Abstract: An ear-worn electronic monitoring system includes an on-ear component comprising a housing configured for placement on, in or about the wearer's ear. The on-ear component comprises a power source and a first interface coupled to the power source. The monitoring system also includes an in-ear component comprising a housing configured for deployment at least partially within an ear canal of the wearer. The in-ear component comprises a second interface configured to couple to and decouple from the first interface, a controller coupled to a memory, one or more physiologic sensors coupled to the controller and memory, and power management circuitry coupled to the controller. The power management circuitry comprises a wireless power receiver configured to receive power from a wireless powering arrangement. The power management circuitry is further configured to receive power from the power source of the on-ear component when the second interface is coupled to the first interface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an acoustic tube and a hearing device system that includes an acoustic tube are disclosed. The acoustic tube includes a body, a lumen disposed within the body that extends along a lumen axis between a first end and a second end of the body, and a magnetic coupler disposed adjacent to the first end and adapted to connect the acoustic tube to a housing of a hearing device. The acoustic tube further includes an outlet disposed adjacent to the first end and acoustically connected to the lumen, where the outlet is adapted to be acoustically connected to a microphone of the hearing device; and an inlet disposed adjacent to the second end and acoustically connected to the lumen. The acoustic tube is adapted to direct acoustic energy received by the inlet through the lumen and the outlet to the microphone of the hearing device.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear. A processor is disposed in the enclosure. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. A radio frequency transceiver is disposed in the enclosure and coupled to the processor. An antenna is disposed in or on the enclosure. A magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprises a separable transformer. The separable transformer comprises a first coil coupled to the antenna and a second coil coupled to the transceiver, wherein the second coil is physically and electrically separated from the first coil. The feed arrangement is configured to feed the antenna via mutual inductance between the first and second coils.

Abstract: Techniques to detect a non-alert state of a user may include receiving sensor data from an ear-worn electronic device worn by a user, automatically determining whether to initiate an alertness mode of the ear-worn electronic device based on the sensor data, and determining an alertness state of the user in response to determining to initiate the alertness mode.

Abstract: A system comprises a first hearing device and a second hearing device each comprising a housing configured to be supported at, on or in the wearer's ear, a processor, memory, a radio frequency transceiver, and an antenna arrangement disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the transceiver and the processor. The antenna arrangement comprises an antenna coupled to a phase shifter. The processor is configured to adjust a phase shift of the phase shifter. The system also comprises a clock synchronization link between the transceivers, a second link configured to communicate received signal information between the transceivers, and a master processor defined by the processor of the first or second hearing device. The master processor is configured to cause the first and second hearing devices to operate the antenna arrangements as a phased array antenna arrangement via the clock synchronization link and the second link.

Abstract: A system comprises a first ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, and a second electronic device comprising a second ear-worn electronic device or other electronic device. A wireless transceiver operably coupled to an antenna is disposed in each of the electronic devices. One or both of the first ear-worn electronic device and the second electronic device are configured to transmit signals at a plurality of different frequencies in accordance with a frequency hopping sequence, collect 2-D RSSI data comprising an RSSI value as a function of frequency and of time in response to transmission of the signals, detect a particular input gesture of a plurality of input gestures of the wearer using the 2-D RSSI data, and implement a predetermined function of at least one of the first ear-worn electronic device and the second electronic device in response to detecting the particular input gesture.

Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device is configured to be worn by a wearer and comprises a wireless transceiver operably coupled to an antenna. The device is configured to transmit, from the transceiver to the antenna, signals at a plurality of different frequencies in accordance with a frequency hopping sequence. The device is configured collect two-dimensional (2-D) reflection coefficient data comprising a reflection coefficient of the antenna as a function of frequency and of time in response to transmission of the signals. The device is configured to detect a particular input gesture of a plurality of input gestures of the wearer using the 2-D reflection coefficient data, and implement a predetermined function of the ear-worn electronic device in response to detecting the particular input gesture.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear. A processor is disposed in the enclosure. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. A radio frequency transceiver is disposed in the enclosure and coupled to the processor. An antenna is disposed in or on the enclosure. A magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprises a separable transformer. The separable transformer comprises a first coil coupled to the antenna and a second coil coupled to the transceiver, wherein the second coil is physically and electrically separated from the first coil.

Abstract: An ear-worn electronic monitoring system includes an on-ear component comprising a housing configured for placement on, in or about the wearer's ear. The on-ear component comprises a power source and a first interface coupled to the power source. The monitoring system also includes an in-ear component comprising a housing configured for deployment at least partially within an ear canal of the wearer. The in-ear component comprises a second interface configured to couple to and decouple from the first interface, a controller coupled to a memory, one or more physiologic sensors coupled to the controller and memory, and power management circuitry coupled to the controller. The power management circuitry comprises a wireless power receiver configured to receive power from a wireless powering arrangement. The power management circuitry is further configured to receive power from the power source of the on-ear component when the second interface is coupled to the first interface.

Abstract: Techniques to detect a non-alert state of a user may include receiving sensor data from an ear-worn electronic device worn by a user, automatically determining whether to initiate an alertness mode of the ear-worn electronic device based on the sensor data, and determining an alertness state of the user in response to determining to initiate the alertness mode.

