Abstract: An exemplary system includes a sound processing unit configured to apply noise reduction to an audio signal in accordance with a noise reduction parameter, an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processing unit and configured to apply stimulation representative of the noise reduced audio signal to a patient via one or more electrodes, and a user input facility communicatively coupled to the sound processing unit and that facilitates manual adjustment of the noise reduction parameter.

Abstract: An exemplary bilateral auditory prosthesis system includes 1) a primary auditory prosthesis configured to be implanted on a first side of a head of a patient, 2) a secondary auditory prosthesis configured to be implanted on a second side of the head of the patient and to be communicatively coupled to the primary auditory prosthesis with one or more wires, the second side being contralateral to the first side, and 3) a sound processor configured to be communicatively coupled to the primary auditory prosthesis and to control an operation of the secondary auditory prosthesis by transmitting control data to the secondary auditory prosthesis by way of the primary auditory prosthesis and at least one wire included in the one or more wires. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method of lowering a pitch sensation as perceived by a cochlear implant patient includes 1) identifying a most apical electrode included in a plurality of electrodes disposed within a cochlea of the patient, 2) directing a cochlear implant communicatively coupled to the plurality of electrodes to apply one or more anodecathode biphasic stimulation pulses to the most apical electrode during a stimulation period, and 3) directing the cochlear implant to apply one or more cathode-anode biphasic stimulation pulses to one or more other electrodes included in the plurality of electrodes during the stimulation period. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a detection facility configured to detect an input sound level of an audio signal presented to an auditory prosthesis patient; and an adaptive gain control (AGC) facility configured to 1) determine whether the detected input sound level is in a quiet region, an intermediate region, or a loud region, and 2) apply a gain to the audio signal in accordance with an AGC gain function that specifies the gain to be substantially equal to or less than a first gain threshold if the detected input sound level is in the quiet region, substantially equal to or less than a second gain threshold if the detected input sound level is in the loud region, and greater than the first and second gain thresholds if the detected input sound level is in the intermediate region. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary speech processor configured to be used in a cochlear implant system includes signal processing circuitry that 1) separates an incoming audio signal into a plurality of channels, wherein each channel included in the plurality of channels includes a channel signal included in a plurality of channel signals and representing a portion of the audio signal, 2) selects one or more channel signals from the plurality of channel signals that have a spectral power that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the selected one or more channel signals corresponding to one or more channels included in the plurality of channels, and 3) designates only the one or more channels that correspond to the selected one or more channel signals to be used for stimulation representative of the incoming audio signal.

Abstract: A method for forming a connection between a wire and a pin includes placing a fixturing element over the pin, capturing the wire between an upper surface and a lower surface of the fixturing element, compressing the fixturing element to hold the wire around the pin and forming a fixed connection between the wire and the pin. A system for forming an electrical connection includes a pin, a fixturing element disposed around the pin, and a wire placed around pin and sandwiched between an upper surface and a lower surface of the fixturing element.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor apparatus included in an auditory prosthesis system includes 1) an interface assembly that includes at least a first contact, 2) a first switchable current source having an output coupled to the first contact of the interface assembly by way of a first data line, and 3) a control module that detects a connection of a battery module to the interface assembly by way of the first contact, enables the first switchable current source while the battery module is connected to the interface assembly, detects a logic level of the first data line while the first switchable current source is enabled and while the battery module is connected to the interface assembly, and identifies, based on the detected logic level of the first data line, a battery type associated with the battery module. Corresponding sound processor apparatuses, systems, and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a fitting facility configured to maintain data representative of a library of one or more sounds and data representative of a library of one or more environments, and 2) a detection facility configured to detect a selection by a user of a sound included in the library of one or more sounds an environment included in the library of one or more environments. The fitting facility is further configured to generate, based on the selected sound and the selected environment, an audio signal representative of an acoustic scene and use the audio signal to fit a cochlear implant system to a patient. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stylet for inserting an electrode array into a cochlea includes a first sensor insertable within a lumen of the electrode array and sensitive to force applied by a lumen wall to the first sensor and a first actuator adapted to move the electrode array in response to the force sensed by the first sensor.

