Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080208289 | FEEDTHROUGH FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS | 08-28-2008 |
20080221641 | Implantable Device with Removable Magnet - An implantable device includes a receiving coil assembly including a magnet holding structure for containing an internal holding magnet which is reorientable in responsive alignment to an external magnetic field. The magnet holding structure is adapted for allowing removal and subsequent reinsertion of the internal holding magnet. | 09-11-2008 |
20080228243 | Cochlear Implant Sound Processor With Permanently Integrated Replenishable Power Source - A cochlear implant sound processor is powered by a rechargeable battery that is permanently integrated into the sound processor. The sound processor contains an inductive coil that may be tuned to an external charging coil for battery recharging. The electronic circuits and coil of the sound processor are housed in a material transparent to RF signals. The sound processor may be placed in a recharging base station in which the sound processor is positioned in a space surrounded by the inductive charging coil embedded in a material transparent to RF signals. The inductive charging coil sends power to the coil inside the processor and thereby recharges the battery. An alternative embodiment utilizes contacts in the sound processor case and aligned terminals in the recharging base station that allow direct charging of the battery. | 09-18-2008 |
20080234783 | Stimulating auditory nerve fibers to provide pitch representation - Aspects provide methods and sound processor for encoding stimulation signals to convey pitch perception information to a recipient. The method may comprise identifying a first stimulation site based on a selected frequency component of the sound signal that contains pitch perception information, wherein a stimulation signal is generated based on the selected frequency component; determining a second stimulation site adjacent to the first stimulation site; and determining a time delay between when the second stimulation site is independently stimulated with the stimulation signal and when the first stimulation site is independently stimulated with the stimulation signal. | 09-25-2008 |
20080249589 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING AND REGISTERING AN ELECTRICAL COCHLEAR RESPONSE ("ECR") - This invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining and registering the Electrical Cochlear Response (“ECR”). Particularly, the ECR refers to the electrical activity of the auditory nerve and the intracochlear residual tissue located in the neighborhood of an intracochlear stimulation electrode, when an external sound is presented to a Cochlear Implant user, human or animal. Applicants recognize that an ECR can be thought of as a far-field electrical potential registered on the scalp of an implanted patient. Applicants, through their method and apparatus, can extract that potential from the patient's spontaneous electroencephalographic activity (EEG) and measure it by using an averaging algorithm. The Electrical Cochlear Response can be applied for adaptation, calibration, performance evaluation and failure detection of the Cochlear Implant of the implanted patient. Also Applicants' method can be applied to estimate the audiometric thresholds of the Cochlear Implant even without the implanted patient's knowledge. | 10-09-2008 |
20080288022 | Hearing System Prostheses - There is disclosed a hearing prosthesis comprising a first housing ( | 11-20-2008 |
20080300653 | Cochlear Implant Fitting System - A method comprises adjusting baseline auditory stimulation parameters of a cochlear implant on a living body and providing auditory electrical stimulation to a living body via electrodes of the cochlear implant in combination with adjusting the auditory stimulation parameters of the cochlear implant to the living body in real time, retaining a database of used auditory stimulation parameters for a patient and selecting, in real time, from the database a desired one of the stimulation parameters that produces desired hearing percepts in a patient. | 12-04-2008 |
20080312717 | Hybrid Cochlear Implant - An electrode array ( | 12-18-2008 |
20080319508 | Automatic Determination of the Threshold of an Evoked Neural Response - Automatically analysing an evoked neural response. The method comprises: applying electrical stimulation to a target neural region at incrementally greater current levels beginning with an initial current level that is as close as possible to a typical threshold-NRT level; recording an NRT measurement of an auditory signal which generated by the target neural region in response to the stimulation; and utilizing a machine-learned expert system to predict whether the NRT measurement contains a neural response based on a plurality of features extracted from the auditory signal. | 12-25-2008 |
20080319509 | Binaural Stimulation in Neural Auditory Prostheses or Hearing Aids - The present invention discloses of binaural stimulation in a neural auditory prosthesis. Binaural acoustic signals are generated that represent sound associated with a user's left and right ears respectively. Based on the binaural acoustic signals, corresponding binaural stimulation signals are generated for electrical stimulation of auditory nerve tissue of the user, wherein the binaural stimulation signals each include a fine structure component with periodic characteristics and interaural time difference (ITD) information. A phase jitter component is added to the binaural stimulation signals to reduce the periodic characteristics of the fine structure component while preserving the interaural time difference (ITD) information. | 12-25-2008 |
20090005836 | Cochlear Implant - There is provided a cochlear implant for improving the hearing ability of a patient suffered from hearing impairment comprising an internal receiving unit implanted into the body, which comprises a receiving part for receiving external signal, an active electrode and a reference electrode, characterized in that the active electrode is constructed with a single electrode wire having different thickness in at least two different regions. The active electrode of the internal receiving unit is inserted into a space formed at between the mastoid bone and the ear canal skin and end of the active electrode is inserted into the scala tympani of the cochlea and directly stimulates spiral ganglion. The cochlear implant provides easier implantation into the body and improved hearing ability at a lower cost. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012580 | Cochlear Implant Pitch Intensity - A system and method are described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array having multiple stimulation electrodes. An acoustic audio signal is processed to determine associated pitch characteristics and frequency component information. From the pitch characteristics and the frequency component information, electrode stimulation signals are determined which have intensity levels that reflect the pitch characteristics. Then audio nerve tissue is stimulated by applying the electrode stimulation signals to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array. | 01-08-2009 |
20090018615 | INCREMENTAL STIMULATION SOUND PROCESSOR - In one aspect of the invention, a cochlear implant constructed and arranged to successively generate stimulation signals each comprising at least one stimulus pulse such that said successive stimulation signals incrementally build a neural excitation pattern that accurately reflects a received sound. In one embodiment, each said successive stimulation signal is generated based on the cumulative effect of all previous stimulus pulses, thereby compensating for finite spatial spreading of individual stimulus pulses as well as for the temporal integration of the neural excitation pattern along the neural pathways. | 01-15-2009 |
20090018616 | Systems and Methods for Determining a Threshold Current Level Required to Evoke a Stapedial Muscle Reflex - Exemplary cochlear implant systems include an implantable cochlear stimulator configured to be implanted within a patient and generate a stimulation current having an adjustable current level, one or more electrodes communicatively coupled to the stimulator and configured to apply the stimulation current to one or more locations within an ear of the patient, and a probe configured to acquire sound data used to derive an acoustic reflectance of the ear. The implantable cochlear stimulator is configured to adjust the current level of the stimulation current until a change in the acoustic reflectance above a threshold is detected. | 01-15-2009 |
20090024184 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT UTILIZING MULTIPLE-RESOLUTION CURRENT SOURCES AND FLEXIBLE DATA ENCODING - A programmable cochlear implant system utilizes multiple-resolution current sources and flexible data-encoding scheme for transcutaneous transmission. In certain embodiments, the number of current sources may be equal to or greater than 2, but equal or less than N−1, where N is the number of electrodes. The multi-resolution current source may introduce offset currents to achieve perceptually-based multiple resolutions with high resolution at low amplitudes and low resolution at high amplitudes. The flexible data-encoding scheme may allow arbitrary waveforms in terms of phase polarity, phase duration, pseudo-analog-waveform, while producing high-rate and high-temporal-precision stimulation. In one embodiment, a 2-current-source system may support simultaneous and non-simultaneous stimulation as well as monopolar, bipolar, pseudo-tripolar, and tripolar electrode configurations. | 01-22-2009 |
20090024185 | SPECTRAL CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT IN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SPEECH PROCESSOR - Among other things, enhancing spectral contrast for a cochlear implant listener includes detecting a time domain signal. A first transformation is applied to the detected time domain signal to convert the time domain signal to a frequency domain signal. A second transformation is applied to the frequency domain signal to express the frequency domain signal as a sum of two or more components. A sensitivity of the cochlear implant listener to detect modulation of each component is obtained. | 01-22-2009 |
20090030483 | ELONGATE IMPLANTABLE CARRIER MEMBER HAVING AN EMBEDDED STIFFENER - A cochlear implant comprising: a speech processor for processing received sounds to generate coded stimulation control signals; a stimulator unit configured to generate stimulation signals in response to the control signals; and an electrode assembly ( | 01-29-2009 |
20090030484 | BILATERAL PROSTHESIS SYNCHRONIZATION - An arrangement for improving the effectiveness of a bilateral hearing prosthesis system is disclosed. The timing of the prostheses is synchronized allowing the stimulation and other processes to be coordinated so as to minimize interference between the hearing prostheses. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030485 | Estimating Flap Thickness For Cochlear Implants - A flap thickness measurement system includes a reference cochlear stimulation system. The reference cochlear stimulation system includes a sound processor, a transmitter that transmits a telemetric signal, and a cochlear stimulator having a receiver that receives the telemetric signal and transmits a signal back to the transmitter. The system further includes one or more flap simulators having one or more known thicknesses that is positioned between the transmitter and receiver. Also included is a microprocessor that receives and processes data representative of tank voltage from the reference cochlear stimulation system. | 01-29-2009 |
20090030486 | METHOD, DEVICE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR GENERATING A CONTROL SIGNAL FOR A COCHLEAR IMPLANT, BASED ON AN AUDIO SIGNAL - A method of generating a control signal for a cochlear implant based on an audio signal includes calculating first information on an activity pattern over time at a plurality of inner hair cells of an auditory model, which results based on the audio signal, and filtering out activity events described by the first information, based on a recognition of a characteristic pattern in the activity pattern, whereby cleared information is obtained. The cleared information is further used as a control signal for the cochlear implant, or the control signal for the cochlear implant is derived from the cleared information. | 01-29-2009 |
20090043358 | ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR A STIMULATING MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable electrode assembly for a stimulating medical device, the electrode assembly comprising: an elongate carrier member; one or more electrodes disposed on said carrier member; and one or more signal pathways each extending for a length through at least a part of said carrier member to deliver signals to an associated one of said one or more electrodes, wherein at least one of said one or more signal pathways has a non-uniform cross-sectional profile over a length of said elongate carrier member. | 02-12-2009 |
20090043359 | PERCEPTION-BASED PARAMETRIC FITTING OF A PROSTHETIC HEARING DEVICE - According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of adjusting an established initial operational settings profile, the profile having two or more operational setting values for a speech processor of a recipient's cochlear implant, comprising: setting one or more profile adjustment functions with one or more function parameters; and modifying concurrently said two or more operational setting values in said operational settings profile using each of said set profile adjustment functions. | 02-12-2009 |
20090076569 | FITTING A PROSTHETIC HEARING IMPLANT FOR A RECIPIENT - System and methods for fitting a cochlear implant for a recipient. In a fitting method, receiving, at an acoustic domain user interface, an acoustic target intensity for each of a plurality of frequency channels at which the recipient is to experience a desired percept; loading into a speech processor unit of the cochlear implant a MAP specifying a stimulation signal current level corresponding to a selected acoustic target; presenting the selected acoustic target to the cochlear implant so as to cause the cochlear implant to deliver electrical stimulation to the recipient at the current level corresponding to the selected acoustic target; and upon receipt of an external command: adjusting the current level corresponding to the selected acoustic target; and repeating the loading and the presenting steps. | 03-19-2009 |
20090112288 | FREQUENCY ANALYZER FOR MEMS BASED COCHLEAR IMPLANT WITH SELF POWER SUPPLY - Disclosed is a frequency analyzer for a MEMS based cochlear implant with self power supply. The frequency analyzer for a MEMS based cochlear implant includes: an upper structure including a first substrate, and a nano wire contact portion formed under the first substrate and coated with a high conductivity metal; and a lower structure including a second substrate having a space filled with a fluid and an upper portion of which is opened, a membrane formed on the fluid filled in the space of the second substrate, a first electrode formed on the membrane, and a nano wire formed on the first electrode and having the piezoelectric characteristics related to an arbitrary direction in which the nano wire is grown. | 04-30-2009 |
20090118795 | MULTI-ELECTRODE COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM WITH DISTRIBUTED ELECTRONICS - An implantable tissue-stimulating device comprising a carrier member having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon, and at least one signal transmitting wire extending through at least a portion of the carrier member and adapted to transmit signals through the carrier member to and/or from the electrodes. The number of wires within the carrier member is less than the number of electrodes mounted thereon. | 05-07-2009 |
20090125082 | Pulsatile cochlear implant stimulation strategy - An implantable device includes a multi-channel electrode array in which each channel is associated with an electrode in the array. An audio processing stage processes an input audio signal to produce output channel signals representing associated bands of audio frequencies. A timing and envelope detector processes the output channel signals in a sequence of sampling intervals, including, for each sampling interval, determining for each output channel signal: i. a set of requested pulse timings containing a plurality of pulse timing requests, and ii. a set of corresponding envelope signals representing pulse magnitude for pulse timing requests. A pulse selection amplitude definition stage determines for each set of requested pulse timings: i. a set of output pulses at specified times selected from the set of requested pulse timings based on a pulse selection inhibition function, and ii. a stimulation amplitude associated with each output pulse. The multi-channel electrode array applies the output pulses at their associated stimulation amplitudes to surrounding tissue. | 05-14-2009 |
