Abstract: An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor apparatus having 1) an interface assembly that includes at least a first contact that facilitates interchangeable connectivity of a plurality of external components to the sound processor apparatus, the plurality of external components including a programming system, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the first contact and that communicates with each of the plurality of external components by way of the first contact. The exemplary auditory prosthesis system may also include a wireless module configured to be interchangeably connected to the interface assembly in place of the programming system, wherein, while the wireless module is interchangeably connected to the interface assembly, the wireless module is communicatively coupled to the control module by way of the first contact. Corresponding auditory prosthesis systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of distributed power without the use of a headpiece.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient and comprising cochlear implant circuitry configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, and 2) a modular connector coupled to the cochlear implant module by way of a cable and configured to be implanted within the patient. The modular connector may be removably connected to an implantable antenna in order to facilitate communicative coupling of the implantable antenna to the cochlear implant circuitry. In this configuration, the cochlear implant circuitry may wirelessly communicate with a sound processor located external to the patient. The modular connector may alternatively be removably connected to an implantable sound processor. In this configuration, the cochlear implant circuitry and the implantable sound processor may communicate one with another by way of a wired connection. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of distributed power.

Abstract: Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of a head mountable power supply to power an implantable cochlear stimulator.

Abstract: A sound processor, for use with a cochlear implant, that includes directional microphone capabilities.

Abstract: An exemplary system for facilitating binaural hearing by a cochlear implant patient includes 1) a spectral analysis facility configured to divide a first audio signal presented to a first ear of the patient and a second audio signal presented to a second ear of the patient into first and second sets of analysis channels, respectively, and 2) a processing facility configured to process acoustic content contained in a first analysis channel included in the first set of analysis channels and acoustic content contained in a second analysis channel included in the second set of analysis channels, mix the processed acoustic content contained in the first and second analysis channels, and direct a cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of the mixed acoustic content to the first ear by way of a stimulation channel that corresponds to the first analysis channel.

Abstract: Sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor module configured to process an audio signal and operate in accordance with a plurality of control parameters and an accessory header module configured to be selectively coupled to the sound processor module and facilitate external adjustment of one or more control parameters included in the plurality of control parameters while coupled to the sound processor module. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary bilateral auditory prosthesis system includes 1) a primary auditory prosthesis configured to be implanted on a first side of a head of a patient, 2) a secondary auditory prosthesis configured to be implanted on a second side of the head of the patient and to be communicatively coupled to the primary auditory prosthesis with one or more wires, the second side being contralateral to the first side, and 3) a sound processor configured to be communicatively coupled to the primary auditory prosthesis and to control an operation of the secondary auditory prosthesis by transmitting control data to the secondary auditory prosthesis by way of the primary auditory prosthesis and at least one wire included in the one or more wires. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for installing a magnet into a cochlear implant.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor apparatus includes 1) an earhook interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that is configured to interchangeably connect to a microphone assembly and an EAS receiver assembly by way of the plurality of contacts, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that is configured to selectively operate in an input mode or in an output mode. While operating in the input mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as input ports to receive one or more audio signals detected by the microphone assembly while the microphone assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly. While operating in the output mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as output ports to output one or more EAS signals to the EAS receiver assembly while the EAS receiver assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system includes 1) a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a patient, 2) a sound processor configured to be located external to the patient and to direct the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, and 3) an implantable battery configured to be implanted within the patient and to provide operating power for the cochlear implant. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus for use with an auditory prosthesis system includes a housing, a connector port disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to be communicatively coupled to an auxiliary audio input device, a telecoil disposed at least partially within the housing, and a multi-position switch disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to selectively enable the auxiliary audio input device and the telecoil. The auxiliary audio input device is enabled and the telecoil is disabled when the switch is in a first position, both the auxiliary audio input device and the telecoil are enabled when the switch is in a second position, and the telecoil is enabled and the auxiliary audio input device is disabled when the switch is in a third position. Corresponding apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cochlear implant system includes an electrode array comprising a tip element and a sensing module in communication with the tip element. The sensing module detects conditions surrounding the electrode array using the tip element during insertion of the electrode array into a cochlea. Various methods for implanting a cochlear electrode array with a tip element are also presented.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient and comprising cochlear implant circuitry configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, and 2) a modular connector coupled to the cochlear implant module by way of a cable and configured to be implanted within the patient. The modular connector may be removably connected to an implantable antenna in order to facilitate communicative coupling of the implantable antenna to the cochlear implant circuitry. In this configuration, the cochlear implant circuitry may wirelessly communicate with a sound processor located external to the patient. The modular connector may alternatively be removably connected to an implantable sound processor. In this configuration, the cochlear implant circuitry and the implantable sound processor may communicate one with another by way of a wired connection. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient and comprising cochlear implant circuitry configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, 2) an implantable sound processor module configured to be implanted within the patient and comprising sound processor circuitry configured to optically transmit data and/or power to the cochlear implant circuitry, and 3) an optical connector assembly configured to facilitate removable coupling of the implantable sound processor module to the cochlear implant module by way of the optical connector assembly. The optical connector assembly comprises one or more optical fibers configured to facilitate the optical transmission of the data and/or the power from the sound processor circuitry to the cochlear implant circuitry while the implantable sound processor module is removably coupled to the cochlear implant module by way of the optical connector assembly.

Abstract: A sound processor, for use with a cochlear implant, that includes directional microphone capabilities.

Abstract: An exemplary system for facilitating binaural hearing by a cochlear implant patient includes 1) a spectral analysis facility configured to divide a first audio signal presented to a first ear of the patient and a second audio signal presented to a second ear of the patient into first and second sets of analysis channels, respectively, and 2) a processing facility configured to process acoustic content contained in a first analysis channel included in the first set of analysis channels and acoustic content contained in a second analysis channel included in the second set of analysis channels, mix the processed acoustic content contained in the first and second analysis channels, and direct a cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of the mixed acoustic content to the first ear by way of a stimulation channel that corresponds to the first analysis channel.

Abstract: Sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed.