I don't think I ever seen you actually being super nice and friendly to other commenter.
So please stop and don't turn this into brand war. Phi4sius only want information and I want Phi to feel comfortable asking question I don't want this to turn into something else that makes Phi feel uncomfortable and leave this thread.
Just chill out
Click to expand...

I didn't mean to be defensive, sorry it came off that way. I just want to have the most up to date and best information available. I know more about AB than I do about the other brands so that is what I post. I was being matter of fact, not mean.
 
No one Cochlear Implant brand is superior than the other. Each one brand has its own positives and negatives. And choosing the brand is just a matter of personal preference, similar to choosing what make of car you plan to buy!
 
hugoboss84 said:
No one Cochlear Implant brand is superior than the other. Each one brand has its own positives and negatives. And choosing the brand is just a matter of personal preference, similar to choosing what make of car you plan to buy!
Click to expand...

ditto, no room for brand envy. I wear Advanced Bionics and it fits my needs. I have met others with Cochlear and it fits their needs. The important part is to research and make your choice. I don't agree with seeing how others like there CIs and then I will get that brand. Sit back and think, what do I want from my cochlear implant? Then pick a company that fits that need.
 
I have the Nucleus 24 Contour Advance in my left ear and the Nucleus Freedom in my right. I'm able to use the Freedom processor with both CIs. I don't know how both CIs differ exactly, but one uses more sophisticated technology than the other. I know this is true based on the fact that Freedom users (with the Freedom CI) perform significantly better than N24 or N22 users. I know this is true for me. With my right CI (Freedom), I can understand sentences 100%. With my left CI (N24 Contour Advance), I understand 89%.
 
Faster processing speed does not always equal better speech understanding. When I tried using 1200 Hz on my first CI, I couldn't make heads or tails out of what I heard, so I was switched to 900 Hz where I've been ever since. My right CI is also set at 900 Hz which seems to be the most natural sounding to me. Each of us is different and what works well for one person may not work well for another.
 
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