Abstract: A hearing aid system including an implant (60) configured for insertion into a recess (40) formed under the skin of the retro-auricular space (50), which implant does not occlude the ear canal (30). The implant includes electronic circuitry (72), a transducer (65, e.g., speaker), antenna (64), and power source (66). The hearing aid also includes an external module (70), which module includes a microphone (163), electronics (172), antenna (164), and power source (166). A telemetry link (76) between the external module antenna and the implant antenna allows transmissions between the microphone module and the implant.

Abstract: A system and method that facilitates stimulating neural pathways, e.g., muscles and/or associated nerves, of a patient's body for the purpose of therapeutic medical treatment by rehabilitating weakened muscles and using neuroplasticity to retrain sequential muscle movements and/or to provide the ability to directly deliver functional motor movements. Use of the present invention is of particular value for treating a patient following a stroke. More particularly, such systems are characterized by a plurality of discrete devices, preferably battery powered but may alternatively include RF-powered devices as well or in combination, configured for implanting within a patient's body via injection, each device being configured to affect a parameter, e.g., via nerve and/or muscle stimulation and/or to sense a body parameter, e.g., temperature, O2 content, physical position, electrical potential, etc.

Abstract: A device configured for implanting beneath a patient's skin for the purpose of tissue, e.g., nerve or muscle, stimulation and/or parameter monitoring and/or data communication. Devices in accordance with the invention are comprised of a sealed housing, typically having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, containing a power source for powering electronic circuitry within including a controller, an address storage means, a data signal receiver and an input/output transducer. When used as a stimulator, such a device is useful in a wide variety of applications to stimulate nerves and associated neural pathways. Alternatively, devices of the present invention are configurable to monitor a biological parameter. Furthermore, a placement structure is shown for facilitating placement of the implantable device proximate to neural/muscular tissue.

Abstract: A system and method of treating sleep apnea by providing a first and a second microstimulator proximate to a first and second hypoglossal nerve (HGN) respectively and stimulating the first and second HGN for a first and second predetermined length of time. The first and second predetermined length of time may occur sequentially or concurrently. Moreover, the stimulation of the first and second HGNs may be at a sub-motor threshold afferent stimulation level or at a motor-threshold stimulation level. The stimulation of the first and second HGN may be performed in an open-loop or a closed-loop manner.

Abstract: A hearing aid system including an implant (60) configured for insertion into a recess (40) formed under the skin of the retro-auricular space (50), which implant does not occlude the ear canal (30). The implant includes electronic circuitry (72), a transducer (65, e.g., speaker), antenna (64), and power source (66). The hearing aid also includes an external module (70), which module includes a microphone (163), electronics (172), antenna (164), and power source (166). A telemetry link (76) between the external module antenna and the implant antenna allows transmissions between the microphone module and the implant.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods of making electrical connections in living tissue between an electrically conductive wire and an implantable miniature device. The device may either stimulate muscles or nerves in the body or detect signals and transmit these signals outside the body or transmit the signals for use at another location within the body. The device is comprised of an electrically insulating or electrically conductive case with at least one electrode for transmitting electrical signals. The electrodes and the wire-electrode connections are protected from the aggressive environment within the body to avoid corrosion of the electrode and to avoid damage to the living tissue surrounding the device.

Abstract: A system of implantable sensor/stimulation devices that is configured to communicate with a prosthetic device, e.g., an artificial limb, via a wireless communication link, preferably bidirectionally. By communicating between the implantable devices coupled to neural pathways within a man and motor/sensor interfaces in the prosthetic device, a machine, a man/machine interface is established to replace an absent limb. Systems of the present invention may extend to prosthetic devices, e.g., cranes or the like, that further extend the man/machine interface to allow a man to control a “large” remote piece of machinery directly via neural control.

Abstract: A system for enhancing a patient's hearing using electrically driven sound transducer, i.e., a speaker, implanted in the patient's middle ear cavity. More particularly, the speaker is implanted in the middle ear cavity inward of the tympanic membrane and oriented to direct sound energy toward the ossicles or the round window. In a first arrangement, the speaker functions to vibrate the ossicles and thus, via the oval window, actuate the perilymph in the cochlea. In an alternative arrangement, the speaker functions to actuate the cochlea via sound injected into the round window.

