Abstract: An exemplary system for synchronizing an operation of a middle ear analyzer and a cochlear implant system includes 1) a mapping facility configured to maintain mapping data representative of an association between a plurality of sound levels and a plurality of current levels and between a plurality of frequencies and a plurality of electrodes, 2) a detection facility configured to receive an acoustic signal transmitted by the middle ear analyzer and detect a sound level and a frequency of the acoustic signal, and 3) a processing facility configured to identify, based on the mapping data, a current level associated with the detected sound level and one or more electrodes associated with the detected frequency and direct the cochlear implant system to apply electrical stimulation having the identified current level to one or more stimulation sites within a patient by way of the identified one or more electrodes.

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: 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: 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 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: 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 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 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: 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 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: An exemplary apparatus for use with an auditory prosthesis system includes a housing, a connector port disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to be communicatively coupled to an auxiliary audio input device, a telecoil disposed at least partially within the housing, and a multi-position switch disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to selectively enable the auxiliary audio input device and the telecoil. The auxiliary audio input device is enabled and the telecoil is disabled when the switch is in a first position, both the auxiliary audio input device and the telecoil are enabled when the switch is in a second position, and the telecoil is enabled and the auxiliary audio input device is disabled when the switch is in a third position. Corresponding apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

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: 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 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: 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: 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 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 includes 1) identifying, by a cochlear implant system, an electrode included within an array of electrodes as being a disabled electrode, 2) selecting, by the cochlear implant system, at least two non-adjacent electrodes surrounding the disabled electrode, and 3) simultaneously applying, by the cochlear implant system, stimulation current to the at least two non-adjacent electrodes to compensate for a loss of stimulation resulting from the disabled electrode. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.