20090132005 | ASSESSING NEURAL SURVIVAL - Neural survival related to a cochlear implant may be assessed by determining stimulus efficacy for both focused and unfocused stimulation at a plurality of locations adjacent nerve tissue; and comparing stimulus efficacy for both the focused and unfocused stimulation at a plurality of locations to determine a measure of neural survival. In particular small differences in effects produced by unfocused and focused stimulation at each of the locations tends to indicate good survival at those locations and conversely large differences in effects of focused and unfocused stimulation at a given location indicate poor survival at that location. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132006 | USING INTERACTION TO MEASURE NEURAL EXCITATION - Assessment of neuron excitation is implemented by quantifying the interaction between focused and unfocused stimulation applied to a cochlear array. By applying focused and unfocused stimulation to the electrode array and comparing the difference in the responses to the two types of stimulation the interaction may be determined. The magnitude of the interaction may be related to neural excitation and using this data a neural excitation profile may be determined. | 05-21-2009 |
20090143839 | Impact Protector For An External Element Of A Partially Implantable System - An external component housing is described for a cochlear implant system. A signal processing stage is contained within the housing for generating an electrical signal for an implanted portion of the system. An external coil is also within the housing for transmitting the electrical signal transcutaneously through the skin of a patient to the implanted portion. An impact absorber shields the system components from the impact energy associated with a mechanical impact to the housing. | 06-04-2009 |
20090143840 | AUDITORY PROSTHESIS UTILIZING INTRA-NEURAL STIMULATION OF THE AUDITORY NERVE - The present invention relates to auditory prostheses. In particular, the present invention provides an auditory prosthesis capable of direct, intra-neural stimulation of the auditory nerve. | 06-04-2009 |
20090157143 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT, DEVICE FOR GENERATING A CONTROL SIGNAL FOR A COCHLEAR IMPLANT, DEVICE FOR GENERATING A COMBINATION SIGNAL AND COMBINATION SIGNAL AND CORRESPONDING METHODS - A cochlear implant for processing signal parameters which are adapted for controlling the cochlear implant, which are based on the audio signal and which enable generating a representation of the audio signal by the cochlear implant includes a receive interface which is implemented to receive the signal parameters and a nerve stimulator for processing the signal parameters to generate nerve cell stimulation signals based on the signal parameters. A device for generating a control signal for a cochlear implant on the basis of an audio signal includes a cochlear parameter extractor for analyzing the audio signal which is implemented to generate signal parameters as input information for the cochlear implant based on an analysis of the audio signal using a human hearing simulation model, and a transmit interface for transmitting the signal parameters to the cochlear implant. | 06-18-2009 |
20090177246 | Cochlear Implant Fitting System - A method comprises adjusting baseline auditory stimulation parameters of a cochlear implant on a living body and providing auditory electrical stimulation to a living body via electrodes of the cochlear implant in combination with adjusting the auditory stimulation parameters of the cochlear implant to the living body in real time, retaining a database of used auditory stimulation parameters for a patient and selecting, in real time, from the database a desired one of the stimulation parameters that produces desired hearing percepts in a patient. | 07-09-2009 |
20090177247 | DETERMINING STIMULATION SIGNALS FOR NEURAL STIMULATION - A tissue-stimulating prosthesis receives an input signal and determines a set of stimulation signals for use in generating electrical stimulation that will cause the recipient to perceive the input signal. The prosthesis determines a set of stimulation signals based on the perceptual power of at least one of the frequency components of the input signal or the perceptual power of one or more stimulation signals within the set. | 07-09-2009 |
20090182392 | Thermoelectric power supply - A thermoelectric power source for generating power for use by at least one load device is disclosed. The thermoelectric power source comprises: an implantable thermoelectric unit comprising at least one thermoelectric device configured to be electrically coupled to said at least one load device; and at least one impedance matching device constructed and arranged to match an output impedance of said thermoelectric device with an input impedance of said load device. | 07-16-2009 |
20090187233 | CONNECTOR FOR IMPLANTABLE HEARING AID - The present invention is directed to implantable hearing aid systems and provides for selective interconnection between two or more implantable components of a system. The inventive apparatus comprises a first connector interconnected to a distal end of a first signal cable that is connected to a first implantable component and a second connector interconnected to a distal end of a second signal second that is connected to a second implantable component. To facilitate routing of the signal cables, the male and female connectors are designed such that distal portions (e.g., mating ends) of the first and second signal cables may be juxtaposed (e.g., disposed side-by-side) when interconnected. | 07-23-2009 |
20090216296 | INTERLEAVING POWER AND DATA IN A TRANSCUTANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS LINK - 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. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222064 | Autonomous Autoprogram Cochlear Implant - Disclosed is a cochlear stimulation system having patient parameters that reside in memory of an internal portion of the system. Different external systems define how the cochlear stimulation system processes a received acoustic signal and uses patient information uploaded from an implant to parameterize system processing. The external system uses external and internal processing capability to convert acoustic signals to electrical stimulus most appropriate for the patient. Because the patient parameters reside internally, the external portion of the system can be replaced to provide an external replacement processor and potentially offer the patient an new type of program without having to re-program the cochlear stimulation system. | 09-03-2009 |
20090234421 | Monitoring electrode for monitoring dorsal cochlear nucleus action potentials and monitoring device for monitoring dorsal cochlear nucleus action potentials - A novel monitoring electrode for monitoring dorsal cochlear nucleus action potentials is provided, which has a superior performance in accuracy, adherent property, comprehensiveness, recording sensitivity, and recording specificity. The monitoring electrode is easily inserted through a foramen of Luschka, stably held on a region of the dorsal cochlear nucleus, and clearly records the dorsal cochlear nucleus action potentials. Additionally, a novel monitoring device for monitoring the dorsal cochlear nucleus action potentials using the monitoring electrode thereof is provided. | 09-17-2009 |
20090240307 | RECIPIENT-CONTROLLED FITTING OF A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A method for fitting to a recipient a cochlear prosthesis having a sound processor that processes received sound in accordance with a MAP, the method comprises providing, by the hearing prosthesis, combinations of voice prompts and test stimuli for testing values of an element of the MAP; receiving from the recipient an indication of which of said values are desirable; and revising the MAP with the desired value for the tested element. A neural-stimulating device for stimulating nerve cells of a recipient is provided. | 09-24-2009 |
20090254149 | Synchronized Diagnostic Measurement for Cochlear Implants - Objective measurement of cochlear implant operation is described which coordinates the delivery to a patient of an acoustic signal and an electrical signal. The acoustic signal is developed as an acoustic stimulation input to the ear canal of a patient, and the electrical signal is developed as an electrical stimulation input to intracochlear electrodes of a cochlear implant. The evoked response in the patient to the delivered signals is then measured. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254150 | Electrical Stimulation of the Acoustic Nerve with Coherent Fine Structure - A method of enhancing temporal cues in a cochlear implant system is presented. The cochlear implant system includes an electrode array in which each electrode is stimulated based on a stimulation sequence of pulses. The method includes deriving signal c(t) from an acoustic representative electrical signal, the signal c(t) including low frequency temporal information. An estimate of spectral energy e(t) is derived from the acoustic representative electrical signal, the signal e(t) including spectral information with substantially no pitch related temporal information. The stimulation sequence is created for at least one electrode in the array as a function of c(t) and e(t). | 10-08-2009 |
20090259277 | Systems and Methods for Detecting and Using an Electrical Cochlear Response ("ECR") in Analyzing Operation of a Cochlear Stimulation System - Methods and systems for analyzing operation of a cochlear stimulation system. A sound stimulus signal is generated to excite the cochlear stimulation system to operate. During operation, the intracochlear electrodes generate signals into the auditory nerve system. The patient's nervous system's response may be measured as the Electrical Cochlear Response (“ECR”. The ECR can be detected and analyzed for fitting, calibration, performance evaluation and failure detection of the cochlear implant of the patient. Also example methods may be used to estimate the audiometric thresholds of the cochlear implant without the implanted patient's knowledge. | 10-15-2009 |
20090264960 | Tonality-Based Optimization of Sound Sensation for a Cochlear Implant Patient - Methods and systems of optimizing sound sensation of a cochlear implant patient include dividing an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels, generating one or more tonality indices each representing a tonality of one of the analysis channels, generating one or more stimulation pulses configured to represent the audio signal in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, and adjusting at least one of the stimulation parameters based on at least one of the tonality indices. | 10-22-2009 |
20090264961 | Tonotopic Implant Stimulation - Electrode stimulation signals are generated for an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed with a bank of filters that are each associated with a band of audio frequencies, and a set of band pass signals is generated with each band pass signal corresponding to the band of frequencies associated with one of the filters. Stimulation information is extracted from the band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals. Then the stimulation event signals are weighted with a weighted matrix of stimulation amplitudes reflecting patient-specific perceptual characteristics to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals for electrodes in the implanted electrode array. | 10-22-2009 |
20090264962 | Electric and Acoustic Stimulation Fitting Systems and Methods - Methods and systems for modifying the parameters of at least one hearing device for a patient with residual hearing provide needed orchestration of acoustic and electric stimulation of patients wearing such devices. | 10-22-2009 |
20090264963 | Electric and Acoustic Stimulation Fitting Systems and Methods - Methods and systems for modifying the parameters of at least one hearing device for a patient with residual hearing provide needed orchestration of acoustic and electric stimulation of patients wearing such devices. | 10-22-2009 |
20090276006 | EXTERNAL SPEECH PROCESSOR UNIT FOR AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS - A cochlear implant system comprising an external component having an external speech processor unit, and an internal component. The speech processor unit monitors one or more parameters, and the speech processor unit is configured to reduce the power consumption of the cochlear implant system in the absence of one or more parameters. | 11-05-2009 |
20090287277 | IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATION ELECTRODE INTERFACE - An implantable neurostimulation electrode interface and related system arrangements and methods are provided. The implantable interface may include at least a first stimulation signal channel for receiving a first electrode stimulation signal and a plurality of electrode signal channels electrically interconnected or interconnectable to a plurality of electrodes for neurostimulation. The interface may further include a router electrically interconnected to the first stimulation signal channel and to the plurality of electrode signal channels. The router is controllable to directly route the first electrode stimulation signal to different first successive sets of one or more of the plurality of electrode signal channels. The router may be adapted for routing the first electrode stimulation signal as an electrical current signal, without modification of the signal. Stimulation signal generation componentry and power source componentry may be located remotely from the implantable interface. Such componentry may be selectively interconnectable to and disconnectable from the implantable interface. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287278 | IMPLANTABLE SUBCUTANEOUS DEVICE - Implantable subcutaneous device of biocompatible material that can receive data and energy by electromagnetic coupling with at least one external device is disclosed. The implantable device bears an airtight housing and a magnet that can hold the other external device centered with the implantable device. The housing bears a hollow crown containing at least electronic device(s) and a coil, and a bottom sealing the opening of the crown in an airtight manner, The magnet has dimensions compatible with a central housing formed by the so-called internal wall of the crown and in which it is positioned. | 11-19-2009 |
20090292337 | BRAZE JOIN - A method of forming a braze join between two components is disclosed, in which braze material is introduced into a gap between the two components by capillary action. This assists in reducing flooding. Also disclosed is a component for use with the method, and an assembly produced by the method. In one form, the component comprises a recess or reservoir for storing braze material, in fluid communication with an aperture to allow the braze material to be drawn into the gap by capillary forces. The method may be used in a number of applications including medical devices and more specifically, a cochlear implant. | 11-26-2009 |
20090292338 | WEARABLE ALARM SYSTEM FOR A PROSTHETIC HEARING IMPLANT - A prosthetic hearing implant kit is disclosed. The prosthetic hearing implant kit comprises internal components configured to be implanted in a recipient and comprises an internal coil; external components configured to be worn by the recipient and comprises an external coil adapted to be inductively coupled with said internal coil; and an alert system having a second external coil and adapted to receive an external alarm and to transmit signals to said implanted components via said external coil for providing the recipient with a corresponding alarm indication. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299437 | Conductive Coating of Implants with Inductive Link - An implantable device includes an implanted coil for receiving a transcutaneous coil signal from an external transmitting coil. A coil housing contains the coil and has a non-conductive surface. A conductive coating covers at least a portion of the housing surface and forms a non-shielding pattern that minimizes interaction with the coil signal. | 12-03-2009 |
20090306742 | RECOGNITION OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Controlling the interaction between an external device and an implanted device, including a method of controlling interaction between an external device and an implanted device, the method including at least the steps of: establishing communications between the implanted device and the external device; the external device determining an identification of the implant and comparing the identification with identifications in a stored list; if the device matches one of said identifications, then using a corresponding set of operating parameters to interact with said implant; and otherwise, not interacting with said device. | 12-10-2009 |
