Abstract: A multi-component system includes a first component housing a first conductive pad, a second conductive pad, and a first portion of a loop antenna that terminates on one side at the first conductive pad and on another side at the second conductive pad. The multi-component system further includes a second component housing a third conductive pad, a fourth conductive pad, and a second portion of the loop antenna that terminates on one side at the third conductive pad and on another side at the fourth conductive pad. The second component is distinct from, and configured to detachably couple with, the first component such that the first and third conductive pads, and the second and fourth conductive pads, respectively form first and second non-galvanic couplings that capacitively couple the first and second portions of the loop antenna while the first and second portions of the loop antenna remain galvanically separated.

Abstract: A device includes a voltage source configured to selectively drive a first wire and a second wire with a first voltage level. The device further includes an adjustable current source configured to selectively discharge the first and second wire. The device further includes a control circuit configured to output data and power by way of the first and second wire by selectively coupling the first wire to the voltage source and the second wire to the adjustable current source such that, during a first time period, the first wire has the first voltage level and the second wire has a second voltage level. The data and power is output by also selectively switching the couplings of the first time period such that, during a second time period subsequent to the first time period, the first wire has the second voltage level and the second wire has the first voltage level.

Abstract: A cochlear including a housing, an antenna, a stimulation processor operably connected to the antenna, and an electrode array, operably connected to the stimulation processor, including a flexible body defining a longitudinal axis, a proximal region and a distal region, a plurality of electrically conductive contacts on the flexible body, and at least one stiffener within the flexible body.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrode array includes the steps of positioning a workpiece on a mold part, 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: An amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation system includes a linear regulator circuit powered by input direct current (DC) power at a first voltage level and that generates regulated DC power at a second voltage level tracking the first voltage level. The system also includes an intermediate DC power switching circuit that receives a digital data signal and selectively couples an intermediate power node with the input DC power at the first voltage level when the digital data signal represents a first binary value, and with the regulated DC power at the second voltage level when the digital data signal represents a second binary value. The ASK modulation system also includes a radio frequency (RF) driver circuit powered by intermediate DC power received at the intermediate power node and that delivers RF output power representative of the digital data signal to a load at an RF carrier frequency.

Abstract: A cochlear implant exomagnet that includes a magnet apparatus and a magnet mount configured to secure the magnet apparatus to a cochlear implant in such a manner that the magnet apparatus is not located within the internal magnet pocket of the cochlear implant.

Abstract: An exemplary monitoring system 1) receives a user input command to begin monitoring evoked responses that occur in response to acoustic stimulation during an insertion procedure in which a lead that is communicatively coupled to a cochlear implant is inserted into a cochlea of a patient, the lead having an array of intracochlear electrodes and an extracochlear electrode, the extracochlear electrode physically and communicatively coupled to a probe that is also communicatively coupled to the monitoring system, 2) directs, in response to the user input command, the cochlear implant to short an intracochlear electrode with the extracochlear electrode, 3) presents the acoustic stimulation to the patient, and 4) records the evoked responses that occur in response to the acoustic stimulation by using the intracochlear electrode to detect signals representative of the evoked responses and receiving the detected signals by way of the extracochlear electrode and the probe.

Abstract: A fixation device for use with an implantable medical device includes a body member comprising a contact surface shaped to conform to an outer surface of the implantable medical device, an adhesion element provided on a contact surface of the body member and configured to attach the body member to the outer surface of the implantable medical device, and an anchor member extending from the body member and having a hole for securing the fixation device to a human body while the body member is attached to the outer surface of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: An exemplary passive acoustic proximity detection system is configured to determine a first acoustic spectrum of a first signal representative of audio detected and output by a first microphone configured to be positioned at an ear canal entrance of a user. The detection system is further configured to determine a second acoustic spectrum of a second signal representative of audio detected and output by a second microphone configured to be located away from the ear canal entrance. Based on a comparison of the first acoustic spectrum and the second acoustic spectrum, the detection system is configured to generate a proximity indicator indicative of a proximity of an object to the first microphone. Based on the proximity indicator, the detection system is configured to select a signal processing program for execution by the passive acoustic detection system.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a sound processor apparatus that is configured for external use by a patient and includes 1) a position sensor that detects a positioning of the sound processor apparatus and 2) a control module that is communicatively coupled to the position sensor and performs a predetermined action with respect to the system in accordance with the detected positioning of the sound processor apparatus. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

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: Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of distributed power without the use of a headpiece.

