Abstract: A signal processing system is described for a hearing implant system. A band pass filter bank processes an audio input signal to generate band pass signals. An implant signal processor processes the band pass signals to generate electrode stimulation signals. The processing includes: i. monitoring a key feature characteristic of the audio input signal, ii. using an original coding strategy to generate the electrode stimulation signals when the key feature is less than or equal to an initial value, and iii. using a different new coding strategy to generate the electrode stimulation signals when the key feature is greater than or equal to a coding change value. The implant signal processor automatically transitions from the original coding strategy to the new coding strategy over a transition period of time by adaptively changing the original coding strategy to become the new coding strategy.

Abstract: A bilateral hearing implant surgical template arrangement is described. An implant fits behind the outer ear pinna of a recipient patient and conforms against an underlying side of the head. The implant stimulator template has an implant outline defining an area corresponding to an implanted stimulator of the bilateral hearing implant system, and has an adjustable connection that allows adjustment of the position of the implant stimulator template with respect to the outer ear pinna so as to define stimulator implantation sites at symmetric locations on each side of the patient's head. A behind the ear (BTE) processor template also has a processor outline defining an area corresponding to an external BTE processor device of the bilateral hearing implant system and fits behind the ear pinna at the adjustable connection with the implant stimulator template, and conforms against an underlying side of the patient's head.

Abstract: An input sound signal is processed to generate band pass signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. 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 determine a mapped instantaneous frequency by adjusting instantaneous frequency based on a frequency relation factor representing a relationship between: (1) the range of audio frequencies for the band pass channel, and (2) a patient-specific, channel-specific range of stimulation rates defined based on patient-specific pitch perception measurements to enhance patient pitch perception within the range of audio frequencies for the band pass channel, and iii. generate the stimulation timing signal for the selected band pass signal at the mapped instantaneous frequency of the selected band pass signal.

Abstract: A magnetic arrangement is described for an implantable system for a recipient patient. An implantable coil housing contains a signal coil for transcutaneous communication of an implant communication signal. Freely rotatable within the coil housing is a cylindrical implant magnet for transcutaneous magnetic interaction with a corresponding external attachment magnet. The implant magnet has a central cylinder axis of symmetry, and a magnetization direction along a magnetic axis angled away from the axis of symmetry at a non-zero angle less than 45 degrees.

Abstract: An implantable processor arrangement is described for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) system implanted under the skin of a patient. An implantable communications coil arrangement is configured for transdermal transfer of an implant communications signal. An implantable processor is coupled to and controls the implantable communications coil arrangement so as to operate in two different communications modes. In a normal operation mode, the processor configures the communications coil arrangement for peridermal communication with an external communications coil placed on the skin of the patient immediately over the implantable communications coil arrangement. In a long range telemetry mode, the processor configures the communications coil arrangement for extradermal communication with an external telemetry coil located distant from the skin of the patient immediately over the implantable communications coil arrangement.

Abstract: A signal processing arrangement is described for signal processing in a bilateral hearing implant system having left side and right side hearing implants. An interaural coherence analysis module analyzes system input signals to produce an interaural coherence signal output characterizing reverberation-related similarity of the input signals.

Abstract: An inductive coil arrangement is described for an ear canal of a recipient patient. An inner transmitter coil inserts into the ear canal for transmitting a communication signal through the skin of the outer wall of the ear canal. The transmitter coil includes transmission wire loops that lie substantially in a common plane which curves around the central axis of the ear canal conformal to the outer wall of the ear canal. An outer receiver coil is implantable under the skin of the outer wall of the ear canal for receiving the communication signal from the transmitter coil. The receiver coil includes receiver wire loops that lie substantially in a common plane which curves around the central axis of the ear canal substantially parallel to the transmitter coil.

Abstract: A signal processor is described for communication with an implanted medical device. An external processor transmits to the implanted medical device an implant data signal having a sequence of HI and LOW logic states at a fixed data bit rate. The pulse width durations of the HI and LOW logic states is adjustable in response to feedback telemetry data from the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A system for frequency matching a cochlear implant during fitting includes a tissue stimulation device configured to generate a tonal stimulus to mask efferent nerve fibers in a subject, one or more response measurement contacts configured to measure CAP signals during and outside of a refractory period, a frequency matching module in communication with the response measurement contacts and configured to receive the CAP signals during and outside of the refractory period to determine a stimulation location on the cochlear implant based on a comparison of the received CAP signals both during and outside of the refractory period, and a parameter adjusting module in communication with the frequency matching module and configured to interface with the cochlear implant and to adjust its processing parameters based on the stimulation location. Methods for frequency matching a cochlear implant during fitting are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bilateral hearing implant surgical template arrangement is described. An adjustable headpiece with left and right sides fits over the head of a surgical patient. There are left and right implant stimulator templates, each configured to conform against an underlying side of the patient's head and each connected to a corresponding left and right side of the adjustable headpiece by an adjustable connection. Each adjustable connection is configured to allow adjustment of the position of the implant stimulator template with respect to the adjustable headpiece so as to define stimulator implantation sites at symmetric locations on each side of the patient's head.

