Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for a stimulator unit in a medical device, such as an implantable component of a cochlear implant. In embodiments, the stimulator unit comprises a bottom wall configured to be substantially contacting a temporal bone of a recipient, and a top wall positioned opposite the bottom wall, wherein a cross section of the stimulator unit has an outer profile substantially parallel to the bottom wall and the top wall.

Abstract: An alert system detects when an auditory prosthesis recipient is wearing her sound processor. When the processor is not worn, the alert system signals a secondary device, such as an accessory, to provide some other form of tactile stimulation to allow the recipient to be made aware of certain auditory stimuli she is not receiving via the auditory prosthesis. Thus, the alert system can effectively “hear” for the recipient. Since many auditory prosthesis recipients are, for all practical purposes, completely deaf without their external sound processors attached and operational, such an alert system increases the recipient's safety, convenience, and quality of life.

Abstract: A magnetic alignment system that can form part of a cochlear implant system. The magnetic alignment system prevents substantial movement of a magnet of an implanted component during an MRI procedure or allows for easy removal of the magnet to facilitate the MRI procedure.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to impedance spectroscopy in an active implantable medical device (AIMD) comprising a component with one or more electrodes. In an embodiment, the AIMD applies a signal at a plurality of frequencies using one or more of the electrodes. Measurements are then obtained for the applied signal to determine impedance(s) at the applied frequencies of the tissue in which the electrodes are located.

Abstract: An external component including a vibratory portion configured to vibrate in response to a sound signal to evoke a hearing percept via bone conduction and including a coupling portion configured to removably attach the external component to an outer surface of skin of a recipient of the hearing prosthesis while imparting deformation to the skin of the recipient at a location of the attachment, in a one-gravity environment, of an amount that is about equal to or equal to that which results from the external component having mass.

Abstract: An external component of a medical device, including an actuator including a static magnetic flux path that reacts with a dynamic magnetic flux path to actuate the actuator, and a magnetic retention system configured to retain the external component to a recipient via interaction with a ferromagnetic component attached to a recipient, the magnetic retention system including a magnetic flux path that encircles the static magnetic flux path of the actuator.

Abstract: A method, including sequentially activating a plurality of respective electrode pairs of an implanted cochlear implant, at least one of the electrodes of the respective electrode pairs being a respective electrode of an electrode array implanted in a cochlea, thereby generating respective localized electric fields, concurrently respectively measuring, for the plurality of activated respective electrode pairs, an electrical characteristic between the respective electrodes of the respective electrode pairs resulting from the respective localized electric fields, thereby obtaining a measurement set, determining, from the measurement set, a distance between the electrode array and a wall of the cochlea.

Abstract: Medical devices allow for the complete removal of a portion of an implantable component that contains a magnet. Such structure allows a recipient to undergo MRI procedures without interference from the implanted magnet. The magnet can also be contained within a larger, non-magnetic chassis that acts as an enlarged lever arm having a greater torque resistance against the generated magnetic forces.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrode array is disclosed, the method comprising: forming an elongate comb structure comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced electrode contacts extending from and supported by a spine; electrically connecting each of a plurality of electrically conductive pathways to a respective one of the plurality of electrode contacts; placing the conductive pathways adjacent the contacts; placing silicone over the conductive pathways and contacts; curing the silicone so as to substantially retain the longitudinal spacing between neighboring contacts; and severing the spine from the plurality of electrode contacts.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for adapting settings/operations of a remote microphone device associated with an auditory prosthesis based on a desired/preferred listening direction of a recipient of the auditory prosthesis. More specifically, an auditory prosthesis worn by a recipient and a remote microphone device, which are configured to wirelessly communicate with one another, are both positioned in the same spatial area. At least one of a recipient-specified (e.g., recipient-preferred) region of interest within the spatial area, or a recipient-specified listening direction, is determined. Based on a determined relative positioning (e.g., location and orientation) of the remote microphone device and the auditory prosthesis, operation of the remote microphone device is dynamically adapted so that the remote microphone device can focus on (e.g., have increased sensitivity to) sounds originating from the recipient-specified region of interest/listening direction.

