Abstract: An apparatus includes first circuitry configured to be implanted on or within a recipient's body and to apply stimulation signals to at least one muscle of a recipient and/or to at least one neuron configured to control the at least one muscle. The apparatus further includes second circuitry configured to be implanted on or within the recipient's body and configured to wirelessly receive electrical power from a power source external to the recipient's body and to provide at least a portion of the received electrical power to the first circuitry. The second circuitry includes a plurality of coils, each coil of the plurality of coils having at least one electrically conductive conduit encircling a center axis of the coil. The coils are configured to be implanted on or within the recipient's body with different orientations and/or positions relative to one another.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for wirelessly transferring power signals (power) through the use of a quantized wave-shaped signal, referred to herein as “quantized waveform.” In particular, a quantized waveform generator comprises a pulse generator and a set of amplifiers that are grouped over a distributed resonance capacitor part of a series resonant tank circuit. These amplifiers are driven in a predefined sequence of pulses in order to generate a step function output (quantized waveform). The quantized waveform is used to drive a power transmission coil to cause the power transmission coil to emit wireless power signals at a predetermined operating frequency. The predefined sequence used to drive the amplifiers is such that one or more harmonic components of the operating frequency are substantially eliminated.

Abstract: Presented hearing are techniques for data integrity enhancement for inductively coupled resonant tanks, in particular, the techniques presented here use an external damping switch to perform selective and active damping of an external coil (headpiece coil), and is a device comprising: a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; an external coil assembly including an external coil configured to be inductively coupled with an implantable coil to form a closely-coupled RF link; and an external damping switch circuit electrically connected with the external coil, wherein the external damping switch circuit is controlled according to a programmable on-time for damping activation, to provide selective active damping of the external coil during transmission of data on the closely-coupled RF link.

Abstract: Presented herein are implantable medical devices that comprise an implantable portion having a resonant tank circuit that is used to receive signals from one or more external devices. The resonant tank circuit is configured to operate at first and second resonant frequencies, where the first resonant frequency is optimized to exchange data with, and potentially receive operating power from, an external device, while the second resonant frequency is optimized to receive charging power. In certain embodiments, upon initiating operation of the implantable portion with at least one external device, the implantable portion is configured to force tune the resonant tank circuit to the first resonant frequency. That is, when the resonant tank circuit first begins receiving signals from an external device, the signals received at the resonant tank circuit are used to initially tune the resonant tank circuit to the first resonant frequency.

Abstract: A system, including a first device and a second device, wherein the first device is a component of a sensory prosthesis configured to receive a data stream and evoke a sensory percept based on the data stream, and the second device is configured to provide spatial output to the first device and/or another device remote from the second device.

Abstract: An auditory prosthesis comprising an actuator for providing mechanical stimulation to a recipient. The auditory prosthesis comprises a measurement circuit for use in determining the resonance peak(s) of the actuator. In an embodiment, the measurement circuit measures the voltage drop across the actuator and/or current through the actuator during a frequency sweep of the operational frequencies of the actuator. These measured voltages and/or currents are then analyzed for discontinuities that are indicative of a resonance peak of the actuator. In another embodiment, rather than using a frequency sweep to measure voltages and/or currents across the actuator, the measurement circuit instead applies a voltage impulse to the actuator and then measure the voltage and/or current across the actuator for a period of time after application of the impulse. The measured voltages and/or currents are then analyzed to identify resonance peak(s) of the actuator.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for adjusting one or more parameters or operations associated with a first wireless link operating in accordance with a first wireless protocol (e.g., a non-standardized/proprietary wireless protocol) based on one or more parameters or operations associated with a second wireless link operating in accordance with a second wireless protocol (e.g., a standardized protocol).

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to techniques for the transfer of isochronous stimulation data over a standardized isochronous audio or data link between components of an implantable medical device system. More specifically, as described further below, a first component is configured to generate dynamic stimulation data based on one or more received sound signals. The first component is configured to obtain static configuration data and to encode the dynamic stimulation data and the static configuration data into a series of isochronous wireless packets. The first component is configured to transmit the series of wireless packets over an isochronous wireless channel to a second component of the implantable medical device system.

Abstract: Presented herein are implantable medical devices that comprise an implantable portion having a resonant tank circuit that is used to receive signals from one or more external devices. The resonant tank circuit is configured to operate at first and second resonant frequencies, where the first resonant frequency is optimized to exchange data with, and potentially receive operating power from, an external device, while the second resonant frequency is optimized to receive charging power. In certain embodiments, upon initiating operation of the implantable portion with at least one external device, the implantable portion is configured to force tune the resonant tank circuit to the first resonant frequency. That is, when the resonant tank circuit first begins receiving signals from an external device, the signals received at the resonant tank circuit are used to initially tune the resonant tank circuit to the first resonant frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing external to a recipient's body, at least one energy transmission coil on or within the housing, and at least one magnetic material on or within the housing. The housing is configured to be placed on the recipient's body with the at least one energy transmission coil inductively coupled to at least one energy reception coil of a device implanted within the recipient's body and the at least one magnetic material closer to the implanted device than is the at least one energy transmission coil.