Abstract: An implantable microphone for use in hearing systems includes a housing having a sidewall, a first membrane coupled to a top portion of the housing and configured to move in response to movement from an auditory ossicle, and a second membrane coupled to the sidewall such that an interior volume of the housing is divided into a first volume and a second volume. The first volume has an opening that permits fluid to flow out from the first volume. The implantable microphone also includes a vibration sensor coupled to the second membrane and configured to measure the movement of the second membrane and to convert the measurement into an electrical signal. The vibration sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor and/or a MEMS sensor.

Abstract: A signal processing system is described for a bilateral hearing implant system having left side and right side hearing implants. An interaural coherence analysis module receives input signals from each hearing implant including sensing microphone signals and band pass signals, and analyzes the input signals to produce an interaural coherence signal output characterizing reverberation-related similarity of the input signals. A pulse timing and coding module for each hearing implant then processes the band pass signals to develop stimulation timing signals, wherein for one or more selected band pass signals, wherein the processing includes using an envelope gating function developed from the interaural coherence signal.

Abstract: Arrangements are described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array having multiple stimulation contacts. An audio input preprocessor receives an input audio signal and generates band pass signals that represent associated bands of audio frequencies. A band pass signal analyzer analyzes each band pass signal to detect when one of the band pass signal components reaches a defined transition event state. A stimulation signal generator generates a set of electrode stimulation signals for the stimulation contacts from the band pass signals such that the electrode stimulation signals to a given stimulation contact: i. use a transition event stimulation pattern whenever a transition event is detected in a band pass signal associated with the given stimulation contact, and ii. use a different non-transition stimulation pattern after the transition event stimulation pattern until a next subsequent transition event is detected.

Abstract: An input sound signal is processed to generate band pass signals. Band pass envelope signals are extracted that reflect time varying amplitude of the band pass signals. Stimulation timing signals are generated that reflect the temporal fine structure features of the band pass signals. A key feature value present in the input sound signal or the band pass signals is monitored. For one or more selected band pass signals, a stimulation coding strategy is selected from multiple possible stimulation coding strategies based on the key feature value. The multiple possible stimulation coding strategies including an envelope-based stimulation coding strategy based on the band pass envelope signals, and an event-based stimulation coding strategy based on the stimulation timing signals. The selected stimulation coding strategy is used to produce the electrode stimulation signals for the electrode contacts.

Abstract: A magnet insertion tool for use with an implantable device includes an upper part having an insertion member and an alignment member movably coupled to the insertion member. The insertion member includes a positioning surface configured to position the implantable device between the insertion and alignment members, a magnet socket extending from the positioning surface and configured to hold an implant magnet, and an alignment surface configured to align the implantable device relative to the magnet socket. The alignment member includes an engagement surface configured to engage the implantable device during insertion of the implant magnet. The alignment member is configured to contact a portion of the insertion member such that the engagement surface and the positioning surface are spaced apart from one another. The tool further includes a lower part, movably coupled to the upper part, that has a platform that is configured to move within the magnet socket.

Abstract: A signal processing arrangement generates electrical stimulation signals to stimulation contacts in an implanted cochlear implant array. An input sound signal is decomposed into dominant psychophysically relevant frequency components, with each frequency component changing over time in frequency and level. Each frequency component is coded as a patient-specific, frequency-specific function of stimulation location, rate, and level to produce a sequence of requested stimulation events having an instantaneous frequency and level. And the electrical stimulation signals are generated from the requested stimulation events for delivery by the stimulation contacts to adjacent auditory neural tissue.

Abstract: Arrangements are described for determining a physiological characteristic of the auditory pathway (as whole or selected parts such as an inner ear). Electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to inner ear neural tissue and corresponding tissue response signals are developed by measuring over time response of the auditory pathway to each electrical stimulation pulse, with each tissue response signal forming a response curve including at least one physiological landmark such as a local maximum and a local minimum. A multi-dimensional polynomial is fit over the tissue response signals, and calculation starting points are defined based on prominent physiologic landmarks such as a local maximum and a local minimum for one selected tissue response signal. A line of minimum principal curvature of the multi-dimensional polynomial over the plurality of tissue response signals that intersect the calculation starting points is calculated to determine a physiological characteristic of the auditory pathway.

Abstract: An external processor device for a hearing implant system is described. An audio signal processor is coupled to an audio input providing an electrical audio input signal and develops a corresponding implant stimulation signal output. A stimulation signal transmitter is coupled to the signal processor and receives the implant stimulation signal for transmission to an implanted portion of the hearing implant system. The device includes an audio bypass mode which provides the audio input signal to the stimulation signal transmitter for transmission.

Abstract: A hearing signal processor processes an input sound signal and generates an electrical communications signal for an upper range of sound frequencies, and an acoustic communications signal for a lower range of sound frequencies. An implanted electrical stimulation subsystem includes an electrode array with one or more electrode contacts in an acoustically perceivable cochlear region retaining residual natural hearing. The electrical stimulation subsystem receives the electrical communications signal and delivers corresponding electrical stimulation signals to the electrode contacts for electrical stimulation of adjacent neural tissue. An external acoustic stimulation subsystem receives the acoustic communications signal and delivers corresponding amplified acoustic stimulation signals to the ear canal of the patient.

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.