Abstract: Illustrative communication interfaces and protocols for multi-service data communication between a hearing device and an accessory are described herein. For example, an example hearing system may include a hearing device configured to be worn by a recipient, an accessory configured to interoperate with the hearing device while worn separately by the recipient, and a communication interface between the hearing device and the accessory. The communication interface may include two physical conductors configured to carry differential signaling generated in accordance with a frame protocol that defines a data frame configured to communicate a first dataset and a second dataset. The first dataset is associated with a first data service performed in accordance with a first quality-of-service. The second dataset is associated with a second data service performed in accordance with a second quality-of-service different from and incompatible with the first quality-of-service.

Abstract: A headpiece including a housing, a headpiece magnet carried by the housing, and a headpiece antenna carried by the housing.

Abstract: An illustrative system includes a sound processor configured to be worn by a patient and to direct a cochlear implant implanted within the patient to apply electrical stimulation to the patient; and a conductive contact configured to detect a signal representative of an evoked response generated by a brain of the patient, the conductive contact integrated with the sound processor so as to be located between the sound processor and an external surface of a head of the patient while the sound processor is worn by the patient.

Abstract: An exemplary spatial enhancement system performs frequency-specific localization and speech comprehension enhancement. Specifically, the system receives an audio signal presented to a recipient of a hearing device, and generates, based on the audio signal, a first frequency signal and a second frequency signal. The first frequency signal includes a portion of the audio signal associated with a first frequency range, and the second frequency signal includes a portion of the audio signal associated with a second frequency range. Based on the first and second frequency signals, the system generates an output frequency signal that is associated with the first and second frequency ranges and that is configured for use by the hearing device in stimulating aural perception by the recipient. This generating of the output frequency signal includes processing the first frequency signal to apply a localization enhancement and processing the second frequency signal to apply a speech comprehension enhancement.

Abstract: An exemplary electrode lead includes a flexible body formed of a flexible insulating material and that comprises a fantail region that connects to a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a recipient and that extends to a ground electrode located toward a proximal end of the electrode lead, an electrode contact disposed on a side of the flexible body, a coiled electrode wire provided within the flexible body so as to extend along a length of the flexible body and electrically connect the electrode contact to a signal source, and a coiled reinforcing element provided within the flexible body so as to extend together with the coiled electrode wire along the length of the flexible body. The coiled reinforcing element may only be provided within a proximal portion of the electrode lead. Corresponding methods of manufacturing an electrode lead are also described.

Abstract: An illustrative insertion management system may be configured to identify one or more attributes of a lead insertion procedure in which an electrode lead having a plurality of electrodes is inserted into a cochlea of a recipient of a cochlear implant; dynamically select, based on the one or more attributes of the lead insertion procedure, a first subset of electrodes included in the plurality of electrodes for inclusion in a monitoring electrode set, the monitoring electrode set configured to have less electrodes than a total number of the plurality of electrodes; monitor, during the lead insertion procedure, impedance values for electrodes included in the monitoring electrode set; and determine, during the lead insertion procedure and based on the monitoring, a positioning state of the electrode lead.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system includes a sound processor, a cochlear implant, and equalization circuitry integrated within the sound processor and/or the cochlear implant. The sound processor operates externally to a recipient and is associated with a sound processor coil. The cochlear implant includes a cochlear implant coil larger than the sound processor coil and that is configured to form a transcutaneous narrowband inductive link with the sound processor coil when the cochlear implant is implanted within the recipient. By way of the transcutaneous narrowband inductive link, the cochlear implant receives a forward telemetry signal incorporating power and forward telemetry data. The equalization circuitry facilitates recovery, by the cochlear implant, of the forward telemetry data from the forward telemetry signal by compensating for distortion introduced onto the forward telemetry signal as a result of bandwidth limitations imposed by the transcutaneous narrowband inductive link.

Abstract: An exemplary assembly may be adapted for insertion into a cochlea. The assembly may comprise a tubular element and an electrode lead having a flexible body and one or more electrode contacts located on the flexible body. The tubular element may comprise a lumen that extends along a length of the flexible body; and a plurality of fiber windings that wrap around and extend along the length of the tubular element. The plurality of fiber windings may include a first section having a first winding configuration and second section having a second winding configuration. In response to application of pressure within the lumen, the first section is configured to move in a first manner based on the first winding configuration and the second section is configured to move in a second manner based on the second winding configuration such that the electrode lead is steerable during insertion into the cochlea.

Abstract: An illustrative cochlear implant system includes an electrode lead having an array of electrodes, a cochlear implant coupled with the electrode lead and configured to be implanted within a recipient together with the electrode lead, and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant. The processing unit is configured to direct the cochlear implant to apply stimulation to the recipient by way of the array of electrodes. The processing unit is further configured to detect, by way of one or more electrodes included in the array of electrodes, a cortical potential produced by the recipient. Based on the detected cortical potential, the processing unit is configured to determine a fitting parameter associated with the cochlear implant system. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative system includes a coil configured to be positioned over a wound on a body and held in place on the body by a magnet implanted within the body; and a controller communicatively coupled to the coil, the controller configured to apply therapeutic electromagnetic pulses by way of the coil to the wound. Other systems and methods for providing therapeutic electromagnetic pulses to a recipient are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative scalar translocation detection system directs a loudspeaker to apply acoustic stimulation to a cochlear implant patient while an electrode lead is inserted into a cochlea of the cochlear implant patient. The system detects a first evoked response to the acoustic stimulation while an electrode is positioned at a first location in the cochlea and detects a second evoked response to the acoustic stimulation while the electrode is positioned at a second location in the cochlea. Then, based on at least one of an amplitude change or a phase change between the first and second evoked responses, the system determines that a scalar translocation of the electrode lead from one scala of the cochlea to another scala of the cochlea has occurred. Based on this determination, the system also notifies a user that the scalar translocation has occurred. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system may include a unit for capturing signals induced at electrodes of an electrode array in response to stimulation of a cochlea by applying auditory nerve stimulation signals to the electrodes; a memory unit for storing the captured signals and/or data derived from the captured signals; and an electrode migration detection unit for detecting electrode migration relative to the cochlea by comparing presently captured signals and/or data derived from such presently captured signals to stored previously captured signals and/or data derived from such previously captured signals.

Abstract: An illustrative radio frequency (RF) power control system includes an RF transmitter configured to operate external to a recipient, a cochlear implant configured to operate internal to the recipient based on RF power received from the RF transmitter, and a processor that, while operating in a power adaptation mode during which the cochlear implant applies stimulation to the recipient: 1) receives an audio signal, 2) directs the RF transmitter to provide the RF power to the cochlear implant at a power level determined based on the audio signal and based on a power level mapping function, 3) determines an error value representing a difference between a target metric and a measured metric associated with receipt of the RF power at the cochlear implant, and 4) updates the power level mapping function based on the error value. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method for manufacturing a self-curling cochlear electrode lead includes forming a shape memory polymer element that is configured to cause the cochlear electrode lead to transition to a curved spiral shape so as to conform with a curvature of the human cochlea when a temperature of the shape memory polymer element reaches a transition temperature, placing the shape memory polymer element within a cochlear electrode lead mold, attaching a wire included in a plurality of wires to each electrode contact included in a plurality of electrode contacts, placing the plurality of wires and the plurality of electrode contacts in the cochlear electrode lead mold, and providing the cochlear electrode lead mold with a flexible insulating material such that the shape memory polymer element, the plurality of wires, and the plurality of electrode contacts and embedded within the flexible insulating material after the flexible insulating material solidifies.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant alignment system includes a cochlear implant system and a component alignment presentation system. The cochlear implant system includes an electrode lead and a cochlear implant that generates a wireless back telemetry signal during an insertion procedure of the electrode lead into a cochlea of a receipt. The cochlear implant system also includes an external headpiece configured to detect the wireless back telemetry signal generated by the cochlear implant and a sound processor configured to generate a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) signal based on a signal strength of the detected wireless back telemetry signal. The component alignment presentation system includes a processing device configured to receive the RSSI signal from the sound processor and to present an indication of a degree of alignment of the headpiece with the cochlear implant to assist a user in 15 aligning the headpiece with the cochlear implant during the insertion procedure.

Abstract: An illustrative sound calibration system is configured to direct a loudspeaker to present a sound to a recipient by way of a length of tubing extending from the loudspeaker to an ear tip disposed at an ear canal of the recipient. The directing is configured to cause the sound to have a target sound pressure level at the ear canal. The system is further configured to obtain, from a probe microphone disposed within the ear tip, a detected sound pressure level of the sound as the sound is presented at the ear canal. The system is further configured to identify a discrepancy between the detected and target sound pressure levels of the sound as the sound is presented at the ear canal, and, based on the identified discrepancy, to direct a remedial action to be performed to compensate for the discrepancy. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a cochlear implant electrode array includes positioning a contact array assembly, which includes at least one carrier and a plurality of contacts on the at least one carrier, in a mold, removing at least a portion of the at least one carrier from the mold without removing the plurality of contacts from the mold, and introducing resilient material into the mold after the at least a portion of the at least one carrier has been removed to form a flexible body.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for use during a procedure associated with a cochlear implant includes a computing module and a base module configured to attach to a back side of the computing module and serve as a stand for the computing module. The computing module includes a display screen and a processor configured to execute a diagnostic application and direct the display screen to display a graphical user interface associated with the diagnostic application. The base module includes an interface unit configured to be communicatively coupled to the processor and to the cochlear implant while the base module is attached to the back side of the computing module.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrode array includes the steps of positioning a workpiece on a mold part defining an opening and a channel and having undercuts, compressing the workpiece into the mold part to form a contact, and introducing resilient material into the mold part to form a flexible body.

Abstract: A cochlear implant including a cochlear lead, an antenna, a stimulation processor, and a magnet apparatus, associated with the antenna, including a case defining a central axis, a magnet frame within the case and rotatable about the central axis of the case, and a plurality of elongate diametrically magnetized magnets that are located in the magnet frame, the magnets defining a longitudinal axis and a N-S direction and being freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the magnet frame.