Abstract: An active medical device, including an input receiver configured to receive a frequency-varying input signal, and a functional component that reacts to the input signal and consumes power at a rate dependant on the frequency of portions of the input signal to which the functional component reacts, wherein the active medical device is configured to adjust one or more portions of the input signal corresponding to portions of the input signal where the functional component consumes power at a rate that is greater than that of other portions of the input signal.

Abstract: Implantable drug-doped component, e.g., a cochlear implant, including host material, a host-embedded drug, a sacrificial material integrated with the host. Sacrificial material facilitates release of drug from the component. Sacrificial material facilitates release through creation of voids in the host upon dissolution of sacrificial material upon contact with a solvent, e.g., perilymph fluid upon implant. Host can be polysiloxane, or silicone rubber. Drug can be anti-inflammatory, growth factor, antibody, anti-oxidant, antibiotic, corticosteroid. Sacrificial material can be: glucose monomer, sugar, cyclodextrin, dissolvable or resorbable at implant site, a salt, bioresorbable material, hyaluronic acid, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid. Sacrificial material can be the host, and can facilitate release of drug through changing a property of sacrificial material, e.g., by exposing component to ethanol wash.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing an input sound signal, the apparatus including: gain circuitry configured to control a gain based on a plurality of respective sub-signals of the input sound signal; and an amplification apparatus configured to adjust the amplification of all the plurality of amplitudes based on the gain.

Abstract: An external device of an implantable medical system includes a coil that is substantially disposed in an XY-plane. When a first AC electrical signal is passed through the coil, the coil generates an alternating magnetic field that represents the AC electrical signal. The electrical signal can include at least one of power or data. The device also includes a cylindrical shaped permanent magnet with base substantially parallel to the XY-plane. The magnet can be is used to position the external device with respect to an implantable device. Further, the device has a printed circuit board that includes at least a portion that is substantially orthogonal to the XY-plane and the portion can also include an electrical ground plane. In addition, the device can include at least one sensor that is coupled to the portion of the substrate and to the ground plane.

Abstract: A method and system for fitting and adjusting the operation of an acoustic hearing prosthesis or a hybrid electric and acoustic hearing prosthesis. A graphic user interface allows for the acoustic and electric fitting parameters to be viewed and adjusted in a comparable way. The method further allows for the parameters for acoustic stimulation of the acoustic channels to be adjusted in response to behavioral or objective measurement of responses to known stimuli, so as to achieve a desired response curve.

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 cancellation 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 interface relay system for use with a fully implantable medical devices that permits transcutaneous coupling of the implanted medical device to a consumer electronics device. In one embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device provides a back-up source of power for operating the implanted medical device. In another embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device allows for providing unidirectional and/or bidirectional data transfer between the devices. In one arrangement, the consumer electronics device may be connectable to a communications/data network to allow for network communication between the implantable medical device and a remote processing platform/server.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method wherein preceding and succeeding data elements of a data element to be sent next are analyzed in order to set a signal pattern which can be correctly recovered on the receiving side in spite of intersymbol interference. More particularly, depending on the transmission characteristics of the transmission path, the content of a window within the data stream to be sent wirelessly is examined in order to determine an energy content with which a data symbol has to be sent so that the data can be recovered securely.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses designed to reduce the power usage of a hearing prosthesis. To reduce the power usage of the prosthesis, an external portion may transmit a signal having a plurality of transmission parameters to an internal component. The external portion receives an indication of an implant power parameter associated with the plurality of transmission parameters. After receiving the indication, the external portion adjusts at least one transmission parameter. After adjusting at least one parameter, the external portion transmits a signal to the internal component based on the adjusted parameters and responsively receives an indication of an implant power parameter associated with the adjusted parameters. Based on the received indication of the implant power parameter for a plurality of transmissions, the external portion determines a preferred set of transmission parameters. Finally, the external portion is operated based on the preferred set of transmission parameters.

