Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can comprise a cochlear implant system comprising a cochlear electrode, a stimulator in electrical communication with the cochlear electrode, a return electrode, and one or more controllers. The cochlear electrode can include a first contact electrode and the stimulator can include a first source element in electrical communication with the first contact electrode. The one or more controllers can be configured to cause the stimulator to emit a predetermined current from the first source element to the return electrode via a first current path and determine a first voltage at the first contact electrode and a second voltage at the return electrode. The one or more controllers can determine an impedance associated with the first current path and determine one or more stimulation parameters, such as a compliance voltage for sourcing a prescribed current, for the source element based on the determined impedance.

Abstract: A cochlear implant and analysis system includes a stimulator, an input source, a signal processor, a wireless communication interface, and an external device. The system can receive an acoustic stimulus, generate an input signal representative thereof, and apply a transfer function to the input signal to generate and output a stimulation signal to the stimulator. The signal processor can receive an analysis input indicating a first signal for analysis and generate an analysis signal based on the received analysis input. The first signal can be an input signal from an input source or a result of one or more processing steps. The signal processor can output the analysis signal to the wireless communication interface with the wireless communication interface configured to output a signal representative of the analysis signal to an external device.

Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can include an inner ear sensor configured to receive a stimulus signal from the cochlear tissue of a wearer and generate an input signal based on the received stimulus signal. The inner ear sensor can be configured to detect pressure, for example, within a wearer's cochlear tissue and generate an input signal based on the detected pressure. The inner ear sensor can be integrated with a cochlear electrode implanted in the cochlear tissue. Systems can include a signal processor programmed with a transfer function and configured to receive an input signal and output a stimulation signal based on the received input signal and transfer function. Systems can include an implantable battery and/or communication module in communication with the signal processor. The implantable battery and/or communication module can be configured to interface with and update the transfer function of the signal processor.

Abstract: Methods and devices for measuring vibration of an implanted driven vibrating elongate body coupled to a bone of the middle ear, for example using an accelerometer coupled to the vibrating body. The measured vibration can be taken during implantation and long again after implantation to check for possible decoupling, disease, or additionally impeded vibratory driving of the middle ear bone. An accelerometer signal can be converted to a displacement value and used to check for an under impeded or over impeded vibratory body. An implanted device can be used to periodically check the vibration of the vibratory body. Methods and devices can be used in conjunction with implanted devices which receive vibratory signals from a middle ear bone and use the signals to drive a disarticulated middle ear bone closer to the ear drum.

Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can comprise a cochlear implant system comprising a cochlear electrode, a stimulator, an input source, and an implantable battery and/or communication module. The signal processor may be programmed with a transfer function and be configured to receive input signals from the input source and output a stimulation signal to the stimulator based on the received input signals with the transfer function. The system may be configured to receive a status indicator signal indicative of whether an external auditory aid device is active and update the transfer function of the signal processor if the external auditory aid device is active. For example, the signal processor can operate programmed with a first transfer function if the external auditory aid device is not active and with a second transfer function if the external auditory aid device is active.

Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can include a cochlear electrode, a stimulator in electrical communication with the cochlear electrode, a sensor configured to receive a stimulus signal and generate an input signal based on the received stimulus signal, and a signal processor in communication with the stimulator and the sensor. The signal processor can include an analog filtering stage configured to generate an analog filtered signal from a received input signal and a digital filtering stage configured to generate a digitally filtered signal from the analog filtered signal. The analog filtering stage and digital filtering stage can be used to normalize the frequency response of the digitally filtered signal with respect to the stimulus signal.

Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can comprise an implantable subsystem comprising a cochlear electrode, a stimulator, a battery, and a first near field communication interface positioned subcutaneously proximate an ear canal. Cochlear implant systems can further comprise a removable earplug comprising a sensor, a second near field communication interface, and a signal processor. The removable earplug can be inserted into an ear canal to align the first and second near field communication interfaces. Once aligned, the battery can provide electrical power to the removable earplug via the near field communication interfaces. The signal processor can receive input signals from the sensor of the removable earplug and generate a stimulation signal representative of the auditory signals. The signal processor can communicate the stimulation signal to the stimulator via the near field communication interfaces.

