Abstract: A system includes means for providing an input audio signal; a sound processor for generating an electric stimulation signal from the input audio signal; and a cochlear implant electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of stimulation channels for stimulating the cochlea according to the electric stimulation signal.

Abstract: A system having a device for neural stimulation of a patient's cochlea, an in-situ device for measuring a patient's response to the neural stimulation of the cochlea, and a programming unit for adjusting the stimulation device; the stimulation device having a stimulation signal unit for generating a stimulation signal formed of pulses having a shape determined by a shape parameter set including at least one shape parameter; a cochlear implant stimulation arrangement with a plurality of stimulation channels for stimulating the cochlea based on the stimulation signal; the measuring device providing patient-specific response data concerning the stimulation response to a programming unit that controls the stimulation signal unit by subsequently supplying a plurality of different test shape parameter sets to the stimulation signal unit for causing the stimulation signal unit to generate corresponding test pulses, the programming unit evaluating each test shape parameter set based on stimulation response data.

Abstract: An exemplary system may include a sound processor that is communicatively coupled to a cochlear implant implanted within a patient. The cochlear implant may include a current generation circuit (402) in series with a capacitor (418) and a voltage measurement circuit (422). The sound processor may 1) direct the cochlear implant to enable the current generation circuit for a time interval, causing a current to flow to the capacitor, 2) direct the cochlear implant to use the voltage measurement circuit to measure a voltage change across the capacitor that occurs during the time interval, and 3) determine a current level of the current that flows from the current generation circuit to the capacitor. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: An exemplary system may include a sound processor that provides radio frequency (RF) power and a cochlear implant that operates in accordance with the RF power. The cochlear implant may include a positive current source and a negative current source that may be electrically coupled to an electrode by way of a common node. The sound processor may 1) direct the cochlear implant to concurrently enable the positive and negative current sources in order to generate a current that has a first predetermined current level and that flows though the positive and negative current sources from a positive voltage supply to a negative voltage supply without providing stimulation to the electrode in a manner perceptible to the patient, and 2) determine a power level of the RF power that is required to generate the current having the first predetermined current level. Corresponding apparatuses and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant may include 1) a current source tied to a voltage supply and having an output that is electrically coupled to an electrode included in a plurality of electrodes, 2) a mirrored current source associated with the current source and that is commanded to output a commanded current, 3) a reference load coupled to an output of the mirrored current source and that forces the mirrored current source into an out-of-compliance state in which the mirrored current source outputs a reference current that is a predetermined percentage lower than the commanded current, the reference current resulting in a dynamic reference voltage at the output of the mirrored current source, and 4) a comparator that compares a voltage at the output of the current source with the dynamic reference voltage, and outputs a signal based on the comparison. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: Cochlear implant headpieces with improved antenna positioning.

Abstract: A hearing assistance device including a housing, a user manipulatable control element, and a printed circuit board having a flexible substrate, sound processor circuitry on the flexible substrate, and a variable resistor that is an integral part of the printed circuit board and/or is secured to the housing.

Abstract: An exemplary backup sound processor maintains data representative of a first set of sound processing programs associated with a first memory slot and with a plurality of cochlear implants, maintains data representative of a second set of sound processing programs associated with the second memory slot and with the plurality of cochlear implants, and detects a communicative coupling of the sound processor to a cochlear implant included in the plurality of cochlear implants. In response, the backup sound processor 1) determines an identifier unique to the cochlear implant, 2) determines that a program switch associated with the sound processor is in a first program switch position, 3) queries the first set of sound processing programs to identify a sound processing program included in the first set of sound processing programs that is associated with the determined identifier, and 4) operates in accordance with the identified sound processing program.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) sound processor located external to a patient, 2) a cochlear implant communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor and implanted within the patient, 3) an electrode array communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant and located within a cochlea of the patient, and 4) a receiver communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor and configured to be in communication with an ear of the patient. The EAS sound processor operates in accordance with an acoustic-only mode during a post-implant time period and detects audio content presented to the patient, directs the receiver to apply acoustic stimulation, and prevents the cochlear implant from applying electrical stimulation representative of audio content presented to the patient during the post-implant time period. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes a cochlear implant electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of stimulation channels; means for dividing an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels; means for establishing an electrode-nerve-interface model of hearing stimulation via the cochlear implant electrode arrangement; means for determining a signal level value and a noise level value for each analysis channel by analyzing the respective frequency domain signal; means for determining a noise reduction gain parameter for at least some of the analysis channels as a function of the signal level value and the noise level value of the respective analysis channel; means for applying noise reduction to the frequency domain signal according to the noise reduction gain parameters to generate a noise reduced frequency domain signal; and means for generating a stimulation signal for each of the stimulation channels according to the noise reduced frequency domain signal.

