Abstract: An apparatus and method for implanting and securing an implanted medical device in a recipient. The implantable medical device of the generally includes a stimulating lead assembly that comprises an elongate carrier member having at least one stimulating element positioned thereon. The stimulating lead assembly further has an expandable portion thereon configured to be inserted into said reference structure in a first dimension, expand to a second dimension, and interact with a portion of the reference structure to help longitudinally secure the carrier member in the recipient.

Abstract: An implantable device for mounting to a patient's bone includes a housing and at least one osseointegrating protuberance. The housing includes a surface having an abutting portion configured to abut the bone when the housing is implanted in the patient, the abutting portion defining a housing axis orthogonal to the surface. The at least one osseointegrating protuberance: extends from the surface of the housing; is adapted to abut the patient's bone; and has a substantially smooth shaft.

Abstract: A training system is disclosed. The training system includes a server. The server includes a processor, data storage, a data input/output interface, and a voice interface. The data input/output interface is configured to provide a web-based interface to a data terminal and to receive, from the data terminal and via the web-based interface, both an identifier identifying at least one voice terminal and at least one response. The voice interface is configured to transmit at least one audio test signal corresponding to at least one audio test to the at least one voice terminal. The response is a response to the at least one audio test. In one embodiment, the voice terminal and the data terminal are combined in a single device.

Abstract: A method and system to facilitate the collaborative development and discovery of evidence-based, clinical pathways. Clinicians, medical professionals or researchers, may use the Platform to build and find clinical pathways through a graphical interface, creating relational data records between steps in pathways. Further, users of the Platform may be able to associate relevant content such as published evidence, supplemental content items (e.g., videos, images, documents, ICD-11, CPT, SNOMED Clinical Terms, and external web pages), and other associated pathways which reside in the system's database. Users of the Platform may be able organize themselves into groups and networks to develop single pathways collaboratively. Users may be able to find specific pathways in the Platform through semantic search, querying for relationships which exist inside of individual pathways. Search results may be generated for a variety of user driven data, both explicit and implicit.

Abstract: A medical implant, such as a cochlear implant, comprising a fixating point which is located remotely from the medical implant. This arrangement can reduce the risk of post operative infection in a patient in which the medical implant is implanted.

Abstract: An implantable drug-delivery sleeve for an elongate component of an implantable medical device. The sleeve includes a tubular substrate having a lumen configured to receive the elongate component so as to allow relative displacement of the substrate and the elongate component, wherein the substrate is shaped so as to be retained stationary at a desired position along the elongate component, and a drug releasably carried by the substrate.

Abstract: An implantable electrode array (30) that can adopt a first configuration selected to allow the array (30) to be inserted into a cochlea (12) of an implantee and at least a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation. The array (30) comprises an elongate carrier (31) having a proximal end (37), a distal end (34), and an inner surface (35) conformable with the inner wall of the implantee's cochlea (12). A plurality of electrodes (36) are supported within the carrier (31) at respective spaced locations thereon in a region between the proximal end (37) and the distal end (34) with at least one of the electrodes having a surface that is at least adjacent the inner surface (35) of the carrier (31). The carrier (31) is formed in the second configuration from a first layer (32) and at least a second layer (32) of resiliently flexible material. Manufacturing methods include molding the first and second layers into an array such as that described above.

Abstract: A housing for an implantable device for mounting to a patient's bone is disclosed. The housing comprises one or more surfaces, wherein at least one of the surfaces is substantially orthogonal to an implant axis and is configured to abut the patient's bone, and a first osseointegrating protuberance extending from one of the surfaces, wherein a longitudinal axis of the first protuberance is disposed at an acute first angle relative to the implant axis.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for the diagnosis of obstructive airways diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the discrimination between such diseases based on the expression profiles of biomarker proteins and combinations of biomarker proteins. In particular embodiments the biomarker proteins are selected from ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, hemopexin, -2-macroglobulin, prothrombin, immunoglobulin A and complement factor H.

Abstract: A medical implant, such as a cochlear implant, comprising a fixating point which is located remotely from the medical implant. This arrangement can reduce the risk of post operative infection in a patient in which the medical implant is implanted.

Abstract: A device used for inserting an electrode array into a cochlea of a subject. Particularly, the device is adapted for the insertion of electrode arrays having an elongate carrier member and a removable means extending through the carrier member. The device includes a handle, an elongate positioning member mounted to the handle, an actuator member movable relative to the elongate positioning member, and at least one anchor member connected to the actuator member and engageable with the removable means. On insertion of the electrode array into a subject's cochlea, the actuator member can be moved relative to the elongate positioning member to withdraw the removable means from the carrier member.