20090306743 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATED OBSERVATION FITTING - Fitting an auditory prosthesis to a recipient by automatically determining operational thresholds of the prosthesis based on changes in the activity of the recipient that occur in response to applied stimulation signals. Such changes in recipient activity are detected by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) permanently or temporarily secured to or implanted in the recipient as an integral part of the prosthesis or a separate device operationally coupled to the prosthesis. | 12-10-2009 |
20090306744 | IMPLANTABLE COCHLEAR ACCESS DEVICE - An elongate hollow device for providing direct access to the cochlea of a recipient. The device has a symmetrical shape about a longitudinal axis through the center of the device, and comprises a first end having an aperture with its geometric center positioned at the longitudinal axis, and a distal end having an aperture with its geometric center positioned at the longitudinal axis, wherein the access device is configured to be at least partially positioned in the mastoid bone of the recipient such that the first end is positioned adjacent the surface of the mastoid bone, and the distal end is inserted into the cochlea. | 12-10-2009 |
20090306745 | ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR DELIVERING LONGITUDINAL AND RADIAL STIMULATION - An elongate electrode assembly for a cochlear implant comprising a plurality of sections arranged longitudinally along a length of the elongate electrode assembly. The sections each comprise one or more electrodes. At least one of the plurality of sections comprise two or more radially-spaced electrodes. The electrodes of adjacent sections are electrically discontinuous and the elongate electrode assembly is capable of delivering electrical stimulation in any one or a combination of radial mode, longitudinal mode, and radial-longitudinal mode. The electrodes in adjacent sections may be longitudinally spaced apart to provide electrical discontinuity. Alternatively, the plurality of sections may be arranged in offset layers and the electrodes in adjacent sections may be transversely spaced apart. | 12-10-2009 |
20090312819 | DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR ANALYZING AN AUDIO SIGNAL - A device for analyzing an audio signal to obtain an analysis representation of the audio signal includes a converter for converting the audio signal into a representation representing a neurotransmitter vesicle occurrence in clefts between a plurality of nerve fibers and inner auditory cells of an ear model, and a calculator for calculating a neural activity pattern over time on the plurality of nerve fibers, which results based on the neurotransmitter vesicle occurrence, wherein the neural activity pattern is an analysis representation of the audio signal. The inventive device thus generates an especially suitable analysis representation of an audio signal in which masking effects occurring in the generation of action potentials on nerve fibers are considered. The inventive analysis representation is also suitable for an examination of the audio content and also for controlling cochlea implants. | 12-17-2009 |
20090312820 | ENHANCED SIGNAL PROCESSING FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANTS - The restoration of melody perception is a key remaining challenge in cochlear implants. A novel sound coding strategy is proposed that converts an input audio signal into time-varying electrically stimulating pulse trains. A sound is first split into several frequency sub-bands with a fixed filter bank or a dynamic filter bank tracking harmonics in sounds. Each sub-band signal is coherently downward shifted to a low-frequency base band. These resulting coherent envelope signals have Hermitian symmetric frequency spectrums and are thus real-valued. A peak detector or high-rate sampler of half-wave rectified coherent envelope signals in each sub-band further converts the coherent envelopes into rate-varying, interleaved pulse trains. Acoustic simulations of cochlear implants using this new technique with normal hearing listeners, showed significant improvement in melody recognition over the most common conventional stimulation approach used in cochlear implants. | 12-17-2009 |
20090319005 | STOCHASTIC STIMULATION IN A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A hearing prosthesis configured for delivery of stochastic stimulation to a recipient. The hearing prosthesis comprises a sound pickup component configured to receive a sound signal having at least one pitch; a stochastic stimulation generator configured to generate a stochastic sequence of stimulation pulses having first and second inter-pulse intervals distributed stochastically throughout the sequence within controlled limits, the first inter-pulse interval based on the at least one pitch; and at least one stimulation channel to deliver the sequence of electrical stimulation pulses to the recipient. | 12-24-2009 |
20100004716 | Reducing Effect of Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields on an Implant's Magnet and/or Electronics - An implantable magnet that can freely turn in response to an external magnetic field, thus avoiding torque and demagnetization on the implantable magnet. The implantable magnet can be combined with an electric switching function depending on the orientation of an external magnetic field, thus protecting an implanted coil and/or implant electronics against induction of over-voltage or performing an electric switching function for other various purposes. The magnetic switch may further include, for example, a first switching contact and a second switching contact. A magnetically soft body that includes an electrically conductive surface is shiftable between a first position where the body is in simultaneous contact with the first and second switching contacts, and a second position where the body is out of contact with at least one of the first and second switching contacts. The body and the implantable magnet are positioned such that the body is shifted to one of the first position and the second position as a function of the external magnetic field resulting in a magnetic force between the magnet and the magnetically soft body. | 01-07-2010 |
20100010569 | MECHANICAL SEMICIRCULAR CANAL STIMULATOR - A mechanical stimulator for evoking a hearing percept by directly generating waves of fluid motion of fluid in a recipient's semicircular canal. The mechanical stimulator comprises a sound processing unit configured to process a received sound signal; and an implantable stimulation arrangement, comprising: a stapes prosthesis having a first end configured to be positioned abutting an opening in the semicircular canal, an actuator configured to receive electrical signals representing the processed sound signal and configured to vibrate in response to the electrical signals, and a coupler connecting the actuator to the stapes prosthesis such that vibration of the actuator results in waves of fluid motion in a recipient's semicircular canal that evoke a hearing percept of the received sound signal. | 01-14-2010 |
20100010570 | AUDITORY PROSTHESIS - An auditory prosthesis ( | 01-14-2010 |
20100016922 | CONFIGURATION OF IMPLANTED DEVICES - According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an implantable medical device comprising: an implantable component, comprising an implantable memory module, configured to receive and store recipient-specific operating parameters in the implantable memory module, an external component, comprising an external memory module, configured to communicate with the implantable component to receive the recipient-specific operating parameters, and to configure the external component using the recipient-specific operating parameters, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to transfer the recipient-specific operating parameters upon operationally coupling the implantable component with the external component. | 01-21-2010 |
20100030301 | ELECTRICAL STIMULATION FOR MODULATION OF NEURAL PLASTICITY - A stimulating medical device. The stimulating medical device comprises a plurality of electrical contacts implantable proximate to a recipient's neural system; and an electrical stimulation controller configured to generate and apply plasticity modulating electrical stimulation signals to the recipient's neural system via one or more of the plurality of electrical contacts, the plasticity modulating signals configured to facilitate one or more of the production and release of naturally occurring neurotrophic agents within the recipient's neural system. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036458 | External Button Processor with a Rechargeable Battery - An external processor device is described for an implantable prosthetic system. An external processor housing has a generally planar skin contacting surface and a central axis perpendicular to the skin contacting surface. A signal processor is located within the processor housing for developing an implant data signal. The processor housing also contains a transmitter coil for coupling the implant data signal across the skin to the implantable prosthetic system. A battery compartment is also located within the processor housing in an annular region around the central axis for containing a battery arrangement to provide electrical power to the signal processor and the transmitter coil. | 02-11-2010 |
20100042183 | IMPLANTABLE MIDDLE EAR TRANSDUCER HAVING IMPROVED FREQUENCY RESPONSE - Apparatus, systems, and methods having or using an improved implantable middle ear transducer for driving an ossicular chain bone to assist in aiding hearing. One embodiment of the present invention is a transducer assembly for converting electrical signals to mechanical vibrations which can be coupled, for example, to the stapes to provide audible frequency vibrations to the cochlea. One transducer assembly includes a pair of fins or gussets coupled to opposite sides of a transducer in the direction of unwanted movement of the transducer. The base of the transducer may be coupled to a base member while the fins have free edges that are near to but not coupled to the base member. Some fins are triangular shaped. The fins may not substantially inhibit vibration in the preferred plane, but can inhibit unwanted vibrations in a plane orthogonal to the preferred direction which can substantially include a plane containing the fins. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042184 | METHOD OF IMPLANTING A MEDICAL IMPLANT TO TREAT HEARING LOSS IN A PATIENT, DEVICES FOR FACILITING IMPLANTATION OF SUCH DEVICES, AND MEDICAL IMPLANTS FOR TREATING HEARING LOSS - In one embodiment, a method of treating hearing loss in a patient, comprises: creating a first channel in osseous tissue at or immediately adjacent to the promontory of the patient; creating a second channel through the first channel to the scala tympani or the scala vestibuli; and implanting a hearing device in the first channel, the hearing device being in fluid communication with cochlear fluid through the second channel, the hearing device being adapted to drive cochlear fluid to activate auditory receptor cells in the cochlea of the patient. | 02-18-2010 |
20100069997 | NEUROSTIMULATION APPARATUS - An output stage for an auditory neurostimulation electrode and related system arrangements and methods are provided. The output stage is operable to effect a plurality of stimulation and discharge intervals, and includes a stimulation channel and a discharge channel coupled to the electrode, wherein a stimulation current and a discharge current may flow therethrough during the corresponding stimulation intervals and discharge intervals. The output stage also includes a controller that is operable to selectively control the flow of current through the stimulation channel and the discharge channel during the stimulation and discharge intervals. Further, one of the stimulation channel and the discharge channel couples the electrode to a single voltage supply, and the other of the stimulation channel and the discharge channel couples the electrode to a reference potential node. The output stage is intrinsically capable of maintaining an equilibrium of charges and does not require any complex control means to equilibrate the charges on the electrode. | 03-18-2010 |
20100069998 | SPECTRAL TILT OPTIMIZATION FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENTS - Methods and systems of spectral tilt optimization for a cochlear implant patient include applying electrical stimulation representative of an audio signal to a patient in accordance with a spectral tilt value and optimizing the spectral tilt value in response to a measured ability of the patient to recognize at least one attribute of the audio signal. | 03-18-2010 |
20100069999 | Double Branch Cochlear Implant Electrode - A stimulation electrode is described for a hearing impaired patient. An intra-fluid electrode branch is immersed in cochlear fluid within an interior volume of a patient cochlea and has electrode contacts for delivering a cochlear stimulation signal to adjacent neural tissue. An intra-modiolus electrode branch penetrates through the cochlea and has one or more electrode contacts for delivering a modiolus stimulation signal to cochlear nerve tissue within the modiolus of the patient. | 03-18-2010 |
20100070000 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF CONVEYING FINE STRUCTURE INFORMATION TO A COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENT - An exemplary method of conveying fine structure information to a cochlear implant patient includes dividing an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels, generating electrical stimulation in accordance with the information contained within each of the analysis channels, applying the electrical stimulation to at least one stimulation site within a patient via a plurality of stimulation channels, and at least partially isolating one of the stimulation channels from a rest of the stimulation channels, wherein fine structure information is conveyed to the patient via the isolated stimulation channel. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 03-18-2010 |
20100076520 | NEUTRALLY BUOYANT IMPLANTABLE MICROPHONE - An implantable device such as a microphone that may be subcutaneously positioned in surrounding soft tissue. The implantable device may include a hermetically-sealed housing and a diaphragm that forms a portion of an outside surface of the housing. The microphone has a density that is no more than 110% of a density of the surrounding soft tissue. In one arrangement, the device may move in at least substantial unison with the surrounding soft tissue in response to a pressure or compression wave propagating through the soft tissue and being received at the device. In another arrangement, the device may include a filler that may be operable to alter the density of the device. | 03-25-2010 |
20100106218 | CONFIGURATION OF A STIMULATION MEDICAL IMPLANT - A method for configuring a medical implant that stimulates a physiological system of a recipient of the medical implant is described where the medical implant includes at least one input configuration variable corresponding to a subjective characteristic of the physiological system. The configuration method includes measuring at least one physical characteristic of the physiological system to provide at least one objective physical measurement value and then determining the at least one input configuration variable to configure the medical implant by a predictive configuration model having as an input the at least one objective physical measurement value. | 04-29-2010 |
20100121412 | Optimizing Pitch Allocation in a Cochlear Implant - Errors in pitch allocation within a cochlear implant are corrected in order to provide a significant and profound improvement in the quality of sound perceived by the cochlear implant user. The disclosure provides a tool for determining the implant fitting curve for cochlear implant system to correct pitch warping. The method presents familiar musical tunes to determine the implant fitting slope (relative alignment). In addition, in one embodiment, speech sounds may be used to determine the offset of the fitting line (absolute alignment). The use of music and speech to determine the implant fitting curve (line) and the slope is facilitated by using techniques to implement virtual electrodes to more precisely direct stimuli to the location or “place” on the cochlea. | 05-13-2010 |