Abstract: A cochlear including a housing, an antenna, a stimulation processor operably connected to the antenna, and an electrode array, operably connected to the stimulation processor, including a flexible body defining a longitudinal axis, a proximal region and a distal region, a plurality of electrically conductive contacts on the flexible body, and at least one stiffener within the flexible body.

Abstract: A neural stimulation system comprises a microphone arrangement for capturing an audio signal from ambient sound, a sound processor unit, a headpiece, and an implantable neural stimulator, the sound processor unit comprising a housing to be worn behind a patient's ear or at a patient's body, and a signal processing unit within the sound processor unit housing for generating a neural stimulation signal from the captured audio signal, the sound processor being communicatively coupled to the headpiece for supplying the neural stimulation signal to the headpiece, the headpiece comprising a housing separate from the housing of the sound processor and to be fixed at the patient's head, a signal transmission unit for transmitting the neural stimulation signal to a signal receiving unit of the implantable cochlear stimulator, and a user interface for controlling operation of the sound processor unit.

Abstract: A headpiece for use with a cochlear implant includes a headpiece housing, a microphone within the headpiece housing, an induction coil within the headpiece housing that transmits audio signals to the cochlear implant, signal processing electronics, within the headpiece housing and operably connected to the microphone and to the induction coil, that generate stimulation parameters, and a rechargeable battery operably connected to the induction coil such that the induction coil provides energy to charge the rechargeable battery when the induction coil is inductively coupled to a transmitter coil through which current is passing.

Abstract: An exemplary connection joint includes a wire constructed from a first conductive material having a first melting point and a pad constructed from a second conductive material different from the first conductive material and having a second melting point lower than the first melting point. The connection joint further includes a groove within the pad that partially surrounds the wire and a fixative covering the wire and the pad so as to fix the wire in place within the groove. The groove is formed by a displacement of the second conductive material that occurs when the wire is in contact with the pad at a contact area of the pad that is heated to a temperature between the first and second melting points so as to reflow the second conductive material from which the pad is constructed without reflowing the first conductive material from which the wire is constructed.

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

Abstract: A sound processor assembly included within a cochlear implant system includes a sound processor and a battery assembly. The sound processor includes a physical computing device configured to direct operation of a cochlear implant in accordance with a sound processing program associated with a cochlear implant implanted within a patient. The battery assembly includes an electric battery configured to provide electrical power to the sound processor, as well as a storage facility configured to store the sound processing program associated with the cochlear implant. The storage facility is integrated with the electric battery within the battery assembly. The sound processor assembly also includes a bidirectional communication interface communicatively coupling the battery assembly to the sound processor to allow the sound processor to store data to, and to retrieve stored data from, the storage facility of the battery assembly by way of the bidirectional communication interface.

Abstract: A method, for use with an implantable medical device, including the steps of stretching a mounting tab in such a manner that an aperture on the mounting tab increases in size and separating the mounting tab from a bone anchor by moving the stretched mounting tab in such a manner that the bone anchor does not extend through the aperture in the mounting tab.

Abstract: A communication device comprises a wireless data interface including a radio transceiver and a controller for controlling the transceiver according to a first frequency hopping protocol comprising a first plurality of frequency channels within a first frequency range and according to a second frequency hopping protocol comprising a second plurality of frequency channels within a second frequency range, wherein the first frequency range and the second frequency range overlap at least in part. The controller is configured to temporarily disable part of the frequency channels for the first protocol in case that radio interference is recognized for those frequency channels, with the disabled frequency channels for that first protocol being stored. The controller is also configured to retrieve the disabled frequency channels of the first protocol and to disable, at least for a predetermined initial time period, at least part of those disabled frequency channels also for the second protocol.