Abstract: A method of operating a hearing prosthesis. The hearing prosthesis includes memory and a clock and is configured to deliver stimuli to a user. The method includes determining the stimuli, with the hearing prosthesis, in response to a sound signal and at least in part by using one or more adjustable parameters stored in the memory. The method further includes receiving, from the user, a request to adjust at least one of the parameters, and determining whether to make the requested adjustment by reference to an amount of time, as determined by said clock, or a function based around an amount of time since a predefined event.

Abstract: To improve the performance of an implantable hearing prothesis having an implanted microphone, the present invention discloses the use of an acoustic hearing aid to amplify the ambient sound signals. This results in a higher signal level for the implanted microphone, and hence improved performance.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis and method of programming a processor of a hearing prosthesis are described. In order to provide compatibility with updated fitting software, the prosthesis stores at least the transformation instructions to convert measured parameters into operating coefficients for the hearing prosthesis. As a consequence, the fitting software need not be made specifically compatible with older devices.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis whereby the change of a parameter by the user is only possible in discrete maximum steps, with the availability for further increments being dependant upon some conditional event or occurrence (“condition” herein) represented by one or more parameters such as the time which has elapsed since some previous event. In embodiments in which the parameter(s) include an event, such event may be, for example, the initial fitting or adjustment by a clinician, the last user adjustment, the last upward adjustment by the user, etc. In certain embodiments, the condition parameter(s) may include, for example, an elapsed period of time, a certain quantity of stimuli at a particular current level, or some combination of time, stimulation count and stimulation level. In alternative embodiments, there may be a tiered set of increasing increments, of which more gradually are available over time.

Abstract: A sound sensor implantable in a recipient of a hearing device. The sound sensor comprises a biocompatible housing comprising a cavity having an opening at a first end of the housing and a membrane attached to the housing so as to hermetically seal the opening, wherein the membrane vibrates in response to vibration of at least one of a structure of the recipient's ear and fluid within one of the recipient's body cavities. The sound sensor also comprises a vibrational sensor disposed in the housing configured to detect vibrations of the membrane, and configured to generate signals representative of the detected vibrations; and a transmitter configured to provide the generated signals to one or more other components implanted in the recipient.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis for use by a recipient. The hearing prosthesis includes a receiver configured to receive sounds external to the recipient, a stimulator configured to stimulate tissue of the recipient to enhance recipient hearing, a sound analyzer configured to analyze the sounds received by the receiver, the sound analyzer further being configured to output a sound analysis signal indicative of the analyzed sounds, an information signal generator configured to output an information signal upon which an inputted indication that is provided to the recipient via the stimulator may be based, and an information scheduler configured to control the time at which the information signal is delivered to the stimulator based on the sound analysis signal.

Abstract: An electronic system is provided which includes a number of components. Each component includes one or more integrated circuits. During normal operation of the system, each integrated circuit provides individual operating functionality for its respective component. At least one of the integrated circuits is installed as a generic integrated circuit capable of providing any one of a number of potential operating functionalities. The generic integrated circuit is arranged to determine where in the system it has been installed upon system initialization, and, based upon the determination, configure itself to provide the required individual operating functionality for normal operation of the system.

Abstract: A method and system for stimulating a tissue-stimulating prosthesis is disclosed. The method and system comprise receiving a sound command, such a MIDI command, and converting the sound to a stimulation signal. The stimulation signal is then used to provide stimulation to a recipient so that the recipient may perceive sound in accordance with the received sound command.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically collecting at a data repository operational data from remotely distributed medical apparatus via a network, is disclosed, the method comprising: automatically capturing operational data at said medical apparatus; automatically selecting a route through the network for transferring said captured operational data to said data repository; and automatically transmitting said captured operational data to said central medical location via said selected network route.

Abstract: Fitting an auditory prosthesis to a recipient by automatically determining operational thresholds of the prosthesis based on changes in the activity of the recipient that occur in response to applied stimulation signals. Such changes in recipient activity are detected by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) permanently or temporarily secured to or implanted in the recipient as an integral part of the prosthesis or a separate device operationally coupled to the prosthesis.

Abstract: A method of wireless communication between hearing aid devices of a hearing prosthesis. A first device selects a frequency channel for bidirectional wireless communication from a predefined series of frequency channels. A second device transmits a command signal repeatedly over the series of frequency channels until it transmits the command signal over the frequency channel selected by the first device. Subsequent commands send by the second device to the first device are initially transmitted over the selected frequency channel.

Abstract: A rectangular, square or rhomboid-shaped punch having at least five edges optionally with at least one of the four points at which two edges meet having a rounded edge at said point, said at least five edges consisting of a first parallel pair of edges having a first and second edge describing a first plane, said first parallel pair of edges being capable of first contacting an object being punched out therewith, a second parallel pair of edges having a third and a fourth edge, and at least one further edge parallel to said first plane and substantially parallel to and between said first and said second edges, but not in the same plane and recessed in the punch in respect of the first and second edges, wherein the object is substantially flat and has substantially uniform thickness and the first parallel pair of edges and the second parallel pair of edges delineate the shape of said punched out object; a rectangular, square or rhomboid-shaped die having four sides with dimensions substantially identical to th

Abstract: A system and method for automatically collecting at a data repository operational data from remotely distributed medical apparatus via a network, is disclosed, the method comprising: automatically capturing operational data at said medical apparatus; automatically selecting a route through the network for transferring said captured operational data to said data repository; and automatically transmitting said captured operational data to said central medical location via said selected network route.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis for delivering stimuli to a hearing-impaired recipient is disclosed, the hearing prosthesis comprising: a sound transducer for converting received sound signals into electric audio signals; a sound processor for converting said electric audio signals into stimuli signals; a stimulator for delivering said stimuli to the recipient; a memory for storing data representative of sound signals; and a controller configured to cause selected sound data to be retrieved from said memory and processed by said sound processor.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis whereby the change of a parameter by the user is only possible in discrete maximum steps, with the availability for further increments being dependant upon some conditional event or occurrence (“condition” herein) represented by one or more parameters such as the time which has elapsed since some previous event. In embodiments in which the parameter(s) include an event, such event may be, for example, the initial fitting or adjustment by a clinician, the last user adjustment, the last upward adjustment by the user, etc. In certain embodiments, the condition parameter(s) may include, for example, an elapsed period of time, a certain quantity of stimuli at a particular current level, or some combination of time, stimulation count and stimulation level. In alternative embodiments, there may be a tiered set of increasing increments, of which more gradually are available over time.

Abstract: A system for performing one or more tests on a hearing prosthesis is provided. The system is usable by the recipient of the prosthesis, to reduce a testing load on a clinician. The system has a computer that processes software instructions and outputs signals in response to said instructions; a prosthesis interface that provides transfer of signals from the computer to the prosthesis and/or from the prosthesis to the computer; and an interface that allows the recipient of the prosthesis to at least partially control at least some aspect of the tests performed on the prosthesis that is interfaced with the computer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stand-alone microphone test system for a hearing device, comprising a hearing device having at least one microphone, a sound source in communication with the hearing device, wherein, when in operation, the sound source receives a signal from the hearing device, and a mold oriented to hold the hearing device and the sound source such that output from the sound source may be directed to the at least one microphone. There is also provided a stand-alone microphone test method for a hearing device, comprising providing a test signal/sequence output to a sound source/receiver, providing a reference signal to a comparator, receiving output from the Sound source/receiver in a microphone, transmitting the received signal to the comparator, comparing the received signal with the reference signal, and providing a test result.