Abstract: An integrated headpiece for a cochlear implant system includes a microphone for outputting an audio signal; signal processing electronics for processing the audio signal; and a transmitter for transmitting a processed audio signal received from the electronics to an implanted receiver. All of the microphone, signal processing electronics, and transmitter are disposed in a common housing of the integrated headpiece. The headpiece may also be one of a set of headpieces that can be alternatively used as needed to suit power consumption requirements or environmental conditions.

Abstract: Sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed.

Abstract: A cochlear lead includes a plurality electrodes forming an electrode array configured to stimulate an auditory nerve from within a cochlea; a lead body connected to the electrode array; a plurality of wires passing through the lead body and connecting to the plurality of electrodes; an integrated wire carrier extending between an exit of the wires from the lead body and a first electrode in the electrode array, the integrated wire carrier comprising a cavity along its longitudinal axis configured to contain the plurality of wires and shape the plurality of wires into a wire bundle in which the plurality of wires passing through the integrated wire carrier are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the integrated wire carrier; and a flexible body encapsulating the integrated wire carrier and the wires.

Abstract: An exemplary method of acoustically controlling a cochlear implant system includes acoustically transmitting, by a remote control subsystem, a control signal comprising one or more control parameters, detecting, by a sound processing subsystem communicatively coupled to a stimulation subsystem implanted within a patient, the control signal, extracting, by the sound processing subsystem, the one or more control parameters from the control signal, and performing, by the sound processing subsystem, at least one operation in accordance with the one or more control parameters. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system includes an external module configured to be positioned external to and worn by a patient, the external module having an external microphone configured to detect an input audio signal presented to the patient, and an external speaker configured to acoustically transmit an audio signal representative of the input audio signal. The exemplary cochlear implant system further includes an implantable module configured to be implanted within the patient, the implantable module having an internal microphone configured to detect the acoustically transmitted audio signal, an internal sound processor configured to generate one or more stimulation parameters based on the acoustically transmitted audio signal, and an internal cochlear stimulator configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of the input audio signal to one or more stimulation sites within the patient in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters.

Abstract: An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes an auditory prosthesis configured to be implanted within a head of a patient and to apply electrical stimulation representative of an audio signal to one or more stimulation sites within the patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, a behind-the-ear sound processing unit configured to be secured to an ear of the patient and to transmit the one or more stimulation parameters to the auditory prosthesis, and a remote audio processor module separate from the behind-the-ear sound processing unit and communicatively coupled to the behind-the-ear sound processing unit via a communication link, the remote audio processor module configured to perform at least a portion of a signal processing heuristic on the audio signal in order to facilitate generation of the one or more stimulation parameters.

Abstract: A system for mechanically assisted insertion of an electrode includes: an insertion tool configured to insert the electrode into biological tissues; and a controller configured to control the insertion tool, in which the controller is further configured to select operating parameters comprising a maximum allowable force profile from a library of operating parameters, in which the maximum allowable force profile is generated from data recorded during a number of previous successful operations. Also, a method for insertion of a cochlear lead, includes: selecting operating parameters comprising a maximum allowable force profile from a library of operating parameters; inserting the cochlear lead while sensing real time force and position; and continuing the insertion while the real time force is below the maximum allowable force profile, in which the maximum allowable force profile is generated from data recorded during a number of previous successful operations.

Abstract: An electrical feedthrough includes a ceramic body and a ribbon via extending through the ceramic body, an interface between the ribbon via and the ceramic body being sealed using partial transient liquid phase bonding. The ribbon via extends out of the ceramic body and makes an electrical connection with an external device.

Abstract: A percutaneous cochlear implant system includes a cochlear stimulator configured to be coupled to an electrode lead, the electrode lead comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to be in communication with a plurality of stimulation sites within a cochlear region of a patient, a sound processor communicatively coupled to the cochlear stimulator and configured to control the cochlear stimulator to generate and apply electrical stimuli representative of an audio signal to at least one of the stimulation sites via at least one of the electrodes, a power source configured to provide power to at least one of the cochlear stimulator and the sound processor, and a percutaneous port configured to be percutaneously implanted within a head of the patient. The percutaneous port may be configured to house at least one of the power source, sound processor, and cochlear stimulator.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing component comprising a flexure; and a ceramic feedthrough attached to the flexure such that the flexure reduces transmission of forces from housing component to the ceramic feedthrough. According to one illustrative embodiment, the implantable medical device is a cochlear implant which includes a titanium feedthrough case made up of a body portion and a flexure; and a ceramic feedthrough being hermetically joined to the flexure by an active braze, the flexure reducing transmission of forces from the titanium feedthrough case to the ceramic feedthrough.

