A computer interface for psychophysical and speech research with the Nucleus cochlear implant

Abstract

A custom interface was designed and implemented that, under program control, allows presentation of any available pulse stimulus to a patient fitted with the Nucleus implant. The interface connects to a standard parallel output port of a PC or AT compatible computer. The host computer sends a stream of bytes to the parallel port that specify the configuration of the desired output pulses. Upon receipt of the data, the interface generates the appropriate pulse‐coded sequence to deliver the specified pulses to the patient's external coil. This interface makes it possible to interleave pulses on two or more electrodes, to modulate the amplitude or timing of a pulse sequence, or to sweep a stimulus across the electrode array. This interface allows investigators to conduct psychophysical and speech experiments that cannot be performed with the standard speech processor interface (SPI) normally used to set the patient's device. [Work supported by NIH.]