Abstract: Disclosed examples generally include methods and apparatuses related to microphone units, such as may be found in implantable medical devices (e.g., cochlear implants). Microphone units generally include a microphone element connected to a chamber having a concave floor with the chamber covered by a membrane. Microphone units can be configured to produce an output based on pressure waves (e.g., sound waves) that reach the membrane. In an example, a microphone unit has a pressurized gas within the chamber below the membrane such that, while in a static state, the membrane deflects away from the chamber floor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing configured to be implanted beneath a portion of skin of a recipient and first circuitry within the housing. The first circuitry is configured to wirelessly communicate with second circuitry of an external device positioned on or above the portion of skin. The apparatus further includes an actuator within the housing and configured to be in mechanical communication with a portion of bone of the recipient. The actuator includes a unitary mass configured to undergo vibratory motion within the housing. The unitary mass includes a plurality of electrically conductive sub-masses in mechanical communication with one another and electrically isolated from one another.

Abstract: Certain medical devices, such as auditory prostheses, have an implantable portion and an external portion. The implantable portion and external portion each include a transmission/receiver coil that communicates signals between the two portions. The implanted coil is implanted about the ear canal while the external coil is disposed about the pinna or in the ear canal itself. The proximity of the two coils allows for signal transmission between the implantable and external portions.

Abstract: A vestibular stimulation prosthesis can restore vestibular function in recipients having vestibular deficiency. In an example, a body is appended onto or within the recipient's ossicular chain such that the body directly interfaces with an oval window of an inner ear of the recipient. Electrical stimulation is provided using one or more electrodes of the body to stimulate the vestibular system and thereby restore vestibular functioning. In an example, a stimulator device connected to the body via a lead is also implanted. The stimulator device can have a small and convenient form factor. In some instances, the stimulator device is a stand-alone device that is configured to provide stimulation to the recipient's vestibular system without respect to signals received from devices external to the recipient. In some implementations, the stimulator device is a component of a sensory prosthesis (e.g., a cochlear implant or bionic eye) or another medical device.

Abstract: An auditory prosthesis comprising an actuator for providing mechanical stimulation to a recipient. The auditory prosthesis comprises a measurement circuit for use in determining the resonance peak(s) of the actuator. In an embodiment, the measurement circuit measures the voltage drop across the actuator and/or current through the actuator during a frequency sweep of the operational frequencies of the actuator. These measured voltages and/or currents are then analyzed for discontinuities that are indicative of a resonance peak of the actuator. In another embodiment, rather than using a frequency sweep to measure voltages and/or currents across the actuator, the measurement circuit instead applies a voltage impulse to the actuator and then measure the voltage and/or current across the actuator for a period of time after application of the impulse. The measured voltages and/or currents are then analyzed to identify resonance peak(s) of the actuator.

Abstract: An assembly is provided which includes a package and a printed circuit board. The package includes a housing bounding a region and an acoustic sensor within the region. The housing includes a base with a first hole. The sensor is configured to generate signals indicative of sound received by the sensor through the first hole. The printed circuit board is in mechanical communication with the base and includes a second hole aligned with the first hole such that sound received by the second hole propagates through the first hole to the sensor. The printed circuit board further includes an electrically conductive layer, at least a portion of which extends across the second hole and is configured to allow the sound to propagate through the second hole and to at least partially shield the region containing the sensor from electromagnetic interference.

Abstract: A modular implant device configured for stimulation of at least one nerve or muscle in a body of a subject comprises: a housing; and at least one electrical lead, and/or at least one stimulation electrode; wherein the at least one electrical lead is partly disposed on the housing, and wherein the housing comprises modular elements, the modular elements being arranged in a stack. A system for electrical nerve stimulation comprises a network of at least two modular devices configured for implantation inside a body of a subject according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each modular device is electrically connected to at least one other modular device through electrical leads.

Abstract: An implantable device configured for implantation in a body of subject. The device includes: a flexible body and at least one stimulator unit attached to the flexible body, wherein the at least one stimulator unit includes a plurality of electric components encapsulated in a hermetically sealed enclosure, a receiving antenna, and at least one electric conductor in electrical connection with the plurality of electric components.

