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: Presented herein are techniques for protecting an implantable component of a medical device from the buildup of excessive heat following a charging process. In one embodiment, the implantable component includes a resonant tank circuit that includes an implantable coil that receives power from the external charging device via an inductive link. The implantable component includes a rechargeable battery that is electrically connected to the resonant tank circuit and that can be recharged using the power received from the external charging device. A controller in the implantable component is configured to determine when charging of the rechargeable battery should be terminated and, in response, detune the resonant tank circuit in accordance with a predetermined pattern to signal to the external charging device that charging of the rechargeable battery should be terminated.

Abstract: A prosthesis including an external device and an implantable component. The external device includes a first inductive communication component. The implantable component includes a second inductive communication component, wherein the implantable component is configured to be implanted under skin of a recipient. The external device is configured to transmit power via magnetic induction transcutaneoulsy to the implantable component via the second inductive communication component. The internal component is configured to receive at least a portion of the power transmitted from the external device via the inductive communication component. At least one of the first and second inductive communication components comprise an inductive communication component configured to vary its effective coil area.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for charging a battery within an implantable component (implant) of an implantable medical device system. A multi-loop external charging device includes a plurality of coil/loop antennas that are each configured to emit a magnetic field that is received by an implantable coil of the implantable component. At least one characteristic (e.g., phases, amplitudes, etc.) of the emitted magnetic fields are varied relative to one another over time.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are example configurations of implantable units of implantable medical devices such as hearing devices. An example implantable hearing device includes a housing having a posterior side and an anterior side, with the anterior side being formed such that an inner edge of the anterior side defines an aperture. The housing includes an electrical feedthrough, a transceiver, and an antenna element. The electrical feedthrough is made of one or more biocompatible materials, and at least a portion of the electrical feedthrough is positioned beneath the aperture. The transceiver is configured to conduct RF communications. Further, the antenna element is electrically connected to the transceiver and is positioned below, above, or inside the electrical feedthrough.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a hearing aid component configured to be arranged at a head of a user, and away from an ear canal of the user, the hearing aid component configured to provide a signal to an earpiece; the earpiece configured to be arranged at the ear of the user, and configured to provide an acoustic output to the user; and a coupling element configured for coupling the hearing aid component and the earpiece, the coupling element having a tube and an electrically conducting element; wherein the electrically conducting element in the coupling element of the hearing aid is configured to operate as a part of an antenna for wireless communication, and wherein the electrically conducting element is configured for electromagnetic signal emission and/or electromagnetic signal reception.

Abstract: A device includes a microphone, a sensor that generates a first signal that is indicative of an orientation of the microphone, and a processor. The processor uses the first signal to determine if the microphone is in a predetermined orientation. Further, the processor, responsive to determining that the microphone is not in the predetermined orientation, generates a second signal that is used to provide a notification that the microphone is not in the predetermined orientation.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an implantable medical device. The medical device comprises an implantable component having a receiver unit; an external charging module having a power transmitter unit; and a data module having a data transmitter unit. The units are configured to establish a transcutaneous communication link over which data and power is transmitted on a single frequency channel via a time interleaving scheme comprising successive frames each divided into at least two time slots, and wherein one or more of the time slots in each frame is allocated to the data transmitter unit, and wherein one or more of the time slots in each frame is allocated to the power transmitter unit, and wherein data and power are transmitted by the transmitter units during their allotted time slots.

Abstract: A method, systems, and devices are disclosed. An example method includes determining whether an external unit of an implanted medical device is coupled to an implanted unit of the implanted medical device. In response to determining that the external unit is coupled to the implanted unit, the example method includes causing the external unit to operate in a first operating mode. In response to determining that the external unit is not coupled to the implanted unit, the example method includes causing the external unit to operate in a second operating mode.

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: The present invention is related to an implantable medical device. The medical device comprises an implantable component having a receiver unit; an external charging module having a power transmitter unit; and a data module having a data transmitter unit. The units are configured to establish a transcutaneous communication link over which data and power is transmitted on a single frequency channel via a time interleaving scheme comprising successive frames each divided into at least two time slots, and wherein one or more of the time slots in each frame is allocated to the data transmitter unit, and wherein one or more of the time slots in each frame is allocated to the power transmitter unit, and wherein data and power are transmitted by the transmitter units during their allotted time slots.

Abstract: Presented herein are low-power active bone conduction devices that comprise an actuator that is subcutaneously implanted within a recipient so as to deliver mechanical output forces to hard tissue of the recipient. The low-power active bone conduction devices include an energy recovery circuit configured to extract non-used energy from the actuator and to store the non-used energy for subsequent use by the actuator. The low-power active bone conduction devices may also include a multi-bit sigma-delta converter that operates in accordance with a scaled sigma-delta quantization threshold value to convert received signals representative of sound into actuator drive signals.

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: The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for supporting different load conditions in a data/power link. In one example, a device includes a transformer that has a first tap with a first turns ratio and a second tap with a second turns ratio. The device further includes electronics and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to selectively couple the electronics to the first tap of the transformer for a first application and to couple the electronics to the second tap of the transformer for a second application.

Abstract: The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for controlling one or more functions of a device utilizing one or more tags. In one example, a method for controlling one or more functions of a medical device includes scanning a data interface of the medical device for signals induced wirelessly by one or more gestures made with one or more tags associated with a recipient of the medical device and controlling one or more functions of the medical device based on the wirelessly induced signals.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for supporting different load conditions in a data/power link. In one example, a device includes a transformer that has a first tap with a first turns ratio and a second tap with a second turns ratio. The device further includes electronics and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to selectively couple the electronics to the first tap of the transformer for a first application and to couple the electronics to the second tap of the transformer for a second application.

Abstract: A prosthesis including an implantable component including an LC circuit, wherein a piezoelectric material forms at least a part of the capacitance portion of the LC circuit, the piezoelectric material expands and/or contracts upon the application of a variable magnetic field to the inductor of the LC circuit, the LC circuit has an electrical self-resonance frequency below 20 kHz, and the piezoelectric material forms part of an actuator configured to output a force to tissue of a recipient in which the implantable component is implanted.

Abstract: Presented herein are low-power active bone conduction devices that comprise an actuator that is subcutaneously implanted within a recipient so as to deliver mechanical output forces to hard tissue of the recipient. The low-power active bone conduction devices include an energy recovery circuit configured to extract non-used energy from the actuator and to store the non-used energy for subsequent use by the actuator. The low-power active bone conduction devices may also include a multi-bit sigma-delta converter that operates in accordance with a scaled sigma-delta quantization threshold value to convert received signals representative of sound into actuator drive signals.

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: The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for controlling one or more functions of a device utilizing one or more tags. In one example, a method for controlling one or more functions of a medical device includes scanning a data interface of the medical device for signals induced wirelessly by one or more gestures made with one or more tags associated with a recipient of the medical device and controlling one or more functions of the medical device based on the wirelessly induced signals.