Abstract: A waterproof enclosure for a cochlear implant system or other hearing assistance device includes an outer housing, an inner support in the interior of the outer housing, an acoustic element supported by the inner support, and water-impermeable polymeric protective membrane sealing the interior of the outer housing against water ingress. A hearing device such as a cochlear implant sound processor, a headpiece, an earhook, or a hearing aid comprises an outer housing, an inner support in the interior of the outer housing, a microphone supported by the inner support, and a water-impermeable polymeric protective membrane sealing the interior of the outer housing against water ingress.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a sound processing subsystem 1) dividing an audio signal presented to an auditory prosthesis patient into a plurality of signals each representative of a distinct frequency portion of the audio signal and each contained within a distinct analysis channel included in a plurality of analysis channels, 2) determining a sound level of each signal included in the plurality of signals, and 3) setting an amount of noise reduction applied to each signal included in the plurality of signals in accordance with the determined sound level of each signal included in the plurality of signals. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system for loading a pre-curved electrode array onto a straightening member includes a loading tool and a straightening member. An exemplary loading tool may include a body and first and second flexible arms each having a fixed end connected to the body and a free end opposite the fixed end. The first and second flexible arms may define a straightening channel configured to constrain a pre-curved electrode array in a straightened configuration. The first and second flexible arms may be further configured to flex away from each other to receive the pre-curved electrode array into the straightening channel. The straightening member is configured to be inserted into the pre-curved electrode array while the pre-curved electrode array is in the straightened configuration and retain the pre-curved electrode array in the straightened configuration after the pre-curved electrode array is removed from the loading tool. Corresponding methods are also described.

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: Sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes an implantable cochlear stimulator implanted within a patient, a short electrode array coupled to the implantable cochlear stimulator and having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon, and a sound processor communicatively coupled to the implantable cochlear stimulator. The sound processor may direct the implantable cochlear stimulator to apply a main current to a first electrode included in the plurality of electrodes and associated with a first pitch, direct the implantable cochlear stimulator to concurrently apply, during the application of the main current, a compensation current to a second electrode included in the plurality of electrodes and associated with a second pitch, and optimize an amount of the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient that is distanced from the first pitch in a pitch direction opposite a pitch direction of the second pitch in relation to the first pitch.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a sound processor configured to process one or more audio signals and an implantable cochlear stimulator configured to apply stimulation representative of the one or more audio signals to a patient via a plurality of electrodes. In some embodiments, the sound processor directs the implantable cochlear stimulator to 1) apply a main current to a first electrode included in the plurality of electrodes and associated with a first pitch, 2) concurrently apply, during the application of the main current, a compensation current to a second electrode included in the plurality of electrodes and associated with a second pitch that is lower than the first pitch, and 3) adjust the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient, the target pitch being higher than the first pitch.

Abstract: An exemplary method of restoring a past configuration to a sound processor includes a fitting subsystem maintaining a configuration history including data representative of one or more past configurations of a sound processor, displaying a graphical depiction of the configuration history in a graphical user interface, receiving user input requesting that a past configuration within the one or more past configurations of the sound processor be restored to the sound processor, and utilizing data representative of the past configuration in the configuration history to restore the past configuration to the sound processor. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: Information can be stored in a cochlear stimulation system by determining an item of patient specific information, transferring the item of patient specific information to an implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system, and permanently storing the item of patient specific information in the implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system. The item of patient specific information can comprise a parameter for use in generating a stimulation current. The implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system also can be configured to permanently store one or more items of patient specific information in an alterable fashion. Further, an item of patient specific information can be retrieved from the implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system. Additionally, an item of non-patient specific information for use in processing a received acoustic signal can be determined and permanently stored in an external portion of the cochlear stimulation system.

Abstract: An implantable device includes an exterior gold surface and a thin film disposed on the exterior gold surface and forming a barrier between the exterior gold surface and an implanted environment, in which the thin film includes molecules with a head portion, the head portion attached to the exterior gold surface.

