Abstract: A stapedius reflex threshold determination system is communicatively coupled with a loudspeaker and a cochlear implant implanted within a patient. The system identifies a baseline evoked response level associated with a baseline acoustic stimulation level too low to trigger a stapedius reflex within the patient. The system directs an electro-acoustic stimulation event to be applied to the patient, including electrical stimulation applied by the cochlear implant at a particular electrical stimulation level and acoustic stimulation applied by the loudspeaker at the baseline acoustic stimulation level. The system determines an evoked response level associated with the applied acoustic stimulation and detects that the stapedius reflex is triggered by determining that the evoked response level is at least a predetermined threshold amount lower than the baseline evoked response level.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor may 1) divide an audio signal into M analysis channels, 2) select only N analysis channels included in the M analysis channels for presentation to a patient during a stimulation frame, wherein N is less than M, 3) increase a probability that a particular analysis channel will be included in the N analysis channels selected for presentation to the patient during the stimulation frame if the particular analysis channel was not selected for presentation to the patient during one or more stimulation frames that temporally precede the stimulation frame, and 4) decrease the probability that the particular analysis channel will be included in the N analysis channels selected for presentation to the patient during the stimulation frame if the particular analysis channel was selected for presentation to the patient during the one or more stimulation frames that temporally precede the stimulation frame.

Abstract: A binaural cochlear implant system (system) includes first and second microphones associated with first and second ears of a patient, respectively. The microphones detect an audio signal presented to the patient and output first and second signals representative of the audio signal as detected at the first and second ears, respectively. The system also includes a first sound processor that receives the first signal from the first microphone and the second signal from a second sound processor by way of a communiation link with the second sound processors. The first sound processor generates first and second fine structure signals representative of fine structure information of the first and second fine structure signals. The first sound processor uses the timing pulse signal to represent to the patient an interaural time difference between the first and second signals.

Abstract: A binaural hearing system (“system”) preserves and/or enhances interaural level differences (“ILDs”) between first and second signals. The system includes audio detectors each associated with an ear of a user. The audio detectors detect an audio signal presented to the user and generate the first and second signals to represent the audio signal as detected at each ear. The system also includes sound processors associated with each ear that each receive the first and second signals from the audio detectors directly and/or by way of a communication link from the other sound processor. The sound processors each perform operations with respect to the first and second signals to preserve and/or enhance the ILDs between the signals. In so doing, the sound processors perform a contralateral gain synchronization operation to a first degree at the first sound processor and to a distinct second degree at the second sound processor.

Abstract: An exemplary fitting system 1) directs an EAS system to concurrently apply acoustic stimulation to a patient by way of a loudspeaker and electrical stimulation to the patient by way of an electrode located within a cochlea of the patient, 2) determines an interactive effect that the electrical stimulation has on the acoustic stimulation, 3) directs, if the fitting facility determines that the interactive effect is suppressive, the EAS system to use a first stimulation strategy that steers a current field produced by stimulation of the electrode away from intracochlear acoustic responders within the patient that are associated with the acoustic stimulation, and 4) directs, if the fitting facility does not determine that the interactive effect is suppressive, the EAS system to use a second stimulation strategy that steers the current field produced by the stimulation of the electrode towards the intracochlear acoustic responders.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a stimulation management facility configured to direct an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) system to concurrently apply acoustic stimulation to a patient by way of a loudspeaker and electrical stimulation to the patient by way of an electrode, and 2) a fitting facility communicatively coupled to the stimulation management facility and configured to detect an interaction between the acoustic stimulation and the electrical stimulation, and set one or more control parameters governing an operation of the EAS system based on the detected interaction. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a programming device configured to be located external to a cochlear implant patient and communicatively coupled to a cochlear implant system associated with the patient, 2) a programming interface device communicatively coupled to the programming device and configured to be located external to the patient, and 3) a receiver communicatively coupled directly to the programming interface device. The programming device directs at least one of the cochlear implant system and the receiver to apply stimulation to the patient, records an evoked response that occurs in response to the stimulation, and performs a predetermined action in accordance with the evoked response. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor may 1) divide an audio signal into M analysis channels, 2) select only N analysis channels included in the M analysis channels for presentation to a patient during a stimulation frame, wherein N is less than M, 3) increase a probability that a particular analysis channel will be included in the N analysis channels selected for presentation to the patient during the stimulation frame if the particular analysis channel was not selected for presentation to the patient during one or more stimulation frames that temporally precede the stimulation frame, and 4) decrease the probability that the particular analysis channel will be included in the N analysis channels selected for presentation to the patient during the stimulation frame if the particular analysis channel was selected for presentation to the patient during the one or more stimulation frames that temporally precede the stimulation frame.