20100131032 | Audio Prostheses Product Selection - Selection of a prosthetic hearing product is described. A patient testing module tests hearing characteristics of a potential patient to determine a patient audiogram representing patient hearing impairment. A product comparison module compares the patient audiogram to a plurality of product audiograms, where each product audiogram represents a region of hearing impairment treatable by a specific prosthetic hearing product. A product selection module selects a specific prosthetic hearing product for the potential patient based on the audiogram comparison. | 05-27-2010 |
20100137942 | TRANSFORMABLE SPEECH PROCESSOR MODULE FOR A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A method for operating an external component of a cochlear implant hearing system. The external component includes a speech processor module operable in a stand-alone mode of operation and a body-worn mode of operation, and a protective case. The method includes operating the speech processor module in the stand-alone mode, determining when the speech processor module is mounted in the case, and operating the speech processor module in the body-worn mode in response to determining that the speech processor module is mounted in the case. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145411 | Method For Fitting A Cochlear Implant With Patient Feedback - A method is described for fitting to a patient user an audio prostheses having a set of operating parameters. An audio stimulation pattern is initiated to the audio prosthesis. A fit adjustment process is performed during the audio stimulation pattern, which includes: changing a set of selected operating parameter values. Patient feedback is received that indicates a subjective performance evaluation of operation of the audio prosthesis. The process is repeated (e.g., continuously) to collect performance evaluation data related to the operating parameter values. Then the operating parameters are set based on the performance evaluation data. | 06-10-2010 |
20100152813 | USING A GENETIC ALGORITHM TO FIT A MEDICAL IMPLANT SYSTEM TO A PATIENT - Apparatus and method for at least partially fitting a medical implant system to a patient is described. These apparatuses and methods comprise executing a genetic algorithm to select a set of parameter values for the medical implant system. This genetic algorithm may comprise executing a tabu search wherein value sets that are determined to be bad are added to a tabu list that may be consulted to exclude tabu value sets from successive generations of the genetic algorithm. | 06-17-2010 |
20100152814 | Artifact Cancellation In Hybrid Audio Prostheses - A system and method are described for determining an estimated neural response in a hybrid acoustic-electrical audio prosthesis. Target nerve tissue such as remaining hair cells and cochlear nerve tissue receive synchronized electric and acoustic stimulation signals which are recorded and processed to determine an artifact canceled estimated neural response. | 06-17-2010 |
20100161000 | COMPENSATION CURRENT OPTIMIZATION FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS - An exemplary cochlear stimulation method includes applying a main current to a first electrode associated with a first pitch and disposed within a cochlea of a patient, concurrently applying a compensation current to a second electrode disposed within the cochlea and associated with a second pitch during the application of the main current, the compensation current being out-of-phase with the main current, and optimizing an amount of the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient that is distanced from the first pitch in a pitch direction opposite a pitch direction of the second pitch in relation to the first pitch. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 06-24-2010 |
20100174344 | OPTICAL NEURAL STIMULATING DEVICE HAVING A SHORT STIMULATING ASSEMBLY - 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. | 07-08-2010 |
20100179615 | IMPLANTABLE ACOUSTIC SENSOR - An implantable sound pickup system. The system comprises an intracochlear acoustic sensor implantable in a recipient's cochlea comprising: an elongate core conductor, and a piezoelectric element disposed on the surface of the core conductor configured to detect pressure waves in the perilymph of the cochlea when the acoustic sensor is at least partially implanted in the cochlea, and to produce electrical signals corresponding to the detected pressure waves. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179616 | Outer Hair Cell Stimulation Model for the Use by an Intra-Cochlear Implant - Contrast between various frequency components of sound is enhanced through a lateral suppression strategy to provide increased speech perception in the electrically stimulated cochlea. A received audio signal is divided into a plurality of input signals, wherein each input signal is associated with a frequency band. A plurality of envelope signals are generated by determining the envelope of each of a plurality of the input signals. At least one of the envelope signals is scaled in accordance with a scaling factor to generate at least one scaled envelope signal. An output signal is generated by combining at least one envelope signal with at least one scaled envelope signal, and the cochlea is stimulated based on the generated output signal. The lateral suppression strategy can be applied to one or more frequency bands using scaled amplitude signals associated with one or more neighboring frequency bands. | 07-15-2010 |
20100185261 | High Accuracy Tonotopic And Periodic Coding With Enhanced Harmonic Resolution - Generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array is described. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals which represent associated bands of audio frequencies. Macro bands are defined, each of which characterizes multiple band pass signals. The macro bands are processed in a sequence of sampling intervals. For each sampling interval, the processing includes: i. extracting timing and energy information from each band pass signal to form requested stimulation events, ii. decimating the requested stimulation events to select a maximum energy band pass signal within each macro band, and iii. decimating each selected band pass signal based on a pulse selection inhibition function and preserving temporal and spectral structures of the band pass signals so as to generate stimulation event signals. The stimulation event signals are weighted with a weighting matrix reflecting patient-specific pitch perception characteristics to produce output electrode stimulation signals to the implanted electrode array. | 07-22-2010 |
20100191308 | Stimulation Channel Conditioning - A method is described for delivering stimulation signals in an implantable multichannel neuro-stimulating device such as a cochlear implant. A stimulation channel is selected for delivering a data stimulation signal. One or more desensitization channels spatially adjacent to the stimulation channel are also selected. One or more non-data desensitization signals are delivered on the desensitization channels during a desensitization period before delivery of the data stimulation signal, and then the data stimulation signal is delivered on the stimulation channel. The stimulation channel may be blanked to prevent stimulation signals during a sensitization period before delivering the data stimulation signal. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191309 | Channel Specific Gain Control Including Lateral Suppression - A method is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for a plurality of stimulation electrodes in an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed with a bank of filters to generate a set of band pass signals where each band pass signal corresponds to a band of audio frequencies associated with one of the filters. A lateral suppression network is used to perform channel specific dynamic amplitude mapping of the band pass signals to generate a set of compressed band pass signals. Stimulation information is extracted from the compressed band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation timing signals, and the stimulation timing signals are developed into a set of electrode stimulation signals to the stimulation electrodes. | 07-29-2010 |
20100198300 | STIMULUS TIMING FOR A STIMULATING MEDICAL DEVICE - Methods and systems are disclosed for determining the timing of stimulation applied using a medical device. In embodiments, the medical device filters a received signal to obtain a plurality of band-pass filtered signals, each corresponding to one or more stimulation channels. The medical device then determines the envelopes of these band-pass filtered signals. Next, the medical device determines the stimulation timing (i.e., the pulse times) for the corresponding stimulation channel based on the timing of a particular phase (e.g., a peak, a minimum, etc.) of the envelope. A pulse amplitude for the stimulation channel may then be determined, and stimulation applied using the determined amplitude and pulse time. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198301 | MULTI-ELECTRODE CHANNEL CONFIGURATIONS - An apparatus and method optimizing complex channel configurations to produce minimal channel interactions is provided. The method includes selecting multiple channels from a channel configuration including a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels includes multiple electrodes. The method also includes measuring an interaction between selected channels and determining a significance of the measured interaction. The method further includes adjusting a focus of the channel configuration based on the significance of measured interaction, wherein the focus of the channel configuration is not adjusted if the interaction between the selected channels determined to be insignificant. The measuring, determining and adjusting is repeated until the interaction between the selected channels is determined to be insignificant or the magnitude of the interaction is determined to be minimized, thereby optimizing the channel configuration for the selected channels. Another set of channels from the channel configuration is selected and the measuring, determining, adjusting and repeating is performed for each set until full channel configuration is optimized. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198302 | ELECTRICAL STIMULATION IN THE MIDDLE EAR FOR TREATMENT OF HEARING RELATED DISORDERS - An auditory implant system for treating a hearing disorder is disclosed. Methods are also disclosed for the use thereof. The system comprises an implantable array of electrodes and a pulse generator (PG), wherein at least one electrode is a cochlear effecting electrode adapted for disposition in the associated Eustachian tube in the proximity of the associated fenestra rotunda. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198303 | MODULAR COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS INCLUDING IMPLANTABLE SOUND PROCESSORS - Exemplary cochlear implant systems include an implantable head module configured to be implanted within a head of a patient. The implantable head module includes a cochlear stimulator configured to be coupled to an electrode lead, the electrode lead including one or more electrodes configured to be in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the patient. The implantable head module also includes a signal receiver configured to receive a telemetry signal representative of an audio signal from a signal transmitter located external to the patient, a sound processor configured to process the telemetry signal and direct the cochlear stimulator to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the one or more stimulation sites via the electrode lead, and a power receiver configured to receive power for operating the implantable head module from a power transmitter located external to the patient. | 08-05-2010 |
20100204755 | Phase Triggered Envelope Sampler - A method of generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array is described. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals which each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. For each band pass signal, fine time structure information is extracted to determine a sequence of phase event signals. For each sequence of phase event signals, when the number of phase event signals reaches a channel pitch rate factor, a signal limiting period without signals is introduced to produce a modified sequence of phase event signals. Each modified sequence of phase event signals is weighted with a channel amplitude value in order to generate a set of electrode stimulation signals for the implanted electrode array. | 08-12-2010 |
20100228321 | Systems for Fitting a Cochlear Implant to a Patient - Systems for fitting an implantable cochlear stimulator to a patient include an interface unit configured to display a graphical representation of an implant fitting line as part of a graphical user interface. The implant fitting line has a slope and a horizontal position and represents a mapping relationship between a plurality of audio frequencies and a plurality of stimulation sites within a cochlea of the patient. The interface unit is further configured to facilitate adjustment of the slope and/or horizontal position of the fitting line. | 09-09-2010 |
20100234920 | Spectral Contrast Enhancement in a Cochlear Implant Speech Processor - Psychophysical tests are administered to cochlear implant (CI) users to determine a spectral modulation transfer function (SMTF), smallest detectable spectral contrast as a function of spectral modulation frequency, for each individual CI user. The determined SMTF for individual CI user is compared against a SMTF of a normal hearing person to determine the specific enhancements needed. A profile of spectral enhancement achievable with variation of filter parameters, sigma and maximum that best fits the needed enhancements for the individual CI user is selected. Based on the corresponding sigma and maximum selected, a sound processing strategy is adjusted to provide customized spectral contrast enhancement for the individual CI user. The sound processing strategy implemented includes an outer hair cell model. | 09-16-2010 |
20100249880 | Carrier and Envelope Triggered Cochlear Stimulation - Generation of electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array is described. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals which include a fine structure carrier signal and a modulator envelope signal. For each band pass signal, fine time structure information is extracted from the carrier signal to determine a sequence of stimulation event signals. For one or more low frequency band pass signals, the modulator envelope signal is sampled synchronously with the carrier signal to create envelope weighted stimulation event signals. For one or more higher frequency band pass signals, if and only if the modulator envelope signal exceeds a sampling threshold value, then the modulator envelope signal is sampled synchronously with the carrier signal to create envelope weighted stimulation event signals. The envelope weighted stimulation event signals are then processed to produce electrode stimulation signals for the implanted electrode array. | 09-30-2010 |
20100268302 | FITTING A COCHLEAR IMPLANT - A method and system for fitting a medical implant to a recipient is disclosed. The medical implant is operative to stimulate a physiological system of the recipient over a plurality of stimulation channels. The method includes the steps of determining an initial stimulation profile for the plurality of stimulation channels and then determining a fitting stimulation profile by modifying the form or shape of the initial stimulation profile. | 10-21-2010 |
20100274319 | CURRENT LEAKAGE DETECTION FOR A MEDICAL IMPLANT - Current leakage detection techniques in an implantable medical device are disclosed. In these techniques, a core surrounds conductors carrying current to and from an implanted medical device. A secondary winding on the core picks up imbalances between the current flows on the conductors traveling through the core. An imbalance is detected if the current on the secondary winding results in a specified threshold being exceeded. Corrective action may then be taken if a current imbalance is detected. | 10-28-2010 |
20100292759 | Magnetic field sensor for magnetically-coupled medical implant devices - Disclosed is a cochlear stimulation system and associated methods that utilizes a magnetic field sensor to determine the status of magnetically-coupled components. The cochlear stimulation system includes an implantable portion positionable beneath the skin of a patient and an external portion positionable outside the skin of the patient. The implantable portion includes a multi-electrode array having a plurality of electrodes configured to be placed in cochlear duct of a patient and an internal magnet. The external portion includes a speech processor configured to generate control signals in response to received sound signals and an external magnet. The external magnet and the internal magnet generate an attractive magnetic force that maintains the external portion in position relative to the internal portion against the scalp of the patient. The cochlear stimulation system further includes a magnetic field sensor configured to sense the value of a magnetic field generated by the external magnet and the internal magnet in order to monitor changes in the magnetic field. | 11-18-2010 |