Abstract: An exemplary system for minimizing a perceptual disturbance caused by shorted electrodes in an auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor configured to determine that a first electrode and a second electrode included in a plurality of electrodes implanted in a patient are shorted together, detect that a main electrical stimulation pulse intended only for the first electrode is to be delivered by an auditory prosthesis to the first electrode, and direct, in response to the detecting, the auditory prosthesis to concurrently deliver the main electrical stimulation pulse to the first electrode and one or more compensating electrical stimulation pulses to one or more additional electrodes included in the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: An interconnect for connecting a sound processor to a headpiece and headpiece assemblies including the same. The interconnect comprises: a plug (236) including a center conductor (246), an outer conductor (242) and a crimp body (248); a coaxial cable (202) including a center conductor and an outer shield positioned over the crimp body (248); a ferrule (240) crimped to the crimp body with the outer shield there between; and a crimp pin (238) crimped to the cable center conductor and secured to the plug center conductor (246).

Abstract: An exemplary method includes 1) detecting, by an external module configured to be positioned external to and worn by a patient, an input audio signal presented to the patient, 2) acoustically transmitting, by the external module, an audio signal representative of the input audio signal, 3) detecting, by an implantable module configured to be implanted within the patient, the acoustically transmitted audio signal, 4) generating, by the implantable module, one or more stimulation parameters based on the acoustically transmitted audio signal, and 5) applying, by the implantable module, 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: Exemplary insertion tools, systems, and methods for inserting an electrode array portion of a lead into a bodily orifice are described herein. An exemplary insertion tool includes a handle assembly, a retractor assembly disposed at least partially within the handle assembly, and a slider assembly disposed at least partially within the handle assembly. The retractor assembly may include a stiffening member configured to be inserted into an electrode array portion and a spring-loaded retractor member coupled to the stiffening member and configured to move from a distal position to a proximal position to at least partially retract the stiffening member from the electrode array portion. The slider assembly may be configured to selectively retain the spring-loaded retractor member and further configured to release the spring-loaded retractor member to move from the distal position to the proximal position in response to actuation by a user of the slider assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes at least one computing device that 1) detects a user input command for a sound processor included in a cochlear implant system to perform one or more cochlear implant fitting operations, wherein the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the at least one computing device by way of a communication path, 2) directs, in response to the user input command, the sound processor to perform the one or more cochlear implant fitting operations, and 3) transmits, in response to the user input command, a signal to the sound processor by way of the communication path, the signal configured to direct the sound processor to display a visual cue prior to or simultaneously with the performance of the one or more cochlear implant fitting operations. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes 1) applying a main current to a first electrode disposed within a patient and associated with a first pitch, 2) concurrently applying a compensation current to a second electrode disposed within the patient and associated with a second pitch during the application of the main current, the compensation current being out-of-phase with the main current, and 3) optimizing an amount of the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient that is distanced from the first pitch in a pitch direction opposite a pitch direction of the second pitch in relation to the first pitch. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for converting one type of speech processor unit into another type of speech processor unit.

Abstract: Exemplary insertion tools, systems, and methods for inserting an electrode array portion of a lead into a bodily orifice are described herein. An exemplary insertion tool includes a handle assembly, a slider assembly, a retractor assembly disposed at least partially within the handle assembly, and a rocker lever. The retractor assembly may include a stiffening member configured to be inserted into the electrode array portion and a spring-loaded retractor member coupled at a proximal end of the stiffening member. The spring-loaded retractor member may be configured to move from a distal position to a proximal position to at least partially retract the stiffening member from the electrode array portion. The rocker lever may be configured to selectively retain the spring-loaded retractor member in the distal position. Corresponding tools, systems, and methods are also described.

Abstract: Exemplary insertion tools, systems, and methods for inserting a pre-curved electrode array portion of a lead into a bodily orifice are described herein. An exemplary insertion tool includes a handle assembly, a slider assembly, an insertion assembly coupled to the handle assembly, and a retractor assembly disposed at least partially within the handle assembly and configured to selectively couple to a straightening member inserted into the pre-curved electrode array portion and at least partially retract the straightening member from the pre-curved electrode array portion in response to actuation by a user of the slider assembly. The retractor assembly may comprise a spring-loaded retractor member configured to move from a distal position to a proximal position in response to actuation by the user of the slider assembly to at least partially retract the straightening member from the pre-curved electrode array portion. Corresponding insertion tools, systems, and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary signal processing unit includes 1) a microphone configured to detect one or more acoustic signals, 2) processing circuitry configured to process the one or more acoustic signals, and 3) a port configured to receive one or more electrodes that are configured to be placed on an outer surface of the head of a patient and to detect one or more central auditory potentials. The processing circuitry may be further configured to process the detected central auditory potentials.