Abstract: Certain medical devices, such as auditory prostheses, have an implantable portion and an external portion. The implantable portion and external portion each include a transmission/receiver coil that communicates signals between the two portions. The implanted coil is implanted about the ear canal while the external coil is disposed about the pinna or in the ear canal itself. The proximity of the two coils allows for signal transmission between the implantable and external portions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an implantable device (10) configured for implantation in a body of subject (50), the device comprising: a flexible body (20) and at least one stimulator unit (30) attached to the flexible body (20), wherein the at least one stimulator unit (30) comprises a plurality of electric components (31) encapsulated in a hermetically sealed enclosure (32), a receiving antenna (33), and at least one electric conductor (34) in electrical connection with the plurality of electric components (31).

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one vibration-generating actuator having a coupler configured to be in mechanical communication with a fixture, at least one mass spaced from the coupler, and at least one non-planar piezoelectric element in mechanical communication with the coupler and the at least one mass. The at least one non-planar piezoelectric element is configured to oscillate the at least one mass relative to the coupler in response to received electric voltage signals. The fixture and the at least one actuator can be configured to be implanted on or within a recipient's body, and the fixture can be configured to transmit the vibrations to the recipient's body such that the vibrations evoke a hearing precept by the recipient.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a removable cover for an ear-worn wearable device, with the removable cover including a communication coil. The cover can locate the communication coil proximate an implanted coil for communication. In an implementation, the cover is a cover for a behind-the-ear sound processor having a coil that communicates with an implanted coil of a cochlear implant.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transducer, a first element, and a second element configured to be at least partially implanted on or within a recipient. The transducer is in mechanical communication with a first portion of the recipient’s body, the first element is configured to be in mechanical communication with the transducer and includes an orifice having a first length and extending from a first surface of the first element to a second surface of the first element. The second element includes a first end and a second end with a second length therebetween, the second length longer than the first length. The second element is configured to extend through the orifice and, during implantation, to be slidably adjusted relative to the orifice and affixed to the first element such that the second end is in mechanical communication with a second portion of the recipient’s body.

Abstract: Disclosed technology includes a sensory prosthesis configured to automatically select a broadcast channel based on a comparison with a signal from a sensor of the sensory prosthesis. In an example, a sound processor automatically connects to an appropriate wireless broadcast audio channel by comparing the sound the sound processor receives on a microphone with the audio the sound processor receives from each of the wireless broadcast channels that the sound processor can receive. If the sound processor finds a match between the sound from the microphone and the sound from a broadcast, then the sound processor automatically selects the matching wireless broadcast channel. The sound processor then provides auditory stimulation to the recipient based on the selected broadcast channel.

Abstract: Presented herein are implantable sound sensors that include a non-uniform diaphragm mechanically coupled to a vibrating structure of a recipient’s middle or inner ear. The non-uniform diaphragm includes a central region and a peripheral region, where the thickness of the central region is greater than the thickness of the peripheral region.

Abstract: Disclosed examples generally include methods and apparatuses related to microphone units, such as may be found in implantable medical devices (e.g., cochlear implants). Microphone units generally include a microphone element connected to a chamber having a concave floor with the chamber covered by a membrane. Microphone units can be configured to produce an output based on pressure waves (e.g., sound waves) that reach the membrane. In an example, a microphone unit has a pressurized gas within the chamber below the membrane such that, while in a static state, the membrane deflects away from the chamber floor.

Abstract: Presented herein are implantable sound sensors that include a non-uniform diaphragm mechanically coupled to a vibrating structure of a recipient's middle or inner ear. The non-uniform diaphragm includes a central region and a peripheral region, where the thickness of the central region is greater than the thickness of the peripheral region.

Abstract: Certain medical devices, such as auditory prostheses, have an implantable portion and an external portion. The implantable portion and external portion each include a transmission/receiver coil that communicates signals between the two portions. The implanted coil is implanted about the ear canal while the external coil is disposed about the pinna or in the ear canal itself. The proximity of the two coils allows for signal transmission between the implantable and external portions.

Abstract: Disclosed examples generally include methods and apparatuses related to microphone units, such as may be found in implantable medical devices (e.g., cochlear implants). Microphone units generally include a microphone element connected to a chamber having a concave floor with the chamber covered by a membrane. Microphone units can be configured to produce an output based on pressure waves (e.g., sound waves) that reach the membrane. In an example, a microphone unit has a pressurized gas within the chamber below the membrane such that, while in a static state, the membrane deflects away from the chamber floor.

Abstract: Certain medical devices, such as auditory prostheses, have an implantable portion and an external portion. The implantable portion and external portion each include a transmission/receiver coil that communicates signals between the two portions. The implanted coil is implanted about the ear canal while the external coil is disposed about the pinna or in the ear canal itself. The proximity of the two coils allows for signal transmission between the implantable and external portions.