Abstract: Exemplary radio frequency (RF) transmitter circuits that provide power to an implant device are described. An exemplary RF transmitter circuit may be included in an apparatus located external to a patient and may be configured to dynamically adjust an amount of power that is provided to an implant device implanted within the patient.

Abstract: An exemplary EMG response detection system may be configured to 1) direct an implantable stimulator to sequentially present a plurality of substantially identical stimulation events to a patient, 2) record a plurality of EMG signals generated by a muscle in the patient and each corresponding to a presentation of a particular stimulation event included in the plurality of substantially identical stimulation events, 3) determine an asynchronous component of each of the recorded EMG signals, and 4) utilize the asynchronous components of the recorded EMG signals to determine whether an EMG response is evoked by the stimulation events.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient and comprising cochlear implant circuitry configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, 2) an implantable sound processor module configured to be implanted within the patient and comprising sound processor circuitry configured to optically transmit data and/or power to the cochlear implant circuitry, and 3) an optical connector assembly configured to facilitate removable coupling of the implantable sound processor module to the cochlear implant module by way of the optical connector assembly. The optical connector assembly comprises one or more optical fibers configured to facilitate the optical transmission of the data and/or the power from the sound processor circuitry to the cochlear implant circuitry while the implantable sound processor module is removably coupled to the cochlear implant module by way of the optical connector assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary system 1) presents, during a first time period, a tone in isolation to a patient by way of a receiver in communication with an ear of the patient, the tone having a predetermined frequency included in a frequency band, 2) presents, during a second time period, the tone together with a masking signal to the patient by way of the receiver, 3) uses an electrode located within an intracochlear region of the patient that is associated with the frequency band to record, during the first time period, a first evoked response that occurs in response to the presentation of the tone, and record, during the second time period, a second evoked response that occurs in response to the presentation of the tone together with the masking signal, and 4) determines, based on the first and second evoked responses, whether the intracochlear region is dead.

Abstract: An exemplary system may include an intracochlear electrode array configured to be inserted into a cochlea of a patient, an intraneural probe comprising an intraneural electrode contact and configured to be inserted into an auditory nerve of the patient, and a computing system. The computing system may be configured to identify an optimal insertion path for an intraneural electrode array into the auditory nerve of the patient by 1) repeatedly stimulating the intraneural electrode contact of the intraneural probe while the intraneural probe is advanced into the auditory nerve along a probe insertion path, 2) using the intracochlear electrode array to record a plurality of evoked responses that occur in response to the repeated stimulation of the intraneural electrode contact, and 3) determining, based on the plurality of evoked responses, whether the probe insertion path is the optimal insertion path for the intraneural electrode array.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor may include a stimulation management facility that 1) receives an audio signal presented to the patient during a normal operation of the cochlear implant system, and 2) directs a cochlear implant of the cochlear implant system to generate and apply an electrical stimulation pulse representative of the audio signal by way of an electrode included in a plurality of electrodes coupled to the cochlear implant. The sound processor may further include an impedance management facility that determines an impedance of the electrode by directing the cochlear implant to measure a voltage level associated with the electrode while the electrical stimulation pulse is being applied by way of the electrode. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: A cochlear implant system includes: an electrode array implanted within a cochlea; an internal processor in communication with the electrode array; an implanted antenna which is electrically coupled to the internal processor; and a modular external headpiece which is removably positioned over the implanted antenna, the modular external headpiece including a core containing a sound processor for processing sound and providing a corresponding signal to the implanted antenna; and a modular component configured to releasably engage the core and supply electrical power to the core.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a beamforming signal is disclosed. A beam forming signal is generated by disposing a first microphone and a second microphone in horizontal coplanar alignment. The first and second microphones are used to detect a known signal to generate a first response and a second response. The first response is processed along a first signal path communicatively linked to the first microphone, and the second response is processed along a second signal path communicatively linked to the second microphone. The first and second responses are matched, and the matched responses are combined to generate the beamforming signal on a combined signal path.

Abstract: A method for sterile packaging of a surface modified implantable device includes irradiating a surface of the device such that the hydrophobicity of the surface is decreased and, optionally, the device is simultaneously sterilized. The surface of the sterile, surface-modified implantable device is then covered in a polar solution to prevent hydrophobic recovery of the surface.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a cochlear lead is configured to stimulate an auditory nerve from within a cochlea. The electrode assembly includes a conductive support structure for supporting an electrode and having two wings that are folded toward each other to form a wire carrier for a bundle of wires of the cochlear lead; and at least one of the wings comprising a tab extending from that wing along a longitudinal axis of the cochlear lead to inhibit twisting of the cochlear lead.