Abstract: A cochlear implant system includes a cochlear electrode array which has a flexible body with a distal end, a plurality of electrodes supported along a length of the flexible body, and a lumen formed in the flexible body. The cochlear implant system also includes a stiffening stylet which is fully inserted into the lumen prior to insertion of the electrode array into the cochlea. The stiffening stylet is configured such the stylet does not extend to the distal end of the flexible body and remains stationary within the lumen to prevent buckling of the electrode array during insertion of the electrode array through a cochleostomy and into the cochlea. The stiffening stylet is configured to be withdrawn from the lumen after the electrode array is positioned within the cochlea. A method for implanting an electrode array into a cochlea is also provided.

Abstract: An exemplary signal processing unit includes a plurality of filters configured to divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels, one or more detection stages configured to detect an energy level within each of said analysis channels, a selection stage configured to select one or more of said analysis channels for presentation to a patient, a synthesizer stage configured to synthesize said selected analysis channels, and a mapping stage configured to map said selected analysis channels to a number of stimulation channels within an implantable cochlear stimulator, wherein a total number of said analysis channels is greater than a total number of said stimulation channels.

Abstract: An implantable hermetic system includes a hermetic case and a hermetic feedthrough sealed into an aperture in the case. The hermetic feedthrough includes vias which form electrically conductive paths through the hermetic feedthrough. A header that includes integral interconnection contacts is attached to the case. The vias are electrically joined to the interconnection contacts.

Abstract: A microcircuit cochlear electrode array and process for the manufacture thereof, the electrode array comprising first and second flat microcircuits comprising a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending electrical conductors and longitudinally spaced electrode receiving pads extending laterally from the conductors, the first flat microcircuit being helically wrapped in a first direction along an axis with its longitudinally spaced electrode receiving pads exposed on an end of an outer surface hereof and the second flat microcircuit helically being wrapped in an opposite direction on and along an outer surface of the first helically wrapped microcircuit with its longitudinally spaced electrode receiving pads exposed on an outer surface thereof adjacent the exposed longitudinally spaced electrode receiving pads of the first microcircuit, and ring electrodes around and electrically secured to the electrode receiving pads of the first and second microcircuits.

Abstract: An impact resistant implantable antenna coil assembly comprising a flat antenna coil having a plurality of laterally separated turns of wire encapsulated with a non-orthogonal force absorbing coil reinforcement in a flexible biocompatible polymer and axially anchored with the reinforcement to a feedthrough case. Thus configured, non-orthogonal impact forces applied to the antenna coil assembly are absorbed and lateral components thereof that would otherwise be reflected as tensile forces in the plane of the coil are prevented from forming or from fracturing wire within the antenna coil.

Abstract: An electrode array design is provided which is intended for deep insertion into a human cochlea. The distal most portion of the lead can be very thin and flexible and have a wider arc than the remainder of the curved electrode array portion of the lead, which has a more aggressive arc. As a result, the distal most portion of the electrode array can be laterally positioned in a selected cochlear duct, whereas, concurrently, the remaining, more proximal part of the electrode array may be positioned medially (perimodiolar) within the cochlear duct.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently transmitting power using a high frequency (e.g., RF) telemetry transmitter are provided. The telemetry transmitter may include a fixed clock source (which may provide a fixed clock signal), telemetry phase shift circuitry (which may include switching circuitry and phase shifting circuitry), and a push-pull network. The telemetry phase shift circuitry generates a phase shifted clock signal that is phase shifted with respect to the fixed clock signal. The fixed and phase shifted clock signals may drive the switching circuitry to produce a high frequency signal that is passed through the push-pull network. The power or magnitude of the high frequency signal is based on the phase delay between the fixed clock signal and the phase shifted clock signal.

Abstract: A system for delivering therapeutic agents to biological tissue includes a surgically implantable lead configured to be inserted into the biological tissue, the surgically implantable lead including a preformed cavity; and a modular capsule containing a therapeutic agent which includes dexamethasone base; the modular capsule being secured within the preformed cavity; the modular capsule releasing the therapeutic agent into the biological tissue. A method of delivering therapeutic agents to biological tissue includes obtaining a surgically implantable lead with a preformed cavity; obtaining a modular capsule containing a therapeutic agent comprising dexamethasone base and securing it within the preformed cavity; and inserting the surgically implantable lead into the biological tissue.

Abstract: An assistive listening device cap attaches to a headpiece of a cochlear implant behind-the-ear (BTE) unit, an other BTE unit, an earhook, or an external component unit to supplement or replace components thereof. The cap may receive signals from sources outside the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit. The cap communicates with the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit using direct, wired, or wireless technology.

Abstract: Sound processing strategies for use with cochlear implant systems utilizing simultaneous stimulation of electrodes are provided. The strategies include computing a frequency spectrum of a signal representative of sound, arranging the spectrum into channels and assigning a subset of electrodes to each channel. Each subset is stimulated so as to stimulate a virtual electrode positioned at a location on the cochlea that corresponds to the frequency at which a spectral peak is located within an assigned channel. The strategies also derive a carrier for a channel having a frequency that may relate to the stimulation frequency so that temporal information is presented. In order to fit these strategies, a group of electrodes is selected and the portion of the current that would otherwise be applied to electrode(s) having a partner electrode in the group is applied to the partner electrode.