Abstract: Arrangements are described for monitoring cochlear implantation surgery. During surgical insertion of a cochlear implant electrode array into a patient cochlea, at least one measurement difference value is determined for at least one electrode contact currently located at a given insertion depth into the patient cochlea based on comparing current stimulus response data for the at least one electrode contact to prior stimulus response data for at least one prior electrode contact previously located at the given insertion depth. A potential trauma response is identified when the at least one measurement difference value exceeds a defined difference value.

Abstract: A system and method of providing an acoustic stimulus for a human subject so as to evoke an auditory response is presented. The method includes creating a chirp signal, wherein creating the chirp signal includes adding a plurality of frequency signals, each frequency signal delayed within the chirp signal based on its associated frequency specific basilar membrane delay determined as a function of measured in vivo frequency specific basilar membrane delays.

Abstract: Approaches are described for adjusting a cochlear implant system that has an electrode array with multiple electrode contacts, which is implanted in a patient. For selected individual electrode contacts, a corresponding channel-specific monoaural interaction component (MIC) score is calculated that represents a channel interaction factor based on a ratio of: i. an electrically evoked auditory brain-stem response (cABR) measurement of an electrical stimulation signal applied to the individual electrode contact, and ii. a sum of individual eABR measurements from simultaneous electrical stimulation of selected electrode contacts nearest to the individual electrode contact. Each electrode contact having a channel-specific MIC score below a MIC score threshold value is then deactivated, whereby electrical stimulation signals are not delivered to deactivated electrode contacts.

Abstract: A system and method of providing an acoustic stimulus for a human subject so as to evoke an auditory response is presented. The method includes creating a chirp signal, wherein creating the chirp signal includes adding a plurality of frequency signals, each frequency signal delayed within the chirp signal based on its associated frequency specific basilar membrane delay determined as a function of measured in vivo frequency specific basilar membrane delays.

Abstract: An inner ear fluid circulation system includes an implantable circulation pump that has a pump inlet and a pump outlet both in fluid communication with inner ear fluid of an implanted patient. The circulation pump is configured to drive the inner ear fluid in from the pump inlet and out through the pump outlet. A pump controller is coupled to the circulation pump and one or more sensing elements for measurement of one or more fluid conditions within the inner ear of the implanted patient, and is configured to control operation of the circulation pump as a function of the measured one or more fluid conditions. Also disclosed is a cochlear implant arrangement and a vestibular implant arrangement comprising such a fluid circulation system.

Abstract: Approaches are described for fitting an implanted cochlear implant having electrode array contacts to an implanted patient. For multiple different fitting methods, each fitting method is assigned one or more electrode contacts wherein no electrode contact is assigned more than one fitting method. For each fitting method, the assigned electrode contacts are fitted according to the fitting method and fitting values for non-assigned electrode contacts are interpolated. Then a fitting is performed for each electrode contact in the electrode array based on a weighted averaging of the fittings for the various different fitting methods.

Abstract: Arrangements are described for monitoring cochlear implantation surgery. During surgical insertion of a cochlear implant electrode array into a patient cochlea, at least one measurement difference value is determined for at least one electrode contact currently located at a given insertion depth into the patient cochlea based on comparing current stimulus response data for the at least one electrode contact to prior stimulus response data for at least one prior electrode contact previously located at the given insertion depth. A potential trauma response is identified when the at least one measurement difference value exceeds a defined difference value.

Abstract: A system and method of fitting an Electric Acoustic Stimulation (EAS) system of a patient that has binaural hearing is provided. The patient has an ipsilateral ear and a contralateral ear opposite the ipsilateral ear, with the EAS system associated with the ipsilateral ear of the patient. Stimulation parameters of the EAS system are developed unilaterally while taking into account hearing abilities of the contralateral ear. The EAS system is configured based on the developed stimulation parameters.

Abstract: Approaches are described for fitting an implanted cochlear implant having electrode array contacts to an implanted patient. For multiple different fitting methods, each fitting method is assigned one or more electrode contacts wherein no electrode contact is assigned more than one fitting method. For each fitting method, the assigned electrode contacts are fitted according to the fitting method and fitting values for non-assigned electrode contacts are interpolated. Then a fitting is performed for each electrode contact in the electrode array based on a weighted averaging of the fittings for the various different fitting methods.

Abstract: Approaches are described for fitting an implanted cochlear implant having electrode array contacts to an implanted patient. For multiple different fitting methods, each fitting method is assigned one or more electrode contacts such that each assigned electrode contact is assigned only one fitting method. For each fitting method, the assigned electrode contacts are fitted according to the fitting method and fitting values for non-assigned electrode contacts are interpolated. Then a fitting is performed for each electrode contact in the electrode array based on a weighted averaging of the fittings for the plurality of different fitting methods.

Abstract: A sound processing arrangement is described for a patient with a bilateral cochlear implant system having implanted electrode arrays in each ear. There is a left-side sensing microphone and a right-side sensing microphone, each configured for sensing the sound environment surrounding the patient and generating corresponding microphone signals. A sound object identification module is configured for analyzing the microphone signals to identify one or more sound objects within the sound environment. A sound object selection module is configured for processing the microphone signals to generate a sound object signal for each of the one or more sound objects. A stimulation side selector module is configured for selecting on which side or sides of the bilateral cochlear implant arrangement to process each sound object signal. One or more sound processors processes the sound object signals to generate stimulation signals to the implanted electrode arrays on the selected side or sides.