Abstract: A hearing aid including a permanent magnet to be fixed at a patient's incus (26), an audio signal source (14), an audio signal processing unit (16) for processing audio signals from the audio signal source, a driver unit (18) including a coil (22) for generating a magnetic field (25) that vibrates the permanent magnet according to the processed audio signals in order to stimulate the patient's hearing, and a measurement arrangement (56, 58, 60) for measuring the magnetic coupling between the coil and the permanent magnet in order to adjust the position of the coil or the input signals to the coil provided by the driver unit.

Abstract: An auditory prosthesis device for neural stimulation of a patient's hearing having an audio signal input device; a sound processor for generating a neural stimulation signal; and an implantable stimulation assembly having plural stimulation channels for stimulation of the patient's hearing, the sound processor having a filter bank for dividing the input audio signal into plural analysis channels, each containing a frequency domain signal representative of a portion of the audio signal, a signal level determiner for each analysis channel for analyzing the respective frequency domain signal, a neural stimulation signal generator for each analysis channel, a mapping unit for allocating the analysis channels to the stimulation channels according to an adjustable mapping scheme, and a control unit for controlling the mapping unit such that a standard mapping scheme is used in a standard operation mode and a low bandwidth mapping scheme is used in a low bandwidth operation mode.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor apparatus included in an auditory prosthesis system includes 1) an interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that facilitates interchangeable connectivity of a plurality of external components to the sound processor apparatus, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that interacts with each of the external components by overloading each contact included in the plurality of contacts with a plurality of functions. Corresponding sound processor apparatuses, systems, and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor apparatus includes 1) an earhook interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that is configured to interchangeably connect to a microphone assembly and an EAS receiver assembly by way of the plurality of contacts, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that is configured to selectively operate in an input mode or in an output mode. While operating in the input mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as input ports to receive one or more audio signals detected by the microphone assembly while the microphone assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly. While operating in the output mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as output ports to output one or more EAS signals to the EAS receiver assembly while the EAS receiver assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a first sound processor included in a first auditory prosthesis system associated with a first ear of a patient, the first sound processor including a first volume control facility, and 2) a second sound processor included in a second auditory prosthesis system associated with a second ear of the patient, the second sound processor including a second volume control facility. The first volume control facility adjusts, in response to actuation of the first volume control facility, a first volume level perceived by the patient when electrical stimulation is applied by either the first auditory prosthesis system or the second auditory prosthesis system. The second volume control facility adjusts, in response to actuation of the second volume control facility, a second volume level perceived by the patient when acoustic stimulation is applied by either the first auditory prosthesis system or the second auditory prosthesis system.

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 system includes 1) an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) subsystem that directs a cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation to a patient, and directs a receiver to apply acoustic stimulation to the patient; and 2) a volume control subsystem communicatively coupled to the EAS subsystem and that facilitates independent control of a first volume level perceived by the patient when the electrical stimulation is applied and a second volume level perceived by the patient when the acoustic stimulation is applied.

Abstract: An exemplary method of optimizing speech and music perception by a bilateral cochlear implant patient includes identifying a first ear of a bilateral cochlear implant patient as being relatively more suited for processing speech than a second ear of the patient, directing a first cochlear implant subsystem associated with the first ear to operate in accordance with a first sound processing program configured to enhance speech perception by the patient, and directing a second cochlear implant subsystem associated with the second ear to operate in accordance with a second sound processing program configured to enhance music perception by the patient. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an auditory prosthesis device for neural stimulation of a patient's hearing, comprising means for providing an input audio signal, a sound processor for generating a neural stimulation signal from the input audio signal, an implantable stimulation assembly for stimulation of the patient's hearing according to the neural stimulation signal, and a control unit for controlling the sound processor, the control unit being adapted to control at least one parameter used in the generation of the neural stimulation signal from the input audio signal such that, during an adjustment period, the value of the at least one parameter is automatically changed from a first value to a second value as a function of the time having passed since a reference point in time.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system includes 1) a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a patient, 2) a sound processor configured to be located external to the patient and to direct the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, and 3) an implantable battery configured to be implanted within the patient and to provide operating power for the cochlear implant. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant includes a communication facility configured to receive at least a first data word and a second data word in series from a sound processor by way of a forward-telemetry link and a processing facility communicatively coupled to the communication facility and configured to 1) use the first data word to dynamically determine an address associated with an electrode by way of which a stimulation pulse is to be applied during a time slot of a stimulation frame and 2) use the second data word to determine an amplitude of the stimulation pulse that is to be applied by way of the electrode during the time slot of the stimulation frame. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.