20100292760 | IMPLANTABLE HOUSING ASSEMBLY - Embodiments of the present invention relate to an implantable device housing assembly, for use in, for example, implantable prosthetic devices. In one aspect, the present invention provides a housing for an implantable device comprising a body portion and a sealing flange. The body portion includes a cavity in which electronic components are disposed on an open side thereof, and at least one feed-through which provides electrical connections between the electronic components and the exterior of the device. The feed-through includes interior and exterior connection points, which are accessible during assembly of the device from a first side of the device. The sealing flange operatively seals the cavity so as to form a sealed housing. A method of forming a sealed housing for an implantable device is also provided. | 11-18-2010 |
20100312308 | BILATERAL INPUT FOR AUDITORY PROSTHESIS - Providing stimulation signals for an implanted auditory prosthesis including receiving first and second sound signals at first and second signal receiving devices, each of the first and second signals having a signal-to-noise ratio; determining a signal parameter related to said signal-to-noise ratio of each of the first and second signals; selecting one of the first and second signals which has the greater signal-to-noise ratio; and generating stimulation signals for the implanted auditory prosthesis based on said selected sound signal. | 12-09-2010 |
20100318158 | Optimizing Pitch and Other Speech Stimuli Allocation in a Cochlear Implant - Errors in pitch (frequency) allocation within a cochlear implant are corrected in order to provide a significant and profound improvement in the quality of sound perceived by the cochlear implant user. In one embodiment, the user is stimulated with a reference signal, e.g., the tone “A” (440 Hz) and then the user is stimulated with a probe signal, separated from the reference signal by an octave, e.g., high “A” (880 Hz). The user adjusts the location where the probe signal is applied, using current steering, until the pitch of the probe signal, as perceived by the user, matches the pitch of the reference signal, as perceived by the user. In this manner, the user maps frequencies to stimulation locations in order to tune his or her implant system to his or her unique cochlea. | 12-16-2010 |
20100331913 | Hybrid multi-function electrode array - A hybrid electrode array includes a basal array section and a distal array section. The basal array section is configured to provide high frequency stimulation. The basal array section is configured to extend into the cochlea up to a region where electrical stimulation provides recovery for high frequency loss. The distal array section is configured to be attached to a distal tip of the basal array section and is configured to extend into the cochlear to a region where electrical stimulation provides recovery for middle to low frequency hearing loss. For progressive hearing loss treatment, the distal array section is not activated during initial stages of hearing loss allowing the patient to rely on a combination of acoustic stimulation and high frequency stimulation provided by the basal array section. As hearing loss progresses, the distal array section is selectively activated to treat lower frequency hearing loss using lower frequency stimulation. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004273 | SOUND COMMAND TO STIMULATION CONVERTER - A method and system for stimulating a tissue-stimulating prosthesis is disclosed. The method and system comprise receiving a sound command, such a MIDI command, and converting the sound to a stimulation signal. The stimulation signal is then used to provide stimulation to a recipient so that the recipient may perceive sound in accordance with the received sound command. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004274 | Cochlear Implant Stimulation with Low Frequency Channel Privilege - A system and method for activating stimulation electrodes in cochlear implant electrode is described. A preprocessor filter bank processes an input acoustic audio signal to generate band pass signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. An information extractor extracts stimulation signal information from the band pass signals based on assigning the band pass signals to corresponding electrode stimulation groups that each contain one or more stimulation electrodes, and generates a set of stimulation event signals for each electrode stimulation group that define electrode stimulation timings and amplitudes. A pulse selector selects a set of electrode stimulation signals from the stimulation event signals based on a pulse weighting function that uses channel-specific weighting factors favoring lower frequencies for activating the stimulation electrodes to stimulate neighboring audio nerve tissue. | 01-06-2011 |
20110009924 | VARYING THE EFFECTIVE COIL AREA FOR AN INDUCTIVE TRANSCUTANEOUS POWER LINK - 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 transcutaneously 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. | 01-13-2011 |
20110015700 | PROVISION OF STIMULUS COMPONENTS HAVING VARIABLE PERCEPTABILITY TO STIMULATING DEVICE RECIPIENT - The automatic measurement of evoked compound action potential (ECAP) thresholds of the auditory nerve; that is, a neural response, concurrently with the performance of psychophysics measurements of a prosthetic hearing implant recipient. During the fitting process, a stimulus signal comprising two components is applied to each stimulation channel. One signal component is configured to elicit an ECAP neural response, referred to herein as a neural response signal component. The other component is configured to elicit a response to a psychophysics stimulation, referred to herein as a psychophysics signal component. Indications of the psychophysics measurement and the concurrently obtained neural response measurements are provided to the user. For the psychophysics measurement, this includes the selected characteristics of the psychophysics signal component since the results of the applied stimulation is a recipient behavioral or auditory response. | 01-20-2011 |
20110022120 | Magnetic Attachment Arrangement for Implantable Device - A magnet arrangement is described for use in implantable devices. An implantable housing contains a portion of an implantable electronic system. A cylindrical implant magnet arrangement within the housing includes multiple adjacent magnetic sections wherein at least two of the magnetic sections have opposing magnetic orientations in opposite magnetic directions. There may also be a similar external housing having a corresponding magnet arrangement. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022121 | ANTENNA FOR BEHIND-THE-EAR (BTE) DEVICES - An improved antenna device for BTE devices, such a hearing prostheses, is disclosed. Antenna elements ( | 01-27-2011 |
20110029041 | HEARING PROSTHESIS WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MICROPHONE SYSTEM - A hearing prosthesis including an implantable housing containing a detector, the hearing prosthesis further including a light source, a fiber optical waveguide extending from the implantable housing in light communication with the light source and the detector, and an interferometer connected to the fiber optical waveguide and located outside of the implantable housing, the interferometer being in light communication with the fiber optical waveguide, the light source and the detector. The detector is configured to convert a light signal indicative of acoustic energy impinging upon the interferometer into an electrical signal indicative of the acoustic energy. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrical signal is used by a sound processor of the hearing prosthesis to enhance hearing. | 02-03-2011 |
20110034969 | ELECTRODE ARRAY FOR A COCHLEAR IMPLANT - Disclosed is an electrode having a conducting wire and an electrode contact for a medical implant, the electrode being at least partially formed by Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs). Also disclosed are medical implants using the electrodes disclosed, as well as methods of manufacture of the electrode and medical implants. In one particular example, the electrode is formed with a CNT strand forming the conducting wire and a CNT sheet forming the electrode contact. | 02-10-2011 |
20110040350 | FSK telemetry for cochlear implant - An apparatus for stimulating a sensory organ includes an external portion and an internal portion. The external portion is configured for wireless transmission of an FSK signal having encoded therein information indicative of sensory stimuli. The internal portion, which is in data communication with the external portion, is configured for wireless reception of the FSK signal and for causing stimulation of the sensory organ in response to the information encoded in the FSK signal. | 02-17-2011 |
20110060383 | USING A GENETIC ALGORITHM EMPLOYING DYNAMIC MUTATION - Apparatus and method for at least partially fitting a medical implant system to a patient is described. These apparatuses and methods comprise using a dynamic mutation rate. This genetic algorithm may comprise generating successive generations of child populations. In executing the genetic algorithm, children may undergo mutations based on a mutation rate. This mutation rate may be dynamic and be based on the characteristics of the children in the generation. Additionally, values may be frozen during execution of the genetic algorithm if the likelihood that the value has converged on a particular value exceeds a threshold. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060384 | DETERMINING STIMULATION LEVEL PARAMETERS IN IMPLANT FITTING - A fitting system that may be used by a recipient to determine stimulation level parameters, such as threshold and/or maximum comfort levels, for a stimulating medical device is provided. These parameters may be for MAPs that may be used by a genetic algorithm in fitting a stimulating medical device. In obtaining these parameters, an internal component implanted in a recipient may apply stimulation to the recipient. In response, the recipient, using a user interface, may their information regarding their perception of the applied stimulation. This response may then be used to determine a stimulation level parameter that is then transmitted to the stimulation medical device for use in applying stimulation. | 03-10-2011 |
20110060385 | DETERMINING STIMULATION LEVEL PARAMETERS IN IMPLANT FITTING - A fitting system that may be used by a recipient to determine stimulation level parameters, such as threshold and/or maximum comfort levels, for a stimulating medical device is provided. These parameters may be for MAPs that may be used by a genetic algorithm in fitting a stimulating medical device. In obtaining these parameters, an internal component implanted in a recipient may apply stimulation to the recipient. In response, the recipient, using a user interface, may their information regarding their perception of the applied stimulation. This response may then be used to determine a stimulation level parameter that is then transmitted to the stimulation medical device for use in applying stimulation. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066210 | Low Pulse Rate Cochlear Implant Stimulation In Conjunction With A Separate Representation Of Fundamental Frequencies And Voiced/Unvoiced Distinctions - A method is described for generating stimulus signals for an auditory prosthesis system. A high frequency signal conveys higher frequency audio information including exceptionally low rate band-pass envelope characteristics. This high frequency signal represents at least the upper part if not all of the range of frequencies for speech, music, and other sounds that are audible to listeners with normal hearing. A separate low frequency signal is also provided representing lower audio frequency information including periodicity characteristics (voiced/unvoiced or periodic/aperiodic distinctions) and for periodic sounds, fundamental frequency characteristics. The high frequency signal is applied to the auditory system of a patient by an associated high frequency stimulator, and the low frequency signal is applied to the auditory system of the patient by an associated low frequency signal. | 03-17-2011 |
20110071596 | ELECTRODE CONTACTS FOR A MEDICAL IMPLANT - A electrode array for a medical and in particular cochlear implant and a method of manufacturing such an array is described in which carbon nanotubes are deposited onto electrode contacts at temperatures below the service temperature of a carrier material supporting the electrode contacts. This allows the carrier material, which may be a polymer like silicone, to be molded about the electrode contacts before they are coated with carbon nanotubes to allow for the provision of smaller and more highly concentrated electrodes. | 03-24-2011 |
20110077710 | Methods and Systems for Representing Different Spectral Components of an Audio Signal Presented to a Cochlear Implant Patient - An exemplary method of representing different spectral components of an audio signal presented to a cochlear implant patient includes identifying one or more spectral peaks of an audio signal presented to a cochlear implant patient, applying electrical stimulation representative of the one or more spectral peaks to at least one stimulation site within the cochlear implant patient using a partial multipolar stimulation configuration, and applying electrical stimulation representative of one or more other spectral components of the audio signal to at least one other stimulation site within the cochlear implant patient using a monopolar stimulation configuration. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077711 | Simultaneous Stimulation for Low Power Consumption - A stimulation system including a stimulator having a multi-channel electrode array utilizing a monopolar electrode configuration. A processor is operatively coupled to the stimulator. The processor is configured to determine a channel interaction (CI) sequence using simultaneous, sign-correlated pulses and channel interaction compensation. The CI sequence has a CI pulse rate and a CI mean pulse amplitude, and produces resulting potentials that are substantially equal to desired potentials at given positions relative to the multi-channel array. The CI sequence may include temporal gaps between pulses, wherein the processor may be configured to increase the CI pulse rate, such that the temporal gap between pulses is decreased. Furthermore, the processor may be configured to reduce the pulse amplitude of the CI sequence while increasing pulse phase duration, such that charge per pulse remains substantially unchanged and the temporal gap between pulses is decreased. | 03-31-2011 |
20110077712 | SOUND PROCESSING METHOD AND SYSTEM - Coding of received audio signals and the resulting application of electrical stimuli applied to electrodes used in a cochlear implant system are disclosed together with a method of fitting this new coding strategy. One of the aims is to place specific stimulation representing pitch by applying near threshold electrical stimuli with limited and focussed excitation fields. A range of stimulation rates and a minimal range of current levels above threshold are used for creation of a dynamic loudness percept for a cochlear implant recipient. Another aim is to disclose a coding scheme based on a model of physiological measures (i.e. refractoriness, adaptation, spread of activation field, spatiotemporal acoustical cochlear activation patterns and spontaneous activity) to estimate the proportions of available excitable auditory neurons close to the electrodes available for stimulation. The spectral bands formed from the pre-processing of incoming audio signals are weighted by these proportions of excitability to control place, timing, rate and current level of electrical stimuli applied to the electrodes available in the array. | 03-31-2011 |
20110082519 | Hearing Implant Fitting - A system and method of fitting a cochlear implant of a patient includes analyzing data of one or more previously fitted cochlear implant users. Predicted fitting data for the patient is provided based on the analysis. Stimulation parameters of the cochlear implant are adjusted based, at least in part, on the predicted fitting data. Further steps are suggested to minimize the prediction error. | 04-07-2011 |
20110082520 | SYSTEM FOR REMOTE MONITORING AND MODULATION OF MEDICAL APPARATUS - A system for remotely programming a programmable medical apparatus, comprising a digital interactive communications network including an encrypted VPN tunnel interconnecting respective computers and video conferencing devices at a programming site and a remote programmed site, with VNC linkage of the interconnected computers, wherein the computers are arranged for programming the programmable apparatus from the programming site, with at least 1 megabit/second connection in both directions of interconnection, whereby audio and video signals are synchronized for the programming the programmable apparatus | 04-07-2011 |
20110082521 | AUTOMATIC MEASUREMENT OF AN EVOKED NEURAL RESPONSE CONCURRENT WITH AN INDICATION OF A PSYCHOPHYSICS REACTION - A method of fitting to a recipient a cochlear implant including a plurality of stimulation channels. The method comprises applying to at least one stimulation channel of the cochlear implant a first stimulus signal comprising a neural response component and a psychophysics signal component, automatically measuring a strength of an evoked compound action potential (ECAP) of the recipient evoked in response to the application of the neural response component of the first stimulus signal, and simultaneously providing to a user an indication of the automatically measured strength of the ECAP and a value of the applied psychophysics signal component. | 04-07-2011 |
20110093038 | FOCUSED STIMULATION IN A MEDICAL STIMULATION DEVICE - A medical stimulation device such as a cochlear implant configured to provide stimulation of one or more spatially-restricted contiguous portion(s) of the spiral array of auditory nerve fibers in the cochlear (“discrete stimulation regions”). Each discrete stimulation region is defined by the constructive and/or destructive interference of stimulating and limiting signals simultaneously applied to electrode channels of an implanted electrode array, the stimulating and limiting signals being determined based upon transimpedance measurements of intracochlear electrode channels of the implanted electrode array representing specific spread functions of an individual recipient. The stimulating signal is preferably applied through a targeted electrode channel; that is, one or more successive electrodes which is/are adjacent to the discrete stimulation region. The targeted electrode channel is selected to represent a sound based on the outputs of a sound processor to stimulate neural activity in the discrete stimulation region to thereby cause a percept of the represented sound. The size of the discrete stimulation region is defined by the limiting signal(s) applied to electrode channel(s) other than the targeted electrode channel, and which negate(s) current spread which would otherwise occur in response to the stimulating signal. | 04-21-2011 |
20110093039 | SCHEDULING INFORMATION DELIVERY TO A RECIPIENT IN A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A hearing prosthesis for use by a recipient. The hearing prosthesis includes a receiver configured to receive sounds external to the recipient, a stimulator configured to stimulate tissue of the recipient to enhance recipient hearing, a sound analyzer configured to analyze the sounds received by the receiver, the sound analyzer further being configured to output a sound analysis signal indicative of the analyzed sounds, an information signal generator configured to output an information signal upon which an inputted indication that is provided to the recipient via the stimulator may be based, and an information scheduler configured to control the time at which the information signal is delivered to the stimulator based on the sound analysis signal. | 04-21-2011 |
20110098784 | Channel-Specific Loudness Mapping for Prosthetic Hearing Systems - Generating electrode stimulation signals is described for stimulating cochlear tissue using an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals which represent an associated band of audio frequencies. Stimulation information is extracted from the band pass signals to generate stimulation event signals that define electrode stimulation signals. The stimulation event signals are then weighted according independent channel-specific loudness functions to produce electrode stimulation signals. The electrode stimulation signals are developed into output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array for stimulating cochlear tissue. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098785 | Fully Implantable Cochlear Implant Systems Including Optional External Components and Methods for Using the Same - An exemplary cochlear implant system includes an external module configured to be positioned external to and worn by a patient, the external module having an external microphone configured to detect an input audio signal presented to the patient, and an external speaker configured to acoustically transmit an audio signal representative of the input audio signal. The exemplary cochlear implant system further includes an implantable module configured to be implanted within the patient, the implantable module having an internal microphone configured to detect the acoustically transmitted audio signal, an internal sound processor configured to generate one or more stimulation parameters based on the acoustically transmitted audio signal, and an internal cochlear stimulator configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of the input audio signal to one or more stimulation sites within the patient in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098786 | Remote Audio Processor Module for Auditory Prosthesis Systems - An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes an auditory prosthesis configured to be implanted within a head of a patient and to apply electrical stimulation representative of an audio signal to one or more stimulation sites within the patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, a behind-the-ear sound processing unit configured to be secured to an ear of the patient and to transmit the one or more stimulation parameters to the auditory prosthesis, and a remote audio processor module separate from the behind-the-ear sound processing unit and communicatively coupled to the behind-the-ear sound processing unit via a communication link, the remote audio processor module configured to perform at least a portion of a signal processing heuristic on the audio signal in order to facilitate generation of the one or more stimulation parameters. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 04-28-2011 |
20110098787 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT - An improved cochlear implant and method are disclosed. The present invention relates particularly to an external processing unit of a cochlear implant which processes sounds from within the ear canal of the patient. The implant comprises a microphone placed within the ear canal of the patient. The implant can alternatively comprise a hollow tube placed within the ear canal of the patient which is used to carry sound to a microphone located elsewhere. The method may comprise the steps of: providing a microphone in the ear canal, thereby improving the hearing of said hearing-impaired subject. The method may comprise the steps of: providing in the ear canal a tube that delivers sound to a microphone, thereby improving the hearing of said hearing-impaired subject. | 04-28-2011 |
20110106209 | Systems and Methods of Facilitating Manual Adjustment of One or More Cochlear Implant System Control Parameters - An exemplary cochlear system includes a sound processing unit configured to process an audio signal, an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processing unit and configured to apply stimulation representative of the audio signal to a patient via one or more electrodes in accordance with the processing of the audio signal, and a user input facility communicatively coupled to the sound processing unit. The sound processing unit and the implantable cochlear stimulator are configured to operate in accordance with a plurality of control parameters, which may be selectively associated and disassociated with the user input facility in order to facilitate manual adjustment of one or more of the control parameters. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 05-05-2011 |
20110106210 | ADJUSTABLE TRANSCUTANEOUS ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM - A transcutaneous energy transfer system for an implantable medical device. The system comprises an internal coil assembly implantable in a recipient; and an external data coil assembly positioned in a housing worn by the recipient. The data coil assembly is configured to be inductively coupled to the internal coil assembly in order to transcutaneously transfer data to the internal coil assembly. One or more elements of the data coil assembly are physically adjustable with respect to the housing to alter the inductive coupling. | 05-05-2011 |
20110106211 | Methods and Systems for Presenting an Audio Signal to a Cochlear Implant Patient - An exemplary signal processing unit includes a plurality of filters configured to divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels, one or more detection stages configured to detect an energy level within each of said analysis channels, a selection stage configured to select one or more of said analysis channels for presentation to a patient, a synthesizer stage configured to synthesize said selected analysis channels, and a mapping stage configured to map said selected analysis channels to a number of stimulation channels within an implantable cochlear stimulator, wherein a total number of said analysis channels is greater than a total number of said stimulation channels. | 05-05-2011 |
20110112607 | Implant Power Control - A system and method of operating an implant system having an external portion and an implanted portion. The external portion includes a first magnet and a power signal transmission module for transmitting an electrical power signal across the skin of a user. The implanted portion including a second magnet, a receiver module for receiving the power signal across the skin of a user, a Hall Sensor, a switch, and a battery. The method includes externally orientating and/or positioning the first magnet in a first arrangement, such that the external portion is held in place on the user based substantially on a magnetic force between the first magnet and the second magnet, and such that the power signal transmission module is aligned with the receiver module and the receiver module receives the power signal. The first magnet is orientated and/or positioned in a second arrangement, such that the first magnet applies a magnetic field that is sensed by the Hall Sensor. The switch in the implanted portion is controlled based, at least in part, on output from the Hall Sensor, the switch for providing power from the battery. | 05-12-2011 |
20110112608 | Implant Power System - A power supply system for an implant includes an external power supply module. The external power supply module includes a first power signal transmission module having a first coil for transmitting a first electrical power signal across the skin of a user to the implant, and a first rechargeable battery for supplying power to the power signal transmission module. The power supply system further includes an external charger for recharging the first rechargeable battery. The charger includes a second power signal transmission module having a second coil for transmitting a second electrical power signal to the first coil. | 05-12-2011 |
20110125218 | INPUT SELECTION FOR AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS - Providing stimulation signals for an implanted auditory prosthesis including receiving first and second sound signals at first and second sound input devices, each of the first and second signals having a signal-to-noise ratio; determining a signal parameter related to said signal-to-noise ratio of each of the first and second signals; selecting one of the first and second signals which has the greater signal-to-noise ratio; and generating stimulation signals for the implanted auditory prosthesis based on said selected sound signal. | 05-26-2011 |
20110137376 | MULTI-COIL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - An implantable medical device comprising first and second coils each comprising one or more circular windings defining a diameter. Each of the first and second coils have a length, wherein the diameter of the one or more windings of the first coil are greater than the length of the first coil, and wherein the diameter of the one or more windings of the second coil are smaller than the length of the second coil, and wherein at least one of the one or more windings of the first coil is substantially orthogonal to at least one of the windings of the second coil. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137377 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT EXTERNAL COMPONENT HAVING A MOVABLE ANTENNA - An external component of a cochlear implant system. The external component includes a support configured to house one or more electronic components and to be mounted to an outer ear of a recipient, and an external antenna configured to provide one or more of power and data signals from the electronic components to an implantable component of the cochlear implant system, wherein the external antenna is mounted to the support such that the external antenna moveable relative to at least a portion of the support. | 06-09-2011 |
20110144719 | Optically Coupled Cochlear Implant Systems and Methods - An output assembly is sized for placement in the middle and inner ear, such that removal of bone can be decreased. The output assembly may comprise at least one photo detector, a demultiplexer and an electrode array sized to pass through an incision in the eardrum. An input transducer assembly is configured to transmit a multiplexed optical signal to the output assembly. The input assembly can be configured to transmit the multiplexed optical signal through the eardrum, such that tissue removal can be decreased and the device can be placed without removal of bone, for example. The multiplexed optical signal may comprise a pulse width modulated signal so as to decrease the effect of non-linearities of the light source and light detector and provide quality sound to the user. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144720 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTABLE LEADLESS COCHLEAR STIMULATION - Systems and methods are disclosed to enable hearing in the deaf by stimulating sites in the cochlea. The invention uses electrical stimulation in the cochlea, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the cochlear nerve. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which contains multiple electrodes to stimulate along selected sites in the cochlea. | 06-16-2011 |
20110160799 | Dynamic Compliance Voltage Management for an Implantable Stimulator - An exemplary method includes generating, by an external control device selectively and communicatively coupled to an implantable stimulator, a calibration table indicating transmit power levels required to achieve a plurality of distinct combinations of compliance voltages and maximum stimulation current levels by the implantable stimulator, determining, by the external control device, a maximum stimulation current level to be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient during a stimulation frame, determining, by the external control device, an optimal compliance voltage that allows the implantable stimulator to deliver the determined maximum stimulation current level, and selecting, by the external control device in accordance with the calibration table, a transmit power level that results in the implantable stimulator operating at substantially the optimal compliance voltage during the stimulation frame. Corresponding methods, apparatuses and systems are also disclosed. | 06-30-2011 |