Abstract: Techniques to detect a non-alert state of a user may include receiving sensor data from an ear-worn electronic device disposed at least partially in the ear of a user, determining an alertness state of the user based on the sensor data, and providing alert data in response to the alertness state comprising a non-alert state to a user stimulation interface of the ear-worn electronic device or to an external device.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear. A processor is disposed in the enclosure. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. A radio frequency transceiver is disposed in the enclosure and coupled to the processor. An antenna is disposed in or on the enclosure. A magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprises a separable transformer. The separable transformer comprises a first coil coupled to the antenna and a second coil coupled to the transceiver, wherein the second coil is physically and electrically separated from the first coil. The feed arrangement is configured to feed the antenna via mutual inductance between the first and second coils.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear. A processor is disposed in the enclosure. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. A radio frequency transceiver is disposed in the enclosure and coupled to the processor. An antenna is disposed in or on the enclosure. A magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprises a separable transformer. The separable transformer comprises a first coil coupled to the antenna and a second coil coupled to the transceiver, wherein the second coil is physically and electrically separated from the first coil.

Abstract: A hearing device comprises a housing configured to be supported at, on or in a wearer's ear. A processor is coupled to memory, and the processor and memory are disposed in the housing. A radiofrequency transceiver is coupled to the processor and disposed in the housing. A phased array antenna arrangement is disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the transceiver and the processor. The phased array antenna arrangement comprises a plurality of antennas each coupled to one of a plurality of phase shifters. The processor is configured to adjust a phase shift of each of the phase shifters to steer an antenna array pattern.

Abstract: A hearing device comprises a housing configured to be supported at, on or in a wearer's ear. A processor is coupled to memory, and the processor and memory are disposed in the housing. A radiofrequency transceiver is coupled to the processor and disposed in the housing. A phased array antenna arrangement is disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the transceiver and the processor. The phased array antenna arrangement comprises a plurality of antennas each coupled to one of a plurality of phase shifters. The processor is configured to adjust a phase shift of each of the phase shifters to steer an antenna array pattern.

Abstract: System and method for interfacing with a medical device having a host device and a communication module. The host device has a user interface configured to input and display information relating to the interfacing with the medical device. The communication module is locally coupled to the host device and configured to communicate wirelessly with the medical device. The system, implemented by the host device and the communication module, is configured to communicate with the medical device with functions. The system, implemented by at least one of the host device and the communication module, has a security condition. At least one of the functions is disabled, at least in part, from operating on the system based upon the security condition.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (“IMD”) as described herein includes adjustable power characteristics such as variable transmitter output power and variable receiver front end gain. These power characteristics can be adjusted in a dynamic manner based upon various operating aspects of the intended or actual IMD telemetry environment. These operating aspects may include the external telemetry device type, the IMD device type, and/or the type, context, or meaning of the telemetry data transmitted by the IMD. The IMD may process information related to these operating aspects to generate power scaling instructions or control signals that are interpreted by the IMD transmitter and/or the IMD receiver. Such adjustability enables the IMD to satisfy minimum telemetry requirements in a manner that does not waste power, thus extending the IMD battery life.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (“IMD”) is provided having an antenna and an RF telemetry module for far field telemetry communications arranged on an exterior of the IMD housing, such that telemetry signal processing may be performed on the exterior of the housing. One or more feedthrough conductive paths extend through the housing to communicatively couple the RF module to circuitry within the housing. In this manner RF module is arranged entirely external to the housing, such that only power and/or low frequency data bit signals are required to be passed through the feedthrough conductive path. This allows the feedthrough conductive path to be filtered to prevent undesired interference signals (e.g., electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals) from entering the housing through the feedthrough conductive path coupled to the RF module. In some embodiments, the antenna and RF module are formed in an integrated assembly attachable to an exterior portion of the housing.

Abstract: System, hub and method having medical devices configured to transmit communications containing information affecting priority of transmission of data from an associated one of the medical devices, a destination node and a communication hub. The communication hub is configured to receive the communications from the medical devices, determine a priority of transmission of the data from the communications based, at least in part, on the information affecting priority, and transmit the data from one of the medical devices by way of a network to the destination node in an order based, at least in part, on the priority of transmission.

Abstract: An antenna structure for an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided including a lower dielectric biocompatible antenna portion positioned on a body side of the structure and a high dielectric portion including at least one dielectric substrate having a high dielectric constant positioned on a device side of the structure. The biocompatible antenna portion is derived from an antenna layer, a biocompatible surface layer, and at least one layer of biocompatible dielectric material (e.g., high temperature cofire ceramic (HTCC) material) that provides a matching gradient between the antenna and the surrounding environment. The high dielectric portion may include at least one layer of low temperature cofire ceramic (LTCC) material. The high dielectric portion may be bonded to the biocompatible antenna portion or cofired with the biocompatible antenna portion to form a single bilayer monolithic antenna structure having a lower dielectric HTCC biocompatible antenna portion and a high dielectric LTCC portion.