Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver unit, a handle unit, and a handle extension. The handle unit is selectively and removably attachable to the driver unit. The handle extension has a first end and a second end, the handle extension being selectively and removably attachable to the driver unit at the first end, and being selectively and removably attachable to the handle unit at the second end. The powered fastener driver is adjustable between a first configuration in which the handle unit is directly attached to the driver unit, and a second configuration in which the driver unit is attached to the handle extension at the first end, and the handle unit is attached to the handle extension at the second end.

Abstract: An electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to forcefully infill a tissue opening so as to effectively prevent transport of electrical current, fluid and bacteria through the tissue opening. A cochlear implant comprising: an elongate electrode carrier member having at least one electrode disposed thereon, wherein the carrier member is configured to traverse a cochleostomy to position the electrodes in the cochlea; and an electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to circumferentially surround a portion of the carrier member traversing the cochleostomy, and to forcefully infill cochleostomy thereby segregating perilymphatic canals of the cochlea from extracochlear regions.

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 method and system for charge imbalance compensation in a stimulating medical device is provided. The stimulating medical device includes at least one electrode contact configured for providing stimulation to a recipient. A charge imbalance compensation system in the stimulating medical device measures any residual charge remaining on the electrode contact that may result from an imbalance in the applied stimulation. If the measured residual charge exceeds a threshold, the charge imbalance compensation system causes a compensator current to be applied to reduce the residual charge. This residual charge may be measured by measuring a potential difference between the electrode contact and a reference electrode; or, by measuring a potential difference across a capacitor in-series with the electrode contact.

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 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 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 the electric audio signals into stimuli signals; a stimulator for delivering the 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 the memory and processed by the sound processor.

Abstract: An electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to forcefully infill a tissue opening so as to effectively prevent transport of electrical current, fluid and bacteria through the tissue opening. A cochlear implant comprising: an elongate electrode carrier member having at least one electrode disposed thereon, wherein the carrier member is configured to traverse a cochleostomy to position the electrodes in the cochlea; and an electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to circumferentially surround a portion of the carrier member traversing the cochleostomy, and to forcefully infill cochleostomy thereby segregating perilymphatic canals of the cochlea from extracochlear regions.

Abstract: A method and system for charge imbalance compensation in a stimulating medical device is provided. The stimulating medical device includes at least one electrode contact configured for providing stimulation to a recipient. A charge imbalance compensation system in the stimulating medical device measures any residual charge remaining on the electrode contact that may result from an imbalance in the applied stimulation. If the measured residual charge exceeds a threshold, the charge imbalance compensation system causes a compensator current to be applied to reduce the residual charge. This residual charge may be measured by measuring a potential difference between the electrode contact and a reference electrode; or, by measuring a potential difference across a capacitor in-series with the electrode contact.

Abstract: This method of determining an intracochlea tissue impedance comprises using at least two stimulating electrodes to apply an electrical stimulus to intracochlea tissue. A voltage caused by the stimulus is measured between two measuring electrodes distinct from the stimulating electrodes. From the voltage a stimulus-response characteristic of tissue between the two measuring electrodes is determined. This allows the tissue/electrode interface impedance and potential and the tissue impedance and potential to be uniquely determined. In turn, modiolus currents can be estimated in monopolar stimulation mode.

Abstract: An apparatus (30) that can test external components of a cochlear implant system in a manner that does not require the person conducting the test to have advanced knowledge of the operation of the tested component. The apparatus provides a relatively quick and straightforward answer to the question of whether the component is operative or not. The testing apparatus (30) comprises at least one testing station (32,33,34) for receiving the component to be tested and makes an electrical and/or inductive connection thereto. A testing circuit is adapted to apply at least one test to the component and measure the response of the component to that test. The apparatus (30) compares the response of the component to stored data indicative of the response to the test of at least one equivalent component that is known to be operational and outputs a result of said comparison.

Abstract: A cochlear implant system in which information about the periodicity of a received audio signal in each filter channel is used as a factor in determining the rate of stimulation applied to a tonotopically placed electrode corresponding to the relevant filter channel. As such, the stimulation rate for each electrode is related to the periodicity of the signal in the filter channel corresponding to that electrode. This may allow for improved perception of pitch by the implant recipient.

Abstract: An electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to forcefully infill a tissue opening so as to effectively prevent transport of electrical current, fluid and bacteria through the tissue opening. A cochlear implant comprising: an elongate electrode carrier member having at least one electrode disposed thereon, wherein the carrier member is configured to traverse a cochleostomy to position the electrodes in the cochlea; and an electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to circumferentially surround a portion of the carrier member traversing the cochleostomy, and to forcefully infill cochleostomy thereby segregating perilymphatic canals of the cochlea from extracochlear regions.

Abstract: A veneer lathe has a frame, a support for rotatably drivingly supporting a peel block, and a knife for peeling veneer from the block. First and second "backup" rolls rotatably, drivingly engage the block during peeling thereof. The first roll is positioned along a first arc which is centred on a first pivot axis; and, the second roll is positioned along a second arc which is centred on the first roll.