20110166624 | DEVICE FOR THE TRANSDERMAL STIMULATION OF A NERVE OF THE HUMAN BODY - A device for transcutaneous stimulation of a nerve of the human body includes at least one stimulation electrode and at least one reference electrode for transcutaneous nerve stimulation, the at least one stimulation electrode and the at least one reference electrode being connected to a control unit and being able to be supplied with an electrical current from the latter, and the at least one stimulation electrode and the at least one reference electrode being arranged in or on a housing which is designed to be fitted on or in the human ear, wherein the housing has a bow-shaped extension piece designed to be inserted into the auditory canal, said bow-shaped extension piece matching the shape of the entrance to the auditory canal or of the external auditory canal, and with an electrode head which is arranged at the end of the bow-shaped extension piece and which has two contact points for the two electrodes. To make the nerve stimulation effective and to make it easier to manage for the patient, it is proposed, according to the invention, that the bow-shaped extension piece is designed as a stiff element, wherein the bow-shaped extension piece is a spring element or comprises such an element, which spring element is designed to generate an elastic contact force for pressing the electrode head onto a region of the auditory canal. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166625 | Methods and Apparatus For Cochlear Implant Signal Processing - A cochlear implant processing strategy increases speech clarity and higher temporal performance. The strategy determines the power spectral component within each channel, and dynamically selects or de-selects the channels through which a stimulation pulse is provided as a function of whether the spectral power of the channel is high or low. “High” and “low” are estimated relative to a selected spectral power, for example. The selected spectral power can be estimated by signal average or mean, or by other criteria. Once a selection of the channels to stimulate has been made, the system can decide that only those channels are stimulated, and stimulation is removed from the other channels. The selected channels are the ones on which the spectral power is above the mean of all the available channels. Fewer channels are stimulated at any time and the contrast of the stimulation is enhanced. Also, the temporal resolution increases as the number of channels that must be stimulated on a given frame decreases. This way, the channels which are presented to the patient are fewer in number and contain more temporal information. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166626 | Methods and Apparatus For Cochlear Implant Signal Processing - A cochlear implant processing strategy increases speech clarity and higher temporal performance. The strategy determines the power spectral component within each channel, and dynamically selects or de-selects the channels through which a stimulation pulse is provided as a function of whether the spectral power of the channel is high or low. “High” and “low” are estimated relative to a selected spectral power, for example. The selected spectral power can be estimated by signal average or mean, or by other criteria. Once a selection of the channels to stimulate has been made, the system can decide that only those channels are stimulated, and stimulation is removed from the other channels. The selected channels are the ones on which the spectral power is above the mean of all the available channels. Fewer channels are stimulated at any time and the contrast of the stimulation is enhanced. Also, the temporal resolution increases as the number of channels that must be stimulated on a given frame decreases. This way, the channels which are presented to the patient are fewer in number and contain more temporal information. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166627 | VARIABLE IMPEDANCE BYPASS PATHWAY FOR A TISSUE STIMULATING PROSTHESIS - A method and apparatus for neural stimulation are disclosed. The principle is that a conventional current path is used to deliver the stimulus to neural structures, but an alternative current path is provided to bypass the neural structures during the opposite polarity part of the current flow. As a consequence, charge balance can be provided at the tissue/electrode interface, whilst delivering stimuli which are not charge balanced to the neural structures. | 07-07-2011 |
20110178575 | INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable medical device for implantation in a recipient's body, the implantable medical device including first and second elongate leads electrically connected to first and second device components of the implantable medical device, respectively. The implantable medical device further includes a conductor connector electrically connecting a distal end of the first lead to a distal end of the second lead, and an impervious encasement insulating the conductor connector. The impervious encasement includes a sleeve circumferentially surrounding and spaced from the conductor connector and an insulative material filling the space between the conductor connector and the sleeve. | 07-21-2011 |
20110202111 | PROGRAMMABLE AUDITORY PROSTHESIS WITH TRAINABLE AUTOMATIC ADAPTATION TO ACOUSTIC CONDITIONS - An auditory prosthesis ( | 08-18-2011 |
20110208267 | REMOVABLE IMPLANTABLE BATTERY POSITIONED INSIDE IMPLANT COIL - An implantable component of a prosthesis comprising of at least one powered component; at least one antenna coil contained within an electrically insulating surround; and an electrical storage element for powering at least one powered component, the electrical storage element being positionable within a support area of the surround, the support area being at least partially within the area defined by the at least one antenna coil. | 08-25-2011 |
20110213444 | Energy Saving Silent Mode for Hearing Implant Systems - A signal processing arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described. A sensing microphone senses an acoustic signal to generate a corresponding electrical sound signal. An information detection circuit performs spectral analysis on the sound signal to identify the presence of speech information. A sound signal processing circuit generates an implant communications signal for the cochlear implant system based on the sound signal, and has an energy saving operational mode wherein the implant communications signal is generated only when the information detection circuit identifies that speech information is present in the sound signal. | 09-01-2011 |
20110218592 | Cochlear Implant Fitting System - A method comprises adjusting baseline auditory stimulation parameters of a cochlear implant on a living body and providing auditory electrical stimulation to a living body via electrodes of the cochlear implant in combination with adjusting the auditory stimulation parameters of the cochlear implant to the living body in real time, retaining a database of used auditory stimulation parameters for a patient and selecting, in real time, from the database a desired one of the stimulation parameters that produces desired hearing percepts in a patient. | 09-08-2011 |
20110218593 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF TINNITUS - Provided herein are systems, devices and methods for stimulation of the cochlea that are sufficient to mimic or replace the spontaneous background neural activity of the cochlea thereby reducing or eliminating tinnitus. | 09-08-2011 |
20110224756 | Reducing Effect of Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields on an Implant's Magnet and/or Electronics - An implantable magnet that can freely turn in response to an external magnetic field, thus avoiding torque and demagnetization on the implantable magnet. The implantable magnet can be combined with an electric switching function depending on the orientation of an external magnetic field, thus protecting an implanted coil and/or implant electronics against induction of over-voltage or performing an electric switching function for other various purposes. The magnetic switch may further include, for example, a first switching contact and a second switching contact. A magnetically soft body that includes an electrically conductive surface is shiftable between a first position where the body is in simultaneous contact with the first and second switching contacts, and a second position where the body is out of contact with at least one of the first and second switching contacts. The body and the implantable magnet are positioned such that the body is shifted to one of the first position and the second position as a function of the external magnetic field resulting in a magnetic force between the magnet and the magnetically soft body. | 09-15-2011 |
20110230934 | Electrical Nerve Stimulation Based on Channel Specific Sampling Sequences - A method of activating at least two electrodes in a multichannel electrode array using channel specific sampling sequences is presented. A channel specific sampling sequence is defined for each electrode, the sequence having a particular duration, pulse amplitude distribution, and number of pulses. A weighting factor is applied to the channel specific sampling sequence. Each electrode in the multichannel electrode array is then simultaneously activated using sign-correlated pulses, the sign-correlated pulses based on parameters of spatial channel interaction reflecting geometric overlapping of electrical fields from each electrode, non-linear compression, and each electrode's weighted channel specific sampling sequence. | 09-22-2011 |
20110245891 | Cochlear implant stabilization and positioning device - A stabilizer is disclosed for use with a cochlear implant receiver stimulator having a body portion and an electrode portion implanted subcutaneously adjacent to a body tissue. The stabilizer is provided for stabilizing the position of the implant receiver relative to the body tissue. The stabilizer has a tissue engaging portion for grippingly engaging the body tissue to fixedly position the stabilizer with respect to the body tissue. The stabilizer also includes a coupler portion for fixedly positioning the stabilizer with respect to the receiver stimulator. The tissue engaging portion and coupler portion cooperatively interact with the receiver stimulator and the body tissue to fix the relative position of the body tissue and receiver stimulator. | 10-06-2011 |
20110257703 | Inductive Link with Ferrite Sheets - An arrangement is described for a partially implantable medical system. A communications coil is adapted for placement parallel to a corresponding partner coil for communication of an implant communications signal having an associated magnetic field component. An implant electronics module is adjacent to the communications coil and electrically connected with it for coupling of the communications signal. And a planar coil shield lens is between the communications coil and the electronics module to promote coupling of the communications signal between the coils and to shield the electronics module from interaction with the magnetic field component. | 10-20-2011 |
20110257704 | Equal Loudness Contour with Channel Specific Map Laws - A method is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies. Stimulation information is extracted from the band pass signals to generate stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals. The stimulation event signals are weighted according to independent channel-specific loudness functions to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals within channel-specific minimum and maximum threshold levels. The electrode stimulation signals are developed into a set of output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array. | 10-20-2011 |
20110264169 | Equal Loudness Contour with Channel Specific Map Laws - A method is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies. Stimulation information is extracted from the band pass signals to generate stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals. The stimulation event signals are mapped according to independent channel-specific loudness functions to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals within channel-specific minimum and maximum threshold levels. The electrode stimulation signals are developed into a set of output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array. | 10-27-2011 |
20110264170 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT COMPONENT HAVING A UNITARY FACEPLATE - A protective faceplate ( | 10-27-2011 |
20110270355 | IMPLANTABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING UNITARY CONTACTS - A connector for electrically connecting implantable components. The connector comprises first and second connector halves configured to be electrically coupled to first and second components, respectively, and one or more readily severable unitary contacts electrically connecting the first and second connector halves to one another. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270356 | POLYMERIC ENCAPSULATION OF MEDICAL DEVICE COMPONENTS - A hermetic encapsulation and to a method of producing the same is provided. The hermetic encapsulation comprises a polymeric material disposed about a device component and has one or more plasma activated surfaces directly bonded to one another to hermetically seal the component within the material. | 11-03-2011 |
20110276109 | Apparatus, system and method for music enjoyment and ability testing and rehabilitation retaining with cochlear implants - The apparatus, system and method of the invention provides a tool to measure, diagnose and retrain the ability to enjoy sound and particularly musical sound for post-lingually deafened cochlear implant recipients. The invention consists of computer driven audio and visual stimulus presentation apparatus, selected and stored musical scores, subject response apparatus, and means to access the cochlear implant which act in conjunction with fundamental components, namely: | 11-10-2011 |
20110288613 | MULTI-ELECTRODE CHANNEL CONFIGURATIONS - An apparatus and method for determining stimulation channels for a stimulating device is provided. This method and apparatus may involve computing a set of weights for the plurality of stimulation channels of the stimulating hearing prosthesis. These weights may be determined by determining a transimpedance matrix for the stimulating hearing prosthesis where a diagonal of the transimpedance matrix is determined by extrapolation. A transadmittance matrix may then be computed for this transimpedance matrix. An error may then be computed base on positive off-diagonal terms of the transadmittance matrix. The apparatus and method may determine the weights for the stimulation channels by determining an adjustment to the diagonal of the transimpedance matrix that results in a computed error that does not exceed a specified criterion level. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288614 | INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable medical device for implantation in a recipient's body, the implantable medical device including first and second elongate leads electrically connected to first and second device components of the implantable medical device, respectively. The implantable medical device further includes a conductor connector electrically connecting a distal end of the first lead to a distal end of the second lead, and an impervious encasement insulating the conductor connector. The impervious encasement includes a sleeve circumferentially surrounding and spaced from the conductor connector and an insulative material filling the space between the conductor connector and the sleeve. | 11-24-2011 |
20110319965 | Optimizing Pitch Allocation in a Cochlear Stimulation System - Optimizing pitch allocation in a cochlear stimulation system may include implanting an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes into the cochlea of a patient, where the electrode array has an associated implant fitting characteristic that defines a relationship between the implanted electrode array and audio frequencies, presenting sounds through the electrode array to the patient, receiving from the patient a selection of one of the sounds that most closely conforms to a single note, and determining a slope of the implant fitting characteristic of the electrode array based on the sound selected by the patient. Each sound may include a fundamental frequency and one or more harmonics. The optimization may also include changing a center frequency of a band pass filter associated with each electrode based on the determined slope. | 12-29-2011 |
20120004705 | STIMULATION CHANNEL SELECTION FOR A STIMULATING MEDICAL DEVICE - Methods and systems are disclosed for determining the stimulation channels for application of stimulation by a medical device, such as a cochlear implant or an auditory brain stimulator. In embodiments, the medical device filters a received signal to obtain a plurality of band-pass filtered signals, each corresponding to one or more stimulation channels. The medical device then selects a stimulation channel for application of stimulation based on the amplitudes of the band-pass filtered signals. The medical device determines whether to apply stimulation on the adjacent stimulation channels by determining if the amplitude of the corresponding adjacent stimulation channel exceeds an information limit. If the amplitudes for either adjacent channel fall below the information limit, the corresponding adjacent stimulation channel is eliminated from consideration. The medical device further may determine the amplitudes for application of stimulation on the adjacent stimulation channels, if selected, using a pitch steering function. This pitch steering function may specify a current level difference between the selected stimulation channel and the adjacent stimulation channel to use in applying the stimulation. | 01-05-2012 |