Abstract: A sound processing arrangement is described for a patient with a bilateral cochlear implant system having implanted electrode arrays in each ear. There is a left-side sensing microphone and a right-side sensing microphone, each configured for sensing the sound environment surrounding the patient and generating corresponding microphone signals. A sound object identification module is configured for analyzing the microphone signals to identify one or more sound objects within the sound environment. A sound object selection module is configured for processing the microphone signals to generate a sound object signal for each of the one or more sound objects. A stimulation side selector module is configured for selecting on which side or sides of the bilateral cochlear implant arrangement to process each sound object signal. One or more sound processors processes the sound object signals to generate stimulation signals to the implanted electrode arrays on the selected side or sides.

Abstract: A sound processing arrangement is described for a patient with a bilateral cochlear implant system having implanted electrode arrays in each ear. There is a left-side sensing microphone and a right-side sensing microphone, each configured for sensing the sound environment surrounding the patient and generating corresponding microphone signals. A sound object identification module is configured for analyzing the microphone signals to identify one or more sound objects within the sound environment. A sound object selection module is configured for processing the microphone signals to generate a sound object signal for each of the one or more sound objects. A stimulation side selector module is configured for selecting on which side or sides of the bilateral cochlear implant arrangement to process each sound object signal. One or more sound processors processes the sound object signals to generate stimulation signals to the implanted electrode arrays on the selected side or sides.

Abstract: An inner ear fluid circulation system includes an implantable circulation pump that has a pump inlet and a pump outlet both in fluid communication with inner ear fluid of an implanted patient. The circulation pump is configured to drive the inner ear fluid in from the pump inlet and out through the pump outlet. A pump controller is coupled to the circulation pump and one or more sensing elements for measurement of one or more fluid conditions within the inner ear of the implanted patient, and is configured to control operation of the circulation pump as a function of the measured one or more fluid conditions. Also disclosed is a cochlear implant arrangement and a vestibular implant arrangement comprising such a fluid circulation system.

Abstract: A hearing signal processor processes an input sound signal and generates an electrical communications signal for an upper range of sound frequencies, and an acoustic communications signal for a lower range of sound frequencies. An implanted electrical stimulation subsystem includes an electrode array with one or more electrode contacts in an acoustically perceivable cochlear region retaining residual natural hearing. The electrical stimulation subsystem receives the electrical communications signal and delivers corresponding electrical stimulation signals to the electrode contacts for electrical stimulation of adjacent neural tissue. An external acoustic stimulation subsystem receives the acoustic communications signal and delivers corresponding amplified acoustic stimulation signals to the ear canal of the patient.

Abstract: A method of measuring electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses of a patient or animal body is provided. The method includes surgically implanting an auditory prosthesis having an electrode array, the electrode array positioned either intracochlear or substantially proximate a brainstem of the body. At least one electrode is stimulated in the electrode array. Electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses resulting from said stimulation are recorded using, at least in part, an electrode in the electrode array as a negative electrode, and a positive electrode positioned substantially proximate the vertex of the head of the body.

Abstract: A method is described for adjusting hearing implant operating parameters for electrode contacts in an implantable electrode array to minimize tinnitus in an implanted patient. A channel tinnitus masking stimulation level is measured for each electrode contact at which maximum tinnitus masking occurs, Ytin,n. A channel threshold stimulation level also is measured for each electrode contact that represents a lowest detectable stimulation level, Tmeas,n. And a channel maximum stimulation level is measured for each electrode contact that represents a maximum comfortable stimulation level, MCLmeas,n. Channel threshold stimulation level Tn and channel maximum stimulation level MCLn are then adjusted for each electrode contact as a function of the channel tinnitus masking stimulation level Ytin,n and tinnitus masking stimulation levels for adjacent electrode contacts, Ytin,adj.

Abstract: A hearing signal processor processes an input sound signal and generates an electrical communications signal for an upper range of sound frequencies, and an acoustic communications signal for a lower range of sound frequencies. An implanted electrical stimulation subsystem includes an electrode array with one or more electrode contacts in an acoustically perceivable cochlear region retaining residual natural hearing. The electrical stimulation subsystem receives the electrical communications signal and delivers corresponding electrical stimulation signals to the electrode contacts for electrical stimulation of adjacent neural tissue. An external acoustic stimulation subsystem receives the acoustic communications signal and delivers corresponding amplified acoustic stimulation signals to the ear canal of the patient.

Abstract: A sound processing arrangement is described for a patient with a bilateral cochlear implant system having implanted electrode arrays in each ear. There is a left-side sensing microphone and a right-side sensing microphone, each configured for sensing the sound environment surrounding the patient and generating corresponding microphone signals. A sound object identification module is configured for analyzing the microphone signals to identify one or more sound objects within the sound environment. A sound object selection module is configured for processing the microphone signals to generate a sound object signal for each of the one or more sound objects. A stimulation side selector module is configured for selecting on which side or sides of the bilateral cochlear implant arrangement to process each sound object signal. One or more sound processors processes the sound object signals to generate stimulation signals to the implanted electrode arrays on the selected side or sides.

Abstract: A method is described for adjusting hearing implant operating parameters for electrode contacts in an implantable electrode array to minimize tinnitus in an implanted patient. A channel tinnitus masking stimulation level is measured for each electrode contact at which maximum tinnitus masking occurs, Ytin,n. A channel threshold stimulation level also is measured for each electrode contact that represents a lowest detectable stimulation level, Tmeas,n. And a channel maximum stimulation level is measured for each electrode contact that represents a maximum comfortable stimulation level, MCLmeas,n. Channel threshold stimulation level Tn and channel maximum stimulation level MCLn are then adjusted for each electrode contact as a function of the channel tinnitus masking stimulation level Ytin,n and tinnitus masking stimulation levels for adjacent electrode contacts, Ytin,adj.