Neubio & Its Technological Edge - Analog Signals Delivering a Pure Tone

“Technology is best when it brings people together”

                                                                              Matt Mullenweg

Hearing loss can be congenital or age-associated (mild, moderate & severe) having a strong impact on cognitive health. Hearing aids are useful in mild to moderate hearing loss, but they can be of little or no use in cases of profound hearing loss, here, cochlear implants step in as the ideal choice. An eminent presence in the cochlear implants industry, Neubio is committed to providing the most innovative technology, catering to the various needs of hearing-impaired individuals. With technology as its focal point, Neubio knows, “what’s on the inside that matters the most”.

Real-world is analog: Fundamentally nature is not digital

In the real world, nature is fundamentally analog. Starting from verbal communication to music, all naturally occurring or naturally produced sounds are analog. However, upon conversion to digital signals, these analog sounds lose their natural texture and become harsh, and eventually leading to a comparatively unpleasant sound. Understanding the importance and criticality of the analog signal, Texas instrumentation (TI), Semiconductor Research Center (SRC), and University of Texas (UT) established a joint venture, “The Texas Analog Center of Excellence” (TxACE) ⁽¹⁾. Touted to be the world’s largest analog research center based in an academic institution, it is also deemed as a world-class analog technology center for both traditional electronics and emerging applications, solely dedicated to analog-based innovative research ⁽¹⁾. Similarly, Neubio is dedicated to providing a full-spectrum sound, thus enabling the patients to experience analog signal-like sounds with natural tonality, in total, a dynamic hearing experience.

Neubio’s Analog advancement: Keeping Sound natural

Our ears are designated for analog signal reception. At Neubio, we understand this fundamental concept, and with our uncompromising analog signal-based audio technology, we are committed to delivering a true-to-life listening experience for every individual using our products, irrespective of their age and medical conditions.

Type of stimulation: Digital Vs Analog signal

Based on how the signals are received by the electrodes, and the type of stimulation, an implant can either be digital or analog. When the signals are received as analog signals or pulses, the stimulation is termed analog stimulation. In the case of an analog cochlear implant (analog stimulation type), an acoustic waveform in its electrical analog is delivered to the electrode, from where the nervous system sorts and uses the information contained in those electric waveforms.

What do researchers have to say about the analog signal?

Numerous studies have been conducted with sinusoidal (Analog) and digital (Pulsatile) stimulation and it was observed that analog signals-based cochlear implants outnumber (Performance wise) the pulsatile signal-based implants, in terms of providing acoustic (Natural) sound experience to the patient ⁽²⁾. Osberger and Fisher, (2000) ⁽²⁾ and Battmer, (2000) ⁽³⁾ conducted research on the following parameters :

• Performance of analog and pulsatile signal for speech processing ⁽²⁾
• Pre-lingual and post-lingual implantation and effects ⁽²⁾

In their study, speech stimulation strategies were classified into two different domains based on:

• Delivery of stimulus i.e. simultaneous, non-simultaneous, or both (Composite).
• Waveform presentation (Analog or Pulsatile)

It was observed that the cochlear implants equipped with the Analog strategy were better in terms of performance and stability (based on the 3-month evaluation to the 6-month evaluation reports) than the pulsatile ones. The implantation age was also a major factor in speech processing. Implantation carried out at the pre-lingual stage, had shown better results than when carried out at the post-lingual stage, and that to analog out-performed pulsatile at pre-lingual and post-lingual in both stages.

Many other pro-Analog findings from research carried out by Stupak et al, (2018); Eddington, (1980); Shannon, et al (1981) and Battmer, (2000) support analog signals (8) for a cochlear implant. Their findings are mentioned below, analog stimulation provides

• Full-spectrum, true-to-life sound
• The larger dynamic range of 12-51dB, whereas pulsatile stimulation work with a 5-7dB dynamic range.
• A shallow growth function for loudness and tonal difference for better sound.
• Smooth and soft, bell-like stimulation compared to “harsh” pulsatile stimulation.
• Analog stimulation enables open-set speech recognition, thus allowing the patient to enjoy even music without much hassle.
• “Deeper” sound quality.
• More pleasant, softer, and enhanced information-bearing capacity, than pulsatile stimulation, suitable for children.
• Analog out-performed Pulsatile system at both, pre-lingual as well as post-lingual implantations.

Neubio’s Analog Stimulation Based Cochlear Implant Holds the Future

With the past decade seeing tremendous research in the cochlear implant technology, the cochlear implants are writing a successful medical prosthesis story with salient features such as a less than 0.2% rejection rate, increased efficiency, and effectiveness, and a delightful listening experience (9). Neubio’s analog signal-based Cochlear implant has many advantages with it being the industry’s only electronic-free cochlear implant, making it a very safe choice, and its sound processing unit is analog-based, thus delivering a pure tone, making listening to music an enjoyable experience. Based on this sound technology patients are provided with a near-natural sound experience. The lightweight and chic appearance of the product, with additional features such as multiple-layer dust-proof and moisture resistant design, make it one of the best among the class, as the patient doesn’t have to fret about difficult maintenance or worry about the implant’s effect on routine activities. The patient does not have to worry about noise reductions and other hard codings by baggage or add-on software anymore, thanks to the autoscan feature and clearsound technology. While pulsatile signals are digitally coded and have to undergo complex coding to deliver quality sound, the uncompromising sound technology at Neubio uses state-of-the art technology to deliver a near-natural sound using analog signals, enabling the patient to hear the sound even in a noisy environment, thus making hearing a seamless process for them. With all these features and ease of use, Neubio is undoubtedly a revolution in the Cochlear Implant Industry.

References:

• https://engineering.utdallas.edu/engineering/news/archive/2018-summer/the-real-world-is-analog/
• Osberger MJ, Fisher L. New directions in speech processing: patient performance with simultaneous analog stimulation. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl. 2000 Dec;185:70-3. DOI: 10.1177/0003489400109s1230. PMID: 11141012.
• Battmer, R. D., Goldring, J. E., Kanert, W., Meyer, V., Bertram, B., & Lenarz, T. (2000). Simultaneous analog stimulation pilot pediatric study. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, 109(12_suppl), 58-60.
• Stupak, N., Padilla, M., Morse, R. P., & Landsberger, D. M. (2018). Perceptual differences between Low-Frequency analog and pulsatile stimulation as shown by single-and multidimensional scaling. Trends in Hearing, 22, 2331216518807535.
• Eddington D. K. (1980) Speech discrimination in deaf subjects with cochlear implants. Journal of Acoustical Society of America 68(3): 885–891.
• Shannon R. V. (1981) Growth of loudness for sinusoidal and pulsatile electrical stimulation. Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology Supplement 90(2 Pt 3): 13–14
• P. C. Loizou, "Mimicking the human ear," in IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 101-130, Sept. 1998, doi: 10.1109/79.708543.
• https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/29/technology/what-s-next-analog-over-digital-for-a-better-ear-implant-yes.html
• https://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/successes-gaps-and-challenges-in-18285

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