Abstract: A medical implant, such as an implantable component (22) of a tissue-stimulating prosthesis. One example of such a prosthesis being a cochlear implant. The component (22) is adapted to be implanted at or adjacent a tissue surface within the recipient, such as a bone surface. The component (22) has a housing and at least one flange (42) extending outwardly therefrom. The flange (42) can be secured to the tissue surface via a tissue fixation device, such as a bone screw (43).

Abstract: An implanted microphone is provided that allows for isolating an acoustic response of the microphone from vibration induced acceleration responses of the microphone. The present invention measures the relative motion between a microphone diaphragm, which is responsive to pressure variations in overlying media caused by acoustic forces and acceleration forces, and a cancellation element that is compliantly mounted within a housing of the microphone, which moves primarily in response to acceleration forces. When the microphone and cancelation element move substantially in unison to acceleration forces, relative movement between these elements corresponds to the acoustic response of the microphone diaphragm. This relative movement may be directly measured using various optical measuring systems.

Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer, including a plurality of static flux paths, and a plurality of dynamic flux paths, wherein at least two of the plurality of static flux paths lie in respective first planes parallel and offset from one another, at least two of the plurality of dynamic flux paths lie in respective second planes parallel and offset from one another, and the first planes and the second planes are arrayed so as to establish at least a general tic-tac-toe lattice.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the sensory outcome of a recipient of a sensory prosthesis in an ambient environment that includes one or more controllable network connected devices. The sensory outcome of the recipient in the environment is used to make operational changes to the one or more controllable network connected devices in order to create an improved environment for recipient.

Abstract: A button sound processor, including an RF coil, such as an inductance coil, and a sound processing apparatus and a magnet, which can be a permanent magnet, wherein the button sound processor has a skin interface side configured to interface with skin of a recipient, and the button sound processor is configured such that the magnet is installable into the button sound processor from the skin interface side.

Abstract: A device, including an electromagnetic transducer including a bobbin having a space therein, a connection apparatus in fixed relationship to the bobbin configured to transfer vibrational energy directly or indirectly at least one of to or from the electromagnetic transducer, and a passage from the space to the connection apparatus.

Abstract: An external portion of an auditory prosthesis includes an external magnet that interacts with an implanted magnet to hold the external portion against the skin of a recipient. A magnetic component can be disposed proximate either or both of the external magnet or implanted magnet to channel the magnetic field associated therewith. The magnetic component can be moved relative to its associated magnet so as to adjust the magnetic field, and thus, the retention force between the magnets.

Abstract: A transcutaneous bone conduction device includes magnets secured to housing of an external portion of the device. The magnets can be disposed within the housing, or secured to an external surface thereof. The magnets are disposed about a shaft that delivers vibrational stimuli to a recipient so as to evenly deliver the stimuli.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and computing devices for fitting bilateral hearing prostheses. An example method includes sending a signal to a first hearing prosthesis and a second hearing prosthesis. The signal causes the first hearing prosthesis to deliver a first stimulus to a body part in a left auditory pathway of a user. The signal also causes the second hearing prosthesis to deliver a second stimulus to a body part in a right auditory pathway of the user. The first stimulus and the second stimulus cause the user to perceive a sound and are delivered simultaneously. The method also includes receiving an indication of a perception of the sound by the user. The method further includes determining an adjustment to at least one of the first stimulus or the second stimulus based on the perception of the sound by the user.

Abstract: A prosthetic system, comprising a first sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on a first principle of operation, and a second sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on at least one of the first principle of operation or a second principle of operation different from the first principle of operation, wherein the first and second sub-systems are configured to independently process respective inputs indicative of an ambient sound to harmonize an estimated recipient perception of magnitude of a property of the respective evoked hearing percepts.