CCi-MOBILE: A Portable Real Time Speech Processing Platform for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Research.
CCi-MOBILE: A Portable Real Time Speech Processing Platform for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Research.
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DOI：
10.1109/tbme.2021.3123241
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发表时间：
2022-03
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Hansen JHL
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Ghosh R;Ali H;Hansen JHL
实验硬件研究接口在任何医疗信号监测系统的开发阶段都发挥着至关重要的作用，因为它允许研究人员在完善实际FDA批准的医疗设备和大规模生产的设计之前测试和优化输出结果。这些测试平台接收原始信号，通过这些原始信号可以分析和修改新算法的性能，以生成优化输出所需的数据点，从而实现医疗器械的进步。随着人工耳蜗（CI）和助听器（HA）成为不同程度听力障碍的更常见解决方案，有必要对此类语音敏感系统进行现代信号处理策略测试。但是商业CI和HA处理器的严格设计要求使得难以探索用于研究调查和进行纵向研究的新算法。本研究介绍了CCi-MOBILE的设计、开发、临床评估和应用，CCi-MOBILE是一个为听力受损领域研究人员构建的计算功能强大的信号处理测试平台。定制的便携式研究平台允许研究人员离线和实时设计和执行复杂的语音处理算法评估。它可以通过用户友好的开源软件进行操作，并与Cobriar Corporation制造的植入物兼容。讨论了用于CI刺激的FPGA设计和硬件处理流水线，然后是在安静和嘈杂条件下植入用户的语音清晰度的急性研究结果。结果显示，与CI用户的临床处理器相比，性能水平一致，从而证实了该平台在基于CI的长期研究中的可行性。
Experimental hardware-research interfaces form a crucial role during developmental stages of any medical, signal-monitoring system as it allows researchers to test and optimize output results before perfecting the design for the actual FDA approved medical device and large-scale production. These testing platforms, intake raw signals through which performance of novel algorithms can be analyzed and modified to generate the desired data points for an optimized output, allowing the advancement of the medical device. With cochlear implants (CIs) and hearing aids (HAs) becoming a more common solution for varying degrees of hearing impairment, having modern signal processing strategies tested for such speech sensitive systems is a necessity. But the rigid design requirements of commercial CI and HA processors make it difficult to explore novel algorithms for research investigations and conducting longitudinal studies. This study presents the design, development, clinical evaluation, and applications of CCi-MOBILE, a computationally powerful signal processing testing platform built for researchers in the hearing-impaired field. The custom-made, portable research platform allows researchers to design and perform complex speech processing algorithm assessment offline and in real-time. It can be operated through user-friendly, open-source software and is compatible with implants manufactured by Cochlear Corporation. The FPGA design and hardware processing pipeline for CI stimulation is discussed followed by results from an acute study with implant users’ speech intelligibility in quiet and noisy conditions. The results show a consistent level of performance compared with CI users’ clinical processor, thus confirming the viability of the platform in chronic CI based studies.