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: A device including a first integrated circuit (IC), a second IC configured to provide instructions to the first IC based on received data, wherein the first IC is a high-voltage IC and the second IC is a low-voltage IC, and a communication interface between the first and second ICs including a data bus of parallel data lines. The second IC is configured to select, based on the received data, one of a plurality of different communication modes for providing the instructions to the first IC via the communication interface, wherein each mode is defined by a quantity of address data and a quantity of configuration data used to provide the instructions to the first IC.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless streaming link break-in is disclosed. A first device transmits digital packets to a second device over a wireless streaming link. A third device synchronizes itself with the second device. Once the third device is synchronized with the second device, the third device transmits command request packets to the second device during a data receive window. The wireless streaming link is inactive during the data receive window. The second device responds to the request during a next data receive window.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, comprising an implantable component having a rechargeable power supply and an external wireless charger. The wireless charger has a rechargeable power supply, and an inductive coil configured to transcutaneously transfer power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply, and configured to detect and receive, via the inductive coil, power from an auxiliary charger for recharging of the charger power supply.

Abstract: A method for operating a hearing prosthesis is provided. A plurality of settings are provided, each setting providing a different operating functionality for the hearing prosthesis suitable for different situations. A signal analysis is executed on input signals to the hearing prosthesis. The signal analysis monitors characteristics of a current situation to detect any change and, in the case of detecting change, classifies the current situation into one of a plurality of predefined states. The suitability of the settings is compared with the determined state. One or more optimal choice(s) of setting(s) is identified for the current situation. The one or more optimal choice(s) of setting(s) is presented to a user. The user is then allowed to make a selection from the presented choice(s) of setting(s). If a selection is received from the user, the selected setting is executed. A hearing prosthesis is also provided.

Abstract: The present application discloses a hearing prosthesis configured to alert a user of the presence of sound while operating in a sound awareness mode of operation. When a user of the hearing aid removes the external sound processor and microphone, traditionally, a hearing prosthesis does not produce any audio stimulus. Here, the systems and methods will alert a user to sounds in his or her environment when the external sound processor and microphone are decoupled from the internal components of the hearing prosthesis. In some embodiments, the hearing prosthesis may have an acoustic receiver that is implanted in the recipient. The implanted acoustic detector may be used to detect an aspect of a sound above a threshold level. The threshold may be chosen so the detected sound is a loud sound such as a fire alarm.

Abstract: An electrode array (30) which is able to be inserted to a desired depth within the cochlea to provide useful percepts for the recipient which will also preferably not cause damage to the sensitive structures of the cochlea. The electrode array (30) is insertable through an opening in the cochlea and into at least the basal region of the cochlea and comprises an elongate carrier (31) having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of electrodes (32) supported by the carrier at respective spaced locations thereon in a region between the proximal end and the distal end. A stabilizing collar (35) extends outwardly from the elongate carrier (31) at or adjacent a proximal end thereof and has an abutment surface adapted to abut a portion of the cochlea surface around the cochleostomy and at least substantially prevent movement of the carrier (31) following completion of insertion of the array (30) into the cochlea.

Abstract: Presented herein are echo location techniques to obtain information about an implantable component of a hearing prosthesis relative to a recipient's tissue. The hearing prosthesis may comprise an elongate stimulating assembly configured to be implanted in a recipient's where an echo transmitter is disposed in the stimulating assembly. The echo transmitter is configured to emit an energy pulse within the recipient and an echo receiver disposed in the stimulating assembly is configured to detect a portion of the energy pulse reflected from tissue of the recipient.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis for delivering stimuli to a hearing-impaired recipient is disclosed, the hearing prosthesis comprising: a sound transducer for converting received sound signals into electric audio signals; a sound processor for converting said electric audio signals into stimuli signals; a stimulator for delivering said stimuli to the recipient; a memory for storing data representative of sound signals; and a controller configured to cause selected sound data to be retrieved from said memory and processed by said sound processor.

Abstract: An implantable drug-delivery sleeve for an elongate component of an implantable medical device. The sleeve includes a tubular substrate having a lumen configured to receive the elongate component so as to allow relative displacement of the substrate and the elongate component, wherein the substrate is shaped so as to be retained stationary at a desired position along the elongate component, and a drug releasably carried by the substrate.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis including an actuator. The actuator includes a material that deforms in response to an electrical signal and that is adapted to, upon implantation in a recipient, transmit vibrations representative of a sound signal to an organ of the recipient, wherein the material is at least partially exposed to at least one of body tissue and fluid of the recipient.