Abstract: An apparatus includes load modulation sensing circuitry configured to detect variations on a DC electrical current used by power transmission circuitry configured to be in wireless communication with power receiving circuitry of a device. The load modulation sensing circuitry configured to detect at least positive variations on the DC electrical current greater than or equal to a first threshold level, to detect at least negative variations on the DC electrical current greater than or equal to a second threshold level, and to process detected positive variations and detected negative variations to generate signals indicative of load modulation of the power receiving circuitry of the device.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to techniques for the transfer of isochronous stimulation data over a standardized isochronous audio or data link between components of an implantable medical device system. More specifically, as described further below, a first component is configured to generate dynamic stimulation data based on one or more received sound signals. The first component is configured to obtain static configuration data and to encode the dynamic stimulation data and the static configuration data into a series of isochronous wireless packets. The first component is configured to transmit the series of wireless packets over an isochronous wireless channel to a second component of the implantable medical device system.

Abstract: An external headpiece of an implantable hearing aid system, including an RF coil, a sound processing apparatus, a battery, and a magnet configured to support the headpiece against skin of the recipient via a transcutaneous magnetic coupling with an implanted magnet implanted in a recipient, wherein a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical battery extends through the magnet.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring a recipient's tongue position while the recipient is asleep. The method further includes (comparing the recipient's tongue position to at least one predetermined threshold position at which the recipient's tongue does not substantially impair breathing of the recipient during sleep. The method further includes, in response to said comparing, selectively generating and applying stimulation signals to the recipient's tongue and/or hypoglossal nerve such that the recipient's tongue moves to a modified position further from substantially impairing breathing of the recipient during sleep than is the recipient's tongue at the at least one predetermined threshold position.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques that provide an external component of an implantable medical device system with the ability to use a single inductive coil assembly to both receive charging signals from an inductive charger and for bi-directional transcutaneous communication with an implantable component. In particular, an external component comprises a coil assembly comprising a first coil segment and a second coil segment. The first and second coil segments have a first electrically connected arrangement that is used to receive charging signals, and a second electrically connected arrangement that is used for the bi-directional transcutaneous communication.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one implantable housing containing circuitry and configured to be implanted on and substantially parallel to a bone surface within a recipient. The apparatus further includes at least one electrical conduit in electrical communication with the circuitry and extending from the at least one implantable housing to a region within the recipient. The apparatus further includes at least one magnetic induction antenna in electrical communication with the at least one electrical conduit and spaced from the at least one implantable housing. The at least one magnetic induction antenna extends around an antenna axis. The at least one magnetic induction antenna is configured to be affixed within the region with the antenna axis substantially non-parallel and substantially non-orthogonal to the bone surface.

Abstract: A BTE prosthetic device for use in a medical system or prosthesis comprises a connector configured to mechanically attach an auxiliary device of the system to the BTE prosthetic device. The connector is electrically connected to a transceiver of the BTE prosthetic device. The connector operates as an electromagnetic antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals between the BTE prosthetic and other components of the medical system.

Abstract: An apparatus includes first circuitry configured to be implanted on or within a recipient's body and to apply stimulation signals to at least one muscle of a recipient and/or to at least one neuron configured to control the at least one muscle. The apparatus further includes second circuitry configured to be implanted on or within the recipient's body and configured to wirelessly receive electrical power from a power source external to the recipient's body and to provide at least a portion of the received electrical power to the first circuitry. The second circuitry includes a plurality of coils, each coil of the plurality of coils having at least one electrically conductive conduit encircling a center axis of the coil. The coils are configured to be implanted on or within the recipient's body with different orientations and/or positions relative to one another.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to techniques for separately transferring power and data from an external device to an implantable component of a partially or fully implantable medical device. The separated power and data transfer techniques use a single external coil and a single implantable coil. The external coil is part of an external resonant circuit, while the implantable coil is part of an implantable resonant circuit. The external coil is configured to transcutaneously transfer power and data to the implantable coil using separate (different) power and data time slots. At least one of the external or internal resonant circuit is substantially more damped during the data time slot than during the power time slot.

Abstract: Technologies disclosed herein can be used to test vibrating actuators, such as those found in auditory prostheses. An example test system includes a trigger signal generator that emits a trigger signal, a test frequency generator that operates in a test mode responsive to receiving a trigger signal, and a diagnostic tool comprising a vibration sensor. The diagnostic tool can measure an output of the vibration sensor.