Abstract: A neural-stimulating device for stimulating nerve cells of a recipient is provided. The neural-stimulating device comprises an electromagnetic radiation source configured to generate one or more optical stimulation signals and an electrical stimulation generator configured to generate electrical stimulation signals. The neural-stimulating device also comprises an implantable stimulating assembly configured to be implanted in the recipient, and having disposed thereon an optical contact to deliver the one or more optical stimulation signals to the nerve cells, and an electrical contact to deliver the electric stimulation signals to the nerve cells.

Abstract: A training system is disclosed. The training system includes a server. The server includes a processor, data storage, a data input/output interface, and a voice interface. The data input/output interface is configured to provide a web-based interface to a data terminal and to receive, from the data terminal and via the web-based interface, both an identifier identifying at least one voice terminal and at least one response. The voice interface is configured to transmit at least one audio test signal corresponding to at least one audio test to the at least one voice terminal. The response is a response to the at least one audio test. In one embodiment, the voice terminal and the data terminal are combined in a single device.

Abstract: An implantable tissue-stimulating device, such as a cochlear implant, having a resiliently flexible elongate member (11) having a plurality of electrodes (12) positioned thereon. The elongate member (11) provides a means of delivering at least one bio-active substance to the implantee following implantation of the elongate member (11). The delivery means can comprise a lumen 21 containing the bio-active substance in a liquid form. The bio-active substance can comprise a steroid or can perform a function of reducing the resting neuron potential of neurons within the cochlea.

Abstract: A neural-stimulating device for stimulating nerve cells of a recipient is provided. The neural-stimulating device comprises an electromagnetic radiation source configured to generate one or more optical stimulation signals and an electrical stimulation generator configured to generate electrical stimulation signals. The neural-stimulating device also comprises an implantable stimulating assembly configured to be implanted in the recipient, and having disposed thereon an optical contact to deliver the one or more optical stimulation signals to the nerve cells, and an electrical contact to deliver the electric stimulation signals to the nerve cells.

Abstract: A magnetic alignment system that can form part of a cochlear implant system. The magnetic alignment system prevents substantial movement of a magnet of an implanted component during an MRI procedure or allows for easy removal of the magnet to facilitate the MRI procedure.

Abstract: A cochlear implant is provided. The cochlear implant comprises a stimulator unit configured to generate electrical stimulation signals based on sound processor-encoded signals, and to generate one or more optical stimulation signals, and an implantable stimulating assembly. The implantable stimulating assembly is configured to be implanted into a basal region of a recipient's cochlea such that when the stimulating assembly is fully implanted, a distal end of the assembly extends to the basal turn of the cochlea. The stimulating assembly also comprises: an optical contact to deliver the one or more optical stimulation signals to the cochlea, and an electrical contact to deliver the electric stimulation signals to a basal region of the cochlea so as to cause perception by the recipient of one or more frequency components of the acoustic sound signal.

Abstract: A non-communicative lumen for electrode assemblies of medical implants, in particular prosthetic hearing implants, is provided by the present invention. The non-communicative lumen prevents the lumen within the cochlea from being able to transport fluids, cells, bacteria, tissue, etc., with the lumen outside the cochlea, and vis versa through the incision or cochleostomy. The lumen may have a cavity or slit that receives a stylet during insertion of the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A complementary drug delivery sheath for implantable medical devices. The complementary drug delivery sheath is covered, impregnated or otherwise carries one or more drugs. The complementary drug-delivery sheaths are manufactured separately from to the implantable device and are operationally combined with the device subsequent to the device's manufacture and/or sterilization. For example, embodiments of the complementary drug-delivery sheaths may be configured, for example, to attain an implanted position adjacent to one or more surfaces of an implantable medical device. In certain embodiments, the sheath is configured in the form of a glove, pocket, pouch, or the like to receive and to partially or completely wrap around or envelop an implantable medical device. Embodiments of the complementary drug delivery sheath may be implanted into the recipient prior to, concurrently with, or subsequent to the implantation of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising an elongate electrode carrier member, a stiffening element, and a stiffening sheath that at least partially envelops the elongate member. The member is made of a resiliently flexible first material and has a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon. The member has a first configuration that allows it to be inserted into an implantee's cochlea. The member also has a second configuration wherein the member is curved to match an inside surface of the cochlea, and at least one intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations. Both the stiffening element and sheath are made of a material that is relatively stiffer than the member. The stiffening element and the stiffening sheath in combination bias the elongate member into the first configuration. If either the stiffening element or the stiffening sheath is removed or deactivated, the elongate member adopts an intermediate configuration.