Abstract: Pairing systems for pairing external devices to a cochlear implant system can comprise an external housing and an external pairing system. The external housing may comprise a first surface and one or more compartments, each configured to house an external device capable of wirelessly interfacing with an implantable cochlear implant system. The external pairing device may comprise a second surface and one or more corresponding near field communication devices. The near field communication devices may be arranged such that the first surface of the external housing can be aligned with the second surface of the external pairing device in such a way that each of the near field communication devices aligns with a corresponding compartment of the external housing. The external pairing device can provide communication between a programming device and external devices contained within compartments of the external housing via one or more corresponding near field communication devices.

Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can include a cochlear electrode and a stimulator in electrical communication with the cochlear electrode. The stimulator can be in communication with a controller, which is in communication with a testing circuit and a switching network. The stimulator can include a plurality of source elements. The controller can control the switching network to place the plurality of source elements into communication with the testing circuit. The controller can further cause one of the plurality of source elements to emit an electrical current and can determine an amount of electrical current emitted from the source element using the testing circuit. The controller can compare the determined amount of electrical current emitted by the source element with a prescribed current. The controller can adjust the output of each of the plurality of source elements based on the determined amount of electrical current emitted by the stimulator.

Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can include first and second subsystems, each subsystem including an input source, a signal processor, a stimulator, and a cochlear electrode. A single implantable battery and/or communication module can provide power to and communicate with each subsystem, such as via each signal processor. Systems can include separate leads providing separate communication between the implantable battery and/or communication module and each subsystem, or can include a bifurcated lead providing signals to both subsystems simultaneously. The implantable battery and/or communication module can be configured to output addressed signals designating for which subsystem a signal is intended. The implantable battery and/or communication module can be configured to separately update settings associated with each respective subsystem, such as a transfer function associated with each signal processor.

Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can include a signal processor, an implantable battery and/or communication module, and a plurality of conductors coupling the implantable battery and/or communication module and the signal processor. The implantable battery and/or communication module can communicate data and deliver electrical power to the signal processor via the plurality of conductors. The implantable battery and/or communication module can be configured to perform characterization process to determine one or more characteristics of one or more such conductors. Characterization processes can include determining an impedance between two conductors as a function of frequency, determining whether a conductor is intact, and determining an impedance of a given conductor. Some characterization processes include grounding one or more conductors.

Abstract: Methods and devices for measuring vibration of an implanted driven vibrating elongate body coupled to a bone of the middle ear, for example using an accelerometer coupled to the vibrating body. The measured vibration can be taken during implantation and long again after implantation to check for possible decoupling, disease, or additionally impeded vibratory driving of the middle ear bone. An accelerometer signal can be converted to a displacement value and used to check for an under impeded or over impeded vibratory body. An implanted device can be used to periodically check the vibration of the vibratory body. Methods and devices can be used in conjunction with implanted devices which receive vibratory signals from a middle ear bone and use the signals to drive a disarticulated middle ear bone closer to the ear drum.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for measuring vibration of an implanted elongate vibrating body coupled to a bone of the middle ear. One system includes an elongate vibratory body having a first and second piezoelectric body separated by a central vane. The piezoelectric bodies and central vane can be individually electrically coupleable to an implantable electronic device. The electronic device can have a switch, driving circuitry and sensing circuitry within. In normal use, the driving circuitry is coupled through the switch to drive both piezoelectric bodies causing the vibratory body to vibrate. In diagnostic use, one piezoelectric body is driven while the other piezoelectric body is sensed to detect changes in vibration indicative of decoupling or undesirable impedance of the vibratory body.

Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can include a cochlear electrode, a stimulator in electrical communication with the cochlear electrode, and a signal processor in communication with the stimulator. The signal processor can receive an input signal from an input source and output a stimulation signal to the stimulator based on the received input signal and a transfer function of the signal processor. The signal processor can be connected to the stimulator via a first detachable connector configured to detachably connect and provide communication between the signal processor and the stimulator. The signal processor can be connected to the input source via a second detachable connector configured to detachably connect and provide communication between the signal processor and the input source. A modular signal processor can be detached from the stimulator and the input source for repair or replacement.

Abstract: Fully implantable cochlear implant systems can include a cochlear electrode, a stimulator in electrical communication with the cochlear electrode, a signal processor in communication with the stimulator, and an implantable battery and/or communication module in communication with the signal processor. A cochlear implant network can include an external device in wireless communication with the fully implantable cochlear implant system via one or more system components, such as the implantable battery and/or communication module, the stimulator, and/or the signal processor. The external device can be configured to wirelessly communicate signals to the fully implantable cochlear implant system such as control signals and/or audio signals. Networks can include a plurality of external devices capable of interfacing with one or more implantable components of a fully implantable cochlear implant system.

Abstract: Cochlear implant systems can include a cochlear electrode, a stimulator in electrical communication with the cochlear electrode, and a signal processor in communication with the stimulator. The signal processor can include circuitry and a can surrounding and housing the circuitry. The signal processor can further include a first impedance between the circuitry and the can in order to reduce unintended electrical communication between the cochlear electrode and the circuitry of the signal processor. Other components can similarly include impedance between their respective cans and circuitry to prevent such undesired communication. Components can communicate with one another via bidirectional communication. Communication can include communication of signals and inverted signals to reduce net charge flow through the wearer's body.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods having or using an improved implantable middle ear transducer for driving an ossicular chain bone to assist in aiding hearing. One embodiment of the present invention is a transducer assembly for converting electrical signals to mechanical vibrations which can be coupled, for example, to the stapes to provide audible frequency vibrations to the cochlea. One transducer assembly includes a pair of fins or gussets coupled to opposite sides of a transducer in the direction of unwanted movement of the transducer. The base of the transducer may be coupled to a base member while the fins have free edges that are near to but not coupled to the base member. Some fins are triangular shaped. The fins may not substantially inhibit vibration in the preferred plane, but can inhibit unwanted vibrations in a plane orthogonal to the preferred direction which can substantially include a plane containing the fins.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery system and method are disclosed, in which an implantable medical device (IMD) regulates its transfer of energy from a separate charger unit. For recharging, a charger unit is brought into proximity to the implanted device. An oscillating current is generated in a primary coil, located in the charger. By inductive coupling through an oscillating magnetic field, an alternating current is generated in a secondary coil, which is implanted in or near the implanted device. The alternating current then passes through a half-wave or full-wave rectifier to form a one-sided current, then passes through a regulator to form an essentially direct current, which is in turn directed to the rechargeable battery in the implanted device. The secondary coil has a controllable damped resonant frequency, which can be dynamically tuned away from the driving frequency of the primary coil by a variable resistor and/or by varying a duty cycle of a rapidly switched electrical element.

Abstract: Methods and devices for measuring vibration of an implanted driven vibrating elongate body coupled to a bone of the middle ear, for example using an accelerometer coupled to the vibrating body. The measured vibration can be taken during implantation and long again after implantation to check for possible decoupling, disease, or additionally impeded vibratory driving of the middle ear bone. An accelerometer signal can be converted to a displacement value and used to check for an under impeded or over impeded vibratory body. An implanted device can be used to periodically check the vibration of the vibratory body. Methods and devices can be used in conjunction with implanted devices which receive vibratory signals from a middle ear bone and use the signals to drive a disarticulated middle ear bone closer to the ear drum.

Abstract: Described are lead connections for electrically connecting a lead terminal and a lead channel; the lead connection can be useful in an electronic device such as an implantable electronic device, such as a hearing implant.