Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for engaging in monitoring of audio signals received and processed by a hearing prosthesis. In accordance with one embodiment, a method includes a monitoring device detecting a trigger event, in response to the detecting, the monitoring device transmitting to a hearing prosthesis an instruction to switch transmission modes, and in response to the transmitting, the monitoring device receiving from the hearing prosthesis an audio stream.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, including a magnet and a body encompassing the magnet, wherein the implantable medical device includes structural components in the body configured to move away from one another upon initial rotation of the magnet relative to the body when the magnet is subjected to an externally generated magnetic field, thereby limiting rotation of the magnet beyond the initial rotation.

Abstract: A binaural hearing device adapted to assist a recipient to segregate sounds from local and remote sources. Segregation can be achieved with two environmental microphones that are configured to mix right/left ambient sounds and divert them to the ear on one side of the recipient.

Abstract: A method of forecasting subjective efficacy of a hearing prosthesis implanted in a recipient, including subjecting a recipient to a plurality of temporally spaced aural training tasks, the aural training tasks evoking hearing percepts with the hearing prosthesis, obtaining first data indicative of the recipient's ability to hear with the hearing prosthesis based on performance by the recipient of the temporally spaced aural training tasks, and forecasting second data based on the first data, wherein the second data are indicative of the recipient's ability to hear with the hearing prosthesis at one or more temporal locations in the future.

Abstract: A device including a prosthesis including an external component configured to output a signal in response to an external stimulus and a skin penetrating component configured to communicatively transfer the signal at least partially beneath skin of the recipient, wherein the device is configured such that the skin penetrating component can move in a plurality of degrees of freedom relative to the external component while retained to the external component.

Abstract: A device, including a vibratory apparatus having an actuator configured to generate vibrations upon actuation of the actuator, including plurality of lever arms, wherein the vibratory apparatus is configured such that at least a respective portion of respective lever arms of the plurality of lever arms move about at least one of a single or a respective hinge when the vibratory apparatus is generating vibrations.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for insertion of implantable medical devices, and more particularly to insertion of implantable devices with a vibrating insertion tool. More specifically, a vibrating insertion tool is described, the insertion tool comprising an insertion tool controllable by a user to support and guide movement of an object, the insertion tool comprising an elongate arm having a proximal end region and a distal end region, the distal end region having a receiving region, a user-controllable vibration source for generating vibrations in accordance with a selected vibration profile, and an elongate rigid spine, connected to the vibration source and the receiving region, configured to deliver the vibrations to the receiving region.

Abstract: Presented herein are transcutaneous bone conduction devices having seismic mass actuators that impart vibration to a recipient's skull via relative movement of an associated seismic mass and a coupling mass. The vibration may be generated based on sound signals received at one or more microphones that are suspended from the seismic mass.

Abstract: An implantable actuator system is disclosed. The system comprises a hermetically sealed housing; an actuator positioned in the housing, the actuator having at least one element displaceable relative to the housing; a coupling element connecting the actuator to the recipient's ear; and a diaphragm positioned at an end of the housing to provide a hermetic seal between the coupling element and the housing, wherein the diaphragm has sufficient flexibility to permit the coupling element to transmit vibrations to or from the actuator, wherein a liquid is positioned around the displaceable element of actuator to dampen the frequency response of the actuator, and in certain aspects, to make the system insensitive to differences in pressure between inside and outside of the housing.

Abstract: A system for cleaning mating parts of an implantable connector includes an implantable connector and a cleaning structure. The implantable connector includes first and second detachable mating parts configured: to be implantable in living tissue; to terminate at least a first segment of a cable; and to have with first and second interfacing surfaces, respectively. The clean structure includes: a cleaning structure configured to clean the first and second interfacing surfaces as the first and second mating parts are being engaged.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for configuring a stimulation unit of a hearing device by determining whether the stimulation unit can process received stimulation data. In an example method, the stimulation unit receives one or more data signals, which comprise at least one stimulation signal that includes stimulation data, and processes one of the data signals to determine whether it can process the stimulation data in order to generate one or more stimuli. If the stimulation unit can process the stimulation data, the method includes operating the stimulation unit in a normal mode, in which case the stimulation unit processes the stimulation data to generate the one or more stimuli. On the other hand, if the stimulation unit cannot process the stimulation data, the method includes operating the stimulation in a safe mode, in which case the stimulation unit does not process the stimulation data.

Abstract: A device, including an actuator configured to evoke a hearing percept via actuation thereof, wherein the device is configured to make a detection of at least one phenomenon related to the actuator that is indicative of a recipient of the device speaking and control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control an operation of the device based on the detection.

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: Presented herein are low-power active bone conduction devices that comprise an actuator that is subcutaneously implanted within a recipient so as to deliver mechanical output forces to hard tissue of the recipient. The low-power active bone conduction devices include an energy recovery circuit configured to extract non-used energy from the actuator and to store the non-used energy for subsequent use by the actuator. The low-power active bone conduction devices may also include a multi-bit sigma-delta converter that operates in accordance with a scaled sigma-delta quantization threshold value to convert received signals representative of sound into actuator drive signals.

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: Presented herein are techniques for dynamically setting, in real-time, a ratio of acoustical stimulation signals to electrical stimulation signals delivered by a hearing prosthesis. The ratio of the acoustical stimulation signals to the electrical stimulation signals is set based on one or more characteristics or attributes of the input sound signals that are received and processed by the hearing prosthesis in order to generate the acoustical and electrical stimulation signals.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis, the hearing prosthesis including a plurality of sound capture devices and a determinator configured to generate a parameter indicative of an orientation of the plurality of sound capture devices relative to a reference, wherein the hearing prosthesis is configured to adjust a direction of focus of the hearing prosthesis based on at least the parameter.

Abstract: A prosthesis including an external device and an implantable component. The external device includes a first inductive communication component. The implantable component includes a second inductive communication component, wherein the implantable component is configured to be implanted under skin of a recipient. The external device is configured to transmit power via magnetic induction transcutaneoulsy to the implantable component via the second inductive communication component. The internal component is configured to receive at least a portion of the power transmitted from the external device via the inductive communication component. At least one of the first and second inductive communication components comprise an inductive communication component configured to vary its effective coil area.

Abstract: A bone conduction device, including a bone fixture adapted to be fixed to bone, a vibratory element adapted to be attached to the bone fixture and configured to vibrate in response to sound signals, and a vibration isolator adapted to be disposed between the vibratory element and the bone.