Abstract: Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of a head mountable power supply to power an implantable cochlear stimulator.

Abstract: Cochlear implant headpieces with improved moisture resistance.

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 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: A cochlear implant including a cochlear lead, an antenna, a stimulation processor, and a magnet apparatus, associated with the antenna, including a case defining a central axis, a magnet frame within the case and rotatable about the central axis of the case, and a plurality of elongate diametrically magnetized magnets that are located in the magnet frame, the magnets defining a longitudinal axis and a N-S direction and being freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the magnet frame.

Abstract: An exemplary stimulation configuration management system may 1) obtain electric field imaging (EFI) data for a plurality of stimulation configurations associated with an electrode included in an intracochlear electrode array that is a part of a cochlear implant system associated with a patient, 2) identify, based on the EFI data, a stimulation configuration included in the plurality of stimulation configuration and that focuses an electric field produced by current applied to the electrode more than any other stimulation configuration included in the plurality of stimulation configurations, and 3) direct the cochlear implant system to use the identified stimulation configuration for the electrode during a normal operation of the cochlear implant system.

Abstract: A thin profile impact resistant cochlear implant includes a single piece machined case having a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface is concave and a single piece machined cover configured to be joined to the case, the cover comprising a convex upper surface. A method for forming thin profile cochlear implant is also provided.

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 system includes 1) a stimulation management facility configured to direct an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) system to concurrently apply acoustic stimulation to a patient by way of a loudspeaker and electrical stimulation to the patient by way of an electrode, and 2) a fitting facility communicatively coupled to the stimulation management facility and configured to detect an interaction between the acoustic stimulation and the electrical stimulation, and set one or more control parameters governing an operation of the EAS system based on the detected interaction. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient and including cochlear implant circuitry configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, 2) a first connector assembly coupled to the cochlear implant module and configured to be implanted within the patient, the first connector assembly including a first induction coil, 3) an implantable module configured to be implanted within the patient, and 4) a second connector assembly coupled to the implantable module and configured to be implanted within the patient, the second connector assembly including a second induction coil. The first connector assembly may be configured to be removably connected to the second connector assembly in order to facilitate inductive transfer of power between the first induction coil and the second induction coil. Corresponding systems are also disclosed.

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: A system for retaining a magnet in a cochlear implant, comprising a retainer embedded within an encapsulant of the cochlear implant, and a magnet case engaged with the retainer. A retainer for retaining a magnet within a cochlear implant comprising a number of first fasteners that couple with a number of corresponding second fasteners of a magnet case hermetically sealing the magnet, and a number of supports embedded within an encapsulant of the cochlear implant.

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, 3) a differential transmitter having an output coupled to the first contact of the interface assembly by way of the first data line, 4) a differential receiver having an input coupled to the first contact of the interface assembly by way of the first data line, and 5) a control module communicatively coupled to the first switchable current source, the differential transmitter, and the differential receiver and configured to selectively operate in a component type detection mode and in a programming mode. Corresponding sound processor apparatuses, systems, and methods are also described.

Abstract: A system for stimulation of a patient's ipsilateral cochlea, having at least two spaced apart patient-worn microphones for providing first and second audio signals from ambient sound; a sound processor for generating an ipsilateral auditory nerve stimulation signal in a plurality of output channels from at least one of the input audio signals; and a stimulation assembly for being implanted within the ipsilateral cochlea and having a plurality of stimulation channels for ipsilateral stimulation of the patient's hearing according to the ipsilateral auditory nerve stimulation signal. The sound processor comprising a DOA unit for determining periodically a main direction of incidence of ambient sound from a sound source by analyzing the first and second audio signals, and a directional information coding unit for coding information concerning the determined main direction of incidence in the ipsilateral auditory nerve stimulation signal in manner to enable the patient to localize the sound source.

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: A power supply system used in a hearing assistance device including a housing including a battery storage region, a first removable battery holder including a first latch having a first latch configuration and configured to fit within the battery storage region and to hold at least one battery, and a second removable battery holder including a second latch having a second latch configuration that is different that the first latch configuration and configured to fit within the battery storage region and to hold at least one battery.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a programming device configured to be located external to a cochlear implant patient and communicatively coupled to a cochlear implant system associated with the patient, 2) a programming interface device communicatively coupled to the programming device and configured to be located external to the patient, and 3) a receiver communicatively coupled directly to the programming interface device. The programming device directs at least one of the cochlear implant system and the receiver to apply stimulation to the patient, records an evoked response that occurs in response to the stimulation, and performs a predetermined action in accordance with the evoked response. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a system comprising a first device for neural stimulation of a cochlea of a patient's ipsilateral ear; a second hearing stimulation device selected from the group consisting of a device for neural stimulation of the cochlea of the patient's contralateral ear, a device for acoustic stimulation of the patient's ipsilateral ear and a device for acoustic stimulation of the patient's contralateral ear and comprising means for stimulation of the respective ear; and a fitting device for adjusting at least one of the first stimulation device and the second stimulation device according to a response of the patient to combined stimulation by the first stimulation device and the second stimulation device.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a sound processor associated with a patient, a first microphone communicatively coupled to the sound processor and configured to detect an audio signal presented to the patient and output a first output signal representative of the audio signal, and a second microphone communicatively coupled to the sound processor and configured to detect the audio signal presented to the patient and output a second output signal representative of the audio signal. The sound processor is configured to 1) receive the first and second output signals, 2) determine that a difference between the first and second output signals meets a threshold condition, and 3) perform, in response to the determination that the difference between the first and second output signals meets the threshold condition, a predetermined action associated with the quality level of the first microphone. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a sound processor associated with a patient and a microphone (102). The microphone is configured to detect an audio signal presented to the patient and output an output signal (302) representative of the audio signal. The sound processor is configured to 1) receive the output signal, 2) identify at least one temporal portion of the output signal that has a classification attribute associated with a reference signal, 3) determine (304) a signal characteristic value (306) associated with the at least one temporal portion, 4) determine (308) that a difference (312) between the signal characteristic value associated with the at least one temporal portion and a reference signal characteristic value (310) associated with the reference signal meets a threshold condition, the meeting of the threshold condition indicating that a quality level of the microphone is below an acceptable level and 5) perform a predetermined action associated with the quality level of the microphone.