Abstract: An exemplary fitting system 1) directs, during a fitting session, an EAS system to concurrently apply acoustic stimulation to a patient by way of a loudspeaker and electrical stimulation to the patient by way of an electrode located within a cochlea of the patient, 2) determines an interactive effect that the electrical stimulation has on the acoustic stimulation, 3) directs, if the determined interactive effect is suppressive, the EAS system to use, during a stimulation session, a first stimulation strategy that steers a current field produced by stimulation of the electrode away from intracochlear acoustic responders within the patient that are associated with the acoustic stimulation, and 4) directs, if the determined interactive effect is enhancing, the EAS system to use, during the stimulation session, a second stimulation strategy that steers the current field produced by the stimulation of the electrode towards the intracochlear acoustic responders.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes an electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS) sound processor, a cochlear implant communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor, an electrode array communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant, and a receiver communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor and configured to be in communication with an ear of a patient. The EAS sound processor 1) directs, while in a self-fitting mode, the receiver to apply acoustic stimulation to the patient, 2) records, using at least one electrode included in the electrode array, an evoked response that occurs in response to the acoustic stimulation, 3) compares the evoked response to a baseline evoked response recorded by the EAS sound processor prior to recording the evoked response, and 4) performs a predetermined action based on the comparison between the evoked response and the baseline evoked response. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor included in a cochlear implant system associated with a patient 1) receives, from a fitting system while the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the fitting system, a command that sets a control parameter associated with the cochlear implant system to an initial value and data representative of a target value associated with the control parameter, 2) detects a decoupling of the sound processor from the fitting system, the decoupling resulting in the sound processor being in a non-fitting state, and 3) gradually adjusts, while the sound processor is in the non-fitting state, the control parameter from the initial value towards the target value in accordance with an adaption time course associated with the control parameter. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary EMG response detection system may be configured to 1) direct an implantable stimulator to sequentially present a plurality of substantially identical stimulation events to a patient, 2) record a plurality of EMG signals generated by a muscle in the patient and each corresponding to a presentation of a particular stimulation event included in the plurality of substantially identical stimulation events, 3) determine an asynchronous component of each of the recorded EMG signals, and 4) utilize the asynchronous components of the recorded EMG signals to determine whether an EMG response is evoked by the stimulation events.

Abstract: An exemplary system may include an intracochlear electrode array configured to be inserted into a cochlea of a patient, an intraneural probe comprising an intraneural electrode contact and configured to be inserted into an auditory nerve of the patient, and a computing system. The computing system may be configured to identify an optimal insertion path for an intraneural electrode array into the auditory nerve of the patient by 1) repeatedly stimulating the intraneural electrode contact of the intraneural probe while the intraneural probe is advanced into the auditory nerve along a probe insertion path, 2) using the intracochlear electrode array to record a plurality of evoked responses that occur in response to the repeated stimulation of the intraneural electrode contact, and 3) determining, based on the plurality of evoked responses, whether the probe insertion path is the optimal insertion path for the intraneural electrode array.

Abstract: An exemplary system 1) presents, during a first time period, a tone in isolation to a patient by way of a receiver in communication with an ear of the patient, the tone having a predetermined frequency included in a frequency band, 2) presents, during a second time period, the tone together with a masking signal to the patient by way of the receiver, 3) uses an electrode located within an intracochlear region of the patient that is associated with the frequency band to record, during the first time period, a first evoked response that occurs in response to the presentation of the tone, and record, during the second time period, a second evoked response that occurs in response to the presentation of the tone together with the masking signal, and 4) determines, based on the first and second evoked responses, whether the intracochlear region is dead.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a programming device configured to be located external to a cochlear implant patient and communicatively coupled to a cochlear implant system associated with the patient, 2) a programming interface device communicatively coupled to the programming device and configured to be located external to the patient, and 3) a receiver communicatively coupled directly to the programming interface device. The programming device directs at least one of the cochlear implant system and the receiver to apply stimulation to the patient, records an evoked response that occurs in response to the stimulation, and performs a predetermined action in accordance with the evoked response. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor (104) 1) identifies a stimulation site within a cochlea of a patient that is to be stimulated in order to represent acoustic content presented to the patient, the stimulation site included within a plurality of stimulation sites associated with a stimulation channel corresponding to a plurality of electrodes, 2) determines a target excitation field width associated with the stimulation channel and 3) dynamically sets, based on the identified stimulation site, an amplitude and a polarity of current to be applied to each electrode included in the plurality of electrodes in order to represent the acoustic content so that an excitation field created by the current has a width that roughly matches the target excitation field width. A system and a corresponding method are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a hearing assistance system comprising a cochlear implant device for neural stimulation of the cochlea of one of the patient's ears and a fitting device for adjusting the cochlear implant device.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a programming device configured to be located external to a cochlear implant patient and communicatively coupled to a cochlear implant system associated with the patient, 2) a programming interface device communicatively coupled to the programming device and configured to be located external to the patient, and 3) a receiver communicatively coupled directly to the programming interface device. The programming device directs at least one of the cochlear implant system and the receiver to apply stimulation to the patient, records an evoked response that occurs in response to the stimulation, and performs a predetermined action in accordance with the evoked response. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary sound processor 1) identifies at least one frequency bin, included in a plurality of frequency bins included in a frequency spectrum of an audio signal that is presented to a cochlear implant patient, that contains spectral energy above a modified spectral envelope, 2) identifies each frequency bin that contains spectral energy below the modified spectral envelope, 3) enhances the spectral energy contained in the at least one frequency bin identified as containing spectral energy above the modified spectral envelope, and 4) compresses the spectral energy contained in each frequency bin identified as containing spectral energy below the modified spectral envelope.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a processing facility configured to process an audio signal presented to a cochlear implant patient and a control facility configured to direct a cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the cochlear implant patient by 1) directing the cochlear implant to concurrently apply a first biphasic stimulation pulse by way of a first electrode and a second biphasic stimulation pulse by way of a second electrode during a first time slot, and 2) directing the cochlear implant to concurrently apply a third biphasic stimulation pulse by way of the second electrode and a fourth biphasic stimulation pulse by way of a third electrode during a second time slot that immediately follows the first time slot. The third and fourth biphasic stimulation pulses are flipped in phase compared to the first and second biphasic stimulation pulses.