Abstract: A method of forming an implantable electrode having electrode contacts on an electrode carrier having a coating includes providing a solution of silicone and dexamethasone dissolved in a solvent, applying the solution to the electrode carrier or to a substrate, and subjecting the solution to a two-step heat treatment process that includes a first heat treatment between about 50 and 90° C. for about 1 to 3 hours and a second heat treatment at an elevated temperature between 90° C. and 140° C. for about 2 hours in order to form the coating.

Abstract: A round window coupling device is described for a hybrid electric-mechanical stimulation hearing implant system. A rigid outer shell securely fits into a round window niche in a cochlear outer surface of a recipient patient. An electrode groove in the outer surface of the outer shell snuggly fits around a portion of a cochlear implant electrode array passing through the round window niche. A coupling filling is enclosed within the outer shell to couple mechanical vibrations from the proximal end to the distal end with minimal attenuation. A transducer receiver at the proximal end connects to and receives vibrations from a drive surface of a mechanical transducer. And a drive face at the distal end interfaces to perilymph fluid within the cochlea of the recipient patient to deliver vibrations from the coupling filling to the perilymph fluid with minimal attenuation for perception as sound.

Abstract: An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described. A retraction limiter fits around and securely engages a portion of the distal end of an electrode lead. The retraction limiter includes flexible retraction limiting projections longitudinally distributed along its outer surface. An insertion tube fits around the electrode array and the retraction limiter and engages against the outer surface of the patient cochlea at a cochlear opening. An insertion plunger fits within the insertion tube and engages against the proximal end of the retraction limiter. The insertion plunger slides within the insertion tube to push against the proximal end of the retraction limiter to push the electrode array through the cochlear opening into the patient cochlea.

Abstract: An implantable bone conduction transducer arrangement includes a transducer housing having an outer surface with a side wall and opposing ends. A pair of fixation projections are connected to the transducer housing at one end. Each fixation projection includes a bone screw opening configured for insertion of a bone fixation screw to engage underlying skull bone. At least one fixation projection is configured to be independently moveable relative to the transducer housing to form an adjustable relative position between the fixation projections.

Abstract: A system and method of treating hyperactivity of an eyelid closing muscle in a subject includes providing a stimulation system in the subject with the hyperactivity of the eyelid closing muscle, sensing an activity of the eyelid closing muscle, and selectively stimulating eyelid opening muscle(s) or innervating nerves, eyelid opening reflexes, or eyelid opening reflexes in non-muscular tissue, using the stimulation system, without substantially activating the eyelid closing muscle. The system and method evokes eyelid movement in the subject.

Abstract: An inner ear fluid circulation system includes an implantable circulation pump that has a pump inlet and a pump outlet both in fluid communication with inner ear fluid of an implanted patient. The circulation pump is configured to drive the inner ear fluid in from the pump inlet and out through the pump outlet. A pump controller is coupled to the circulation pump and one or more sensing elements for measurement of one or more fluid conditions within the inner ear of the implanted patient, and is configured to control operation of the circulation pump as a function of the measured one or more fluid conditions. Also disclosed is a cochlear implant arrangement and a vestibular implant arrangement comprising such a fluid circulation system.

Abstract: An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described. The arrangement includes an electrode array with an outer surface having electrode contacts to apply cochlear stimulation signals to target neural tissue within an implanted patient cochlea. An electrode lead delivers the cochlear stimulation signals from an implanted signal processor to the electrode array. An electrode transition section includes a distal end portion of the electrode lead that is connected to a basal end portion of the electrode array. An electrode storage device contains the electrode transition section and is secured at an electrode opening in an outer surface of the patient cochlea. The electrode storage device is controllable after being surgically implanted to further insert an additional section of the electrode array from the electrode storage device into the patient cochlea and thereby implant a greater portion of the electrode array more deeply into the patient cochlea.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) telemetry arrangement and process for a cochlear implant system are described. Electrode current is measured that is induced in a cochlear implant electrode lead during an MRI process performed on an implanted patient. An MRI telemetry signal for an external telemetry sensor is then output based on the measured electrode current.

Abstract: A signal processing arrangement generates electrical stimulation signals to electrode contacts in an implanted cochlear implant array. An input sound signal is processed to generate band pass signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. A characteristic envelope signal is extracted for each band pass signal based on its amplitude. Stimulation timing signals are generated for each band pass signal, including for one or more selected band pass signals using a timing function defined to: i. represent instantaneous frequency as determined by the band pass signal temporal fine structure features, and ii. exclude temporal fine structure features occurring within a time period shorter than a band-specific upper frequency limit. The electrode stimulation signals are produced for each electrode contact based on the envelope signals and the stimulation timing signals.

Abstract: A middle ear prosthesis is made of a stiff deformable material and includes a planar head end with a central portion having a central diameter. The head end is adapted for engagement with a tympanic membrane from the middle ear of an implanted patient. An opposing pair of U-shaped stapes engagement legs bend down from the central portion so that an end distance between ends of the engagement legs is less than the central diameter. The engagement legs are adapted for adjustable length engagement with the stapes in the middle ear of the implanted patient. The head end and the engagement legs are adapted to transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the stapes for perception as sound by the implanted patient.

Abstract: Approaches are described for fitting an implanted cochlear implant having electrode array contacts to an implanted patient. For multiple different fitting methods, each fitting method is assigned one or more electrode contacts wherein no electrode contact is assigned more than one fitting method. For each fitting method, the assigned electrode contacts are fitted according to the fitting method and fitting values for non-assigned electrode contacts are interpolated. Then a fitting is performed for each electrode contact in the electrode array based on a weighted averaging of the fittings for the various different fitting methods.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode includes an implantable electrode array made of resilient material with a center longitudinal axis and an outer surface. Electrode contacts are distributed on the outer surface of the electrode array along the longitudinal axis for applying electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. At least one biocompatible hydrogel layer is fixed to the electrode array solely by mechanical connection and adapted to swell from contact with perilymph fluid within a cochlea without separating away from the outer surface of the electrode array.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis arrangement is described for a hearing assisted patient. A microphone senses an acoustic environment around the hearing assisted patient and generates a corresponding microphone output signal. An audio signal processor processes the microphone output signal and produces a corresponding prosthesis stimulation signal to the patient for audio perception. The audio signal processor includes a dereverberation process that measures a dedicated reverberation reference signal produced in the acoustic environment to determine reverberation characteristics of the acoustic environment, and reduces reverberation effects in the hearing prosthesis stimulation signal based on the reverberation characteristics.

Abstract: A hearing implant fitting system includes a physiological database containing physiological data characterizing auditory neural tissue response to electrical stimulation. A neural action potential (NAP) measurement system measures NAP signals from cochlear tissue responding to electrical stimulation signals delivered by one or more of the electrode contacts, including: deriving a compound discharge latency distribution (CDLD) of the cochlear tissue by deconvolving: (1) a tissue response measurement signal taken responsive to the delivered electrical stimulation signals, with (2) an elementary unit response signal representing voltage change at a measurement electrode contact due to the electrical stimulation, and then comparing the CDLD to physiological data from the physiological database to detect an NAP signal from the tissue response measurement signal.

Abstract: A magnet arrangement for an implantable medical device is described. An implantable coil case contains a communications coil and is made of biocompatible resilient material with a top lateral surface. A magnet receptacle is located within the coil case and has a receptacle opening in the top lateral surface. An implant magnet fits within the magnet receptacle and has opposing end surfaces, and a center body region located between the end surfaces. An elastic opening clamp is located radially around the receptacle opening and is configured to normally be closed around the receptacle opening to maintain the implant magnet within the magnet receptacle. The elastic opening clamp also is configured to cooperate with a surgical handling tool to expand the receptacle opening to permit the implant magnet to be removed from the magnet receptacle through the receptacle opening without needing to move the coil case.

Abstract: A method of signal processing to generate hearing implant stimulation signals for a hearing implant system includes transforming an input sound signal into band pass signals each representing an associated frequency band of audio frequencies. The band pass signals are processed in a sequence of sampling time frames and iterative steps to produce a noise power estimate. This includes using a noise prediction model to determine if a currently observed signal sample includes a target signal, and if so, then updating a current noise power estimate without using the currently observed signal sample, and otherwise updating the current noise power estimate using the currently observed signal sample. The noise prediction model also is adapted based on the updated noise power estimate. The hearing implant stimulation signals are then developed from the band pass signals and the noise power estimate.

Abstract: Arrangements are described for fitting a cochlear implant to a recipient patient. An acoustic stimulus is delivered to an ear of the patient over a range of acoustic frequencies. A baseline acoustic transfer function resulting from the acoustic stimulus is measured using a response sensor configured to sense pressure response characteristics in the middle ear. And a maximum comfortable level (MCL) of stimulation is determined for at least one stimulation contact in the electrode array, based on performing an electrically evoked measurement to an electric stimulation signal and using the response sensor to measure a modified acoustic transfer function. The modified acoustic transfer function is compared to the baseline acoustic transfer function to determine when a stapedius reflex response occurs and identify the MCL.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicone coating on an electrode carrier for use in cochlear implant systems includes dissolving silicone and dexamethasone in a solvent to form a solution, adding a non-solvent to the solvent, the non-solvent miscible with the silicone and the dexamethasone having a solubility in the non-solvent of below about 5 mg/ml, and curing the solution to form the silicone coating on the electrode carrier.

Abstract: A magnet arrangement for an implantable medical device is described. An implantable coil case contains a communications coil and is made of biocompatible resilient material with a top lateral surface and an opposing bottom medial surface. A magnet receptacle is located within the coil case and has opposing receptacle openings in the top lateral surface and the bottom medial surface. An implant magnet fits within the magnet receptacle and has opposing end surfaces, and a center body region located between the end surfaces. The center body diameter is larger than the end diameters. The implant magnet and the magnet receptacle are configured to cooperate to permit the implant magnet to be inserted into or removed from the magnet receptacle through either of the receptacle openings.

Abstract: An implantable magnet that can freely turn in response to an external magnetic field, thus avoiding torque and demagnetization on the implantable magnet. The implantable magnet can be combined with an electric switching function depending on the orientation of an external magnetic field, thus protecting an implanted coil and/or implant electronics against induction of over-voltage or performing an electric switching function for other various purposes. The magnetic switch may further include, for example, a first switching contact and a second switching contact. A magnetically soft body that includes an electrically conductive surface is shiftable between a first position where the body is in simultaneous contact with the first and second switching contacts, and a second position where the body is out of contact with at least one of the first and second switching contacts.