Abstract: A system for enhancing hearing comprised of both a middle ear implant and a cochlear implant. The system directs signals relating to lower frequency sound to the middle ear implant and signals relating to higher frequency sound to the cochlear implant. The middle ear implant comprises an electrically driven actuator, e.g., a speaker, for vibrating the middle ear ossicles via air conducted sound energy or a mechanical transducer for physically contacting and mechanically vibrating the ossicles. The cochlear implant includes electrodes preferably implanted at a shallow level at the basal end of the cochlea.

Abstract: A hearing aid comprised of conventional cochlear implant electronics implanted in the middle ear and coupled to an actuator configured to mechanically vibrate the middle ear ossicles. The implant electronics, typically used for driving an electrode array implanted in the cochlea, is used instead to supply electric drive signals to the actuator for mechanically vibrating the ossicles.

Abstract: The invention is a method of removing a miniature implantable electronic device by means of an integral eyelet or circumferential ring to facilitate removal of the implanted device without surgery. The string, if radio-opaque, provides a method of locating the miniature implantable device without surgery and attachment of one end of the string to a radio-opaque marker provides a method of locating the end of the string to facilitate non-surgical removal of the miniature implantable device from living tissue. Alternatively, the miniature implantable device may be placed in a silk tube prior to being implanted in the living tissue, to facilitate removal from the tissue. Additionally, the eyelet increases the life of the miniature implantable device, if it is made of a metal, such as platinum or iridium, which has a low metal-to-electrolyte voltage drop by virtue of improved electrical coupling to a saline solution.

Abstract: A system of implantable sensor/stimulation devices that is configured to communicate with a prosthetic device, e.g., an artificial limb, via a wireless communication link, preferably bidirectionally. By communicating between the implantable devices coupled to neural pathways within a man and motor/sensor interfaces in the prosthetic device, a machine, a man/machine interface is established to replace an absent limb. Systems of the present invention may extend to prosthetic devices, e.g., cranes or the like, that further extend the man/machine interface to allow a man to control a “large” remote piece of machinery directly via neural control.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods of making electrical connections in living tissue between an electrically conductive wire and an implantable miniature device. The device may either stimulate muscles or nerves in the body or detect signals and transmit these signals outside the body or transmit the signals for use at another location within the body. The device is comprised of an electrically insulating or electrically conductive case with at least one electrode for transmitting electrical signals. The electrodes and the wire-electrode connections are protected from the aggressive environment within the body to avoid corrosion of the electrode and to avoid damage to the living tissue surrounding the device.

Abstract: A system for enhancing hearing comprised of both a middle ear implant and a cochlear implant. The system directs signals relating to lower frequency sound to the middle ear implant and signals relating to higher frequency sound to the cochlear implant. The middle ear implant comprises an electrically driven actuator, e.g., a speaker, for vibrating the middle ear ossicles via air conducted sound energy or a mechanical transducer for physically contacting and mechanically vibrating the ossicles. The cochlear implant includes electrodes preferably implanted at a shallow level at the basal end of the cochlea.

Abstract: A hearing aid comprised of conventional cochlear implant electronics implanted in the middle ear and coupled to an actuator configured to mechanically vibrate the middle ear ossicles. The implant electronics, typically used for driving an electrode array implanted in the cochlea, is used instead to supply electric drive signals to the actuator for mechanically vibrating the ossicles.

Abstract: A system for enhancing a patient's hearing using electrically driven sound transducer, i.e., a speaker, implanted in the patient's middle ear cavity. More particularly, the speaker is implanted in the middle ear cavity inward of the tympanic membrane and oriented to direct sound energy toward the ossicles or the round window. In a first arrangement, the speaker functions to vibrate the ossicles and thus, via the oval window, actuate the perilymph in the cochlea. In an alternative arrangement, the speaker functions to actuate the cochlea via sound injected into the round window.

Abstract: A cochlear stimulation system includes (1) an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS); (2) a behind-the-ear (BTE) wearable speech processor, including: coils for inductively coupling with the ICS, a first microphone, an LED indicator, and an FM receiver; (3) a remote control unit (RCU), including an FM transmitter, mode/control switches, a second microphone, an input jack for interfacing with external audio equipment, and a status indicator; and (4) an external programmer, including one or more ports for coupling the external programmer with a personal computer. The external programmer is used to program the ICS through the BTE processor to operate in a desired manner, and to perform tests on the ICS. Once the ICS is initially programmed, the user controls the sounds he or she "hears" with the ICS through the RCU, which RCU (when turned ON) is electronically coupled to the BTE processor through an FM (or other wireless) link. Through the RCU, the user may control, e.g.