20120004706 | Envelope Specific Stimulus Timing - An implantable stimulation arrangement is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array having stimulation electrodes. A filter bank pre-processor processes an input acoustic audio signal to generate band pass signals each corresponding to an associated band of audio frequencies. A signal envelope module computes a corresponding signal envelope for each band pass signal. A stimulation pulse generator extracts stimulation signal information from the rate of change of the signal envelopes such as a time-based derivative to generate stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation timings and amplitudes for some or all of the stimulation electrodes. | 01-05-2012 |
20120016443 | RATE MATCHING FOR A STIMULATING MEDICAL DEVICE - Methods and systems are disclosed for rate matching in a stimulating medical device, such as a cochlear implant or an auditory brain stimulator. In embodiments, the stimulating medical device applies a fast Fourier transform (FFT) at an analysis rate to the received signal to obtain a plurality frequency bin output signals. The stimulating medical device then applies a rate matching through interpolation function to the frequency bin output signals to match the stimulation rate for the stimulating medical device. This rate matching through interpolation function may apply a common interpolation filter to each frequency bin output to obtain a plurality of outputs distributed in time across the time period between executions of the FFT. The values of the frequency bin output signals at the time most closely matching the time for which stimulation is to be applied may then be selected and used in applying the stimulation. | 01-19-2012 |
20120016444 | Implantable Hermetic Feedthrough - An implantable hermetic system includes a hermetic case and a hermetic feedthrough sealed into an aperture in the case. The hermetic feedthrough includes vias which form electrically conductive paths through the hermetic feedthrough. A header that includes integral interconnection contacts is attached to the case. The vias are electrically joined to the interconnection contacts. | 01-19-2012 |
20120022613 | Transcutaneous Modulated Power Link for a Medical Implant - A medical implant system such a Direct Acoustic Cochlear Stimulation and method for generating a transcutanous link between an external module and an internal module. A signal is generated in the external module by modulating an input signal using pulse modulation and then further modulating the pulse modulated signal using digital modulation. In the internal module, the received signal is processed using digital demodulation, the digitally demodulated signal being applied to the input of an amplifier to generate a control signal to control an actuator of the implant. A power component may also be extracted from the received signal in the internal module. | 01-26-2012 |
20120029593 | Methods and Systems for Fitting a Sound Processor to a Patient Using a Plurality of Pre-Loaded Sound Processing Programs - An exemplary method of fitting a sound processor to a cochlear implant patient includes pre-loading program data representative of a plurality of sound processing programs onto a sound processor during a data transfer session and selectively using, after completion of the data transfer session, one or more of the pre-loaded sound processing programs to fit the sound processor to the patient. Corresponding methods and systems are also described. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029594 | Methods and Systems for Fitting a Bilateral Cochlear Implant Patient Using a Single Sound Processor - An exemplary method of fitting a bilateral cochlear implant patient using a single sound processor includes a fitting subsystem using a first sound processor associated with a first cochlear implant to selectively fit the first cochlear implant and a second cochlear implant to a cochlear implant patient, automatically segregating fitting data generated during the fitting of the first cochlear implant from fitting data generated during the fitting of the second cochlear implant, and transmitting the fitting data generated during the fitting of the second cochlear implant to a second sound processor associated with the second cochlear implant after the fitting of the second cochlear implant to the cochlear implant patient is completed. Corresponding methods and systems are also described. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029595 | Bilateral Sound Processor Systems and Methods - An exemplary sound processor includes a storage facility configured to maintain data representative of a first program set associated with a first cochlear implant and data representative of a second program set associated with a second cochlear implant, a detection facility configured to detect when the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the first cochlear implant and to detect when the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the second cochlear implant, and an operation facility configured to operate in accordance with the first program set in response to a detection that the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the first cochlear implant and to operate in accordance with the second program set in response to a detection that the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the second cochlear implant. Corresponding methods and systems are also described. | 02-02-2012 |
20120041515 | WIRELESS REMOTE DEVICE FOR A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A hearing prosthesis and method for same are disclosed wherein a smaller wireless microphone component transmits audio signals to an external component of the medical device. The external component processes the received audio signal(s) to generate stimulation data. The external component is detachably connected to a coil that transmits power and the stimulation data, via magnetic induction, to an implanted component. The implanted component applies stimulation to a recipient in accordance with the received stimulation data. | 02-16-2012 |
20120041516 | DACS ACTUATOR - A compensation system for an implantable actuator is disclosed where the implantable actuator includes a sealed housing containing a driving arrangement for the actuator. The compensation system includes an external pressure sensor for measuring an external pressure outside of the sealed housing and a compensation module for determining a compensation factor for the implantable actuator based on the external pressure. In one embodiment, the compensation is directed to a direct acoustic cochlear stimulation (DACS) implantable actuator. | 02-16-2012 |
20120041517 | SPEECH PROCESSOR CASES - Apparatus and methods for converting one type of speech processor unit into another type of speech processor unit. | 02-16-2012 |
20120046713 | HEARING AID AND/OR TINNITUS THERAPY DEVICE - While prior art hearing aids and/or tinnitus therapy devices only contribute to making an existing tinnitus condition more bearable, the invention provides for a method for operating a hearing aid and/or tinnitus therapy device as well as a hearing aid and/or tinnitus therapy device which contributes to a tinnitus being able to be eliminated over the long-term. An acoustic output signal is generated in which the tinnitus frequency and/or the tinnitus frequency spectrum are suppressed. This makes the neuroplastic reorganization of the central auditory system of a sufferer possible, which reverses the tinnitus-causing maladaptive change in their central auditory system. | 02-23-2012 |
20120046714 | POWER EFFICIENT ELECTRICAL STIMULATION - A method and device are disclosed for neural stimulation with improved power consumption and/or effectiveness. The stimulus generator is arranged, for example via a look up table, to recognise proposed stimuli which will be masked by earlier or simultaneous stimuli. Such masked stimuli are either deleted, or replaced by another stimulus. | 02-23-2012 |
20120059435 | CONFIGURATION OF IMPLANTED DEVICES - According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an implantable medical device comprising: an implantable component, comprising an implantable memory module, configured to receive and store recipient-specific operating parameters in the implantable memory module, an external component, comprising an external memory module, configured to communicate with the implantable component to receive the recipient-specific operating parameters, and to configure the external component using the recipient-specific operating parameters, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to transfer the recipient-specific operating parameters upon operationally coupling the implantable component with the external component. | 03-08-2012 |
20120065705 | Accelerated Fitting Of Cochlear Implants Based On Current Spread - Approaches are described for fitting an implanted cochlear implant electrode array having stimulation electrodes to the implanted patient. A first unfit stimulation electrode is fit to the patient by determining a most comfortable loudness (MCL) value. Then an MCL value is determined for each remaining unfit stimulation electrode starting from an initial fitting current based on current spread characteristics of at least one already fit stimulation electrode. | 03-15-2012 |
20120083859 | Cochlear Implant Utilizing Mutliple-Resolution Current Sources and Flexible Data Encoding - A programmable cochlear implant system utilizes multiple-resolution current sources and flexible data-encoding scheme for transcutaneous transmission. In certain embodiments, the number of current sources may be equal to or greater than 2, but equal or less than N−1, where N is the number of electrodes. The multi-resolution current source may introduce offset currents to achieve perceptually-based multiple resolutions with high resolution at low amplitudes and low resolution at high amplitudes. The flexible data-encoding scheme may allow arbitrary waveforms in terms of phase polarity, phase duration, pseudo-analog-waveform, while producing high-rate and high-temporal-precision stimulation. In one embodiment, a 2-current-source system may support simultaneous and non-simultaneous stimulation as well as monopolar, bipolar, pseudo-tripolar, and tripolar electrode configurations. | 04-05-2012 |
20120083860 | BONE CONDUCTION TRANSDUCER WITH IMPROVED HIGH FREQUENCY RESPONSE - A bone conduction transducer comprising a first seismic mass and a second mass connected to each other by a first spring suspension, and where the first mass and the first spring suspension creates a first mechanical resonance f | 04-05-2012 |
20120095527 | SELF EXPANDABLE MIDDLE EAR IMPLANT FOR TREATING HEARING RELATED DISORDERS - The invention provides an electrode, and a minimally-invasive auditory implant system employing the electrode, for treating hearing disorders by electrically stimulating tissues in the middle ear. The electrode employs a structure which switches between narrow and spread shapes, facilitating the electrode insertion into the site, securing the electrode against vibration or permanent movement, and optimizing the current density. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095528 | RELAY INTERFACE FOR CONNECTING AN IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICE TO AN EXTERNAL ELECTRONICS DEVICE - An interface relay system for use with a fully implantable medical devices that permits transcutaneous coupling of the implanted medical device to a consumer electronics device. In one embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device provides a back-up source of power for operating the implanted medical device. In another embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device allows for providing unidirectional and/or bidirectional data transfer between the devices. In one arrangement, the consumer electronics device may be connectable to a communications/data network to allow for network communication between the implantable medical device and a remote processing platform/server. | 04-19-2012 |
20120109256 | MAGNETIC INDUCTION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A communication system for an active implantable medical device. The communication system includes an isolation transformer a coil coupled to the isolation transformer, and first and second communication components each coupled to the isolation transformer such that the first and second communication components are electrically isolated from the coil, and such that the isolation transformer enables the first and second communication components to communicate, via magnetic induction (MI) using the coil, with at least one external component. | 05-03-2012 |
20120116479 | TWO-WIRE MEDICAL IMPLANT CONNECTION - A two-wire medical implant, method and system for transferring power and data over a two-wire connection between a first medical implant and a second medical implant. The second medical implant comprises a clamping circuit for extracting the data. In one form, the second medical implant also comprises a voltage multiplier which is formed in part by the clamping circuit. In one embodiment, the second medical implant also comprises a DC decoupling capacitor which forms a part of the clamping circuit. The medical implant and medical implant system may be used in a cochlear implant system. | 05-10-2012 |
20120116480 | COMPARTMENTALIZED IMPLANT FITTING SOFTWARE - A compartmentalized fitting system that may be used by a recipient to determine device parameters, such as threshold and/or maximum comfort levels, for a stimulating medical device is provided. The compartmentalized fitting system segregates the fitting procedure into separate sessions. For example, in an embodiment, the fitting system provides a clinician driven setup session whereby a clinician may specify parameters that are to be used in fitting the medical device. After which, the fitting system may enter a recipient driven fitting session that is used to determine one or device parameters for the stimulating medical device. Once determined, the fitting system passes control to a clinician driven approval session whereby the clinician can approve the determined set of device parameters; and, if approved store the determined device parameters. This storage may comprise loading the determined device parameters onto the stimulating medical device for subsequent use by the device. | 05-10-2012 |
20120130449 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT APPARATUS AND METHODS - The invention relates to cochlear implants and to improved methods of operating such implants. We describe cochlear implant apparatus comprising an audio signal processing unit with a wired or wireless coupling to an implantable cochlear stimulation device, wherein said audio signal processing unit has an audio input to receive an audio signal representing a sound, wherein said implantable cochlear stimulation device includes an electrical pulse generator coupled to an electrode array for intracochlear stimulation, wherein the apparatus is configured to apply stimulation to said electrode array to represent said sound, wherein said stimulation comprises application of an electrical pulse across two intracochlear electrodes of said electrode array, and wherein said electrical pulse has a pulse waveshape which is asymmetric under an operation comprising inverting the waveshape about a zero level and then time reversing the waveshape. | 05-24-2012 |
20120143283 | Synchronized Diagnostic Measurement for Cochlear Implants - Objective measurement of cochlear implant operation is described which coordinates the delivery to a patient of an acoustic signal and an electrical signal including coordinating a delay time between the acoustic signal and the electrical signal. The acoustic signal is developed as an acoustic stimulation input to the ear canal of a patient, and the electrical signal is developed as an electrical stimulation input to intracochlear electrodes of a cochlear implant. The evoked response in the patient to the delivered signals is then measured including measuring a far field response associated with the skin surface of the patient. | 06-07-2012 |
20120143284 | IMPLANT STIMULATION DEVICE - An implantable stimulation device is disclosed which provides for reduced power consumption when compared with bipolar stimulation and better stimulation performance when compared with monopolar stimulation. Implantable stimulator devices use less power in monopolar stimulation mode than that of bipolar stimulation but stimulation performance is greater when using bipolar stimulation. The device comprises circuitry capable of simultaneous stimulation between a reference electrode and an electrode of a stimulation array and between electrodes of the stimulation array, the ratio of current to the reference electrode and array electrodes being selectable. | 06-07-2012 |
20120150259 | PORTABLE POWER CHARGING OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - An implantable medical device, comprising an implantable component having a rechargeable power supply and an external wireless charger. The wireless charger has a rechargeable power supply, and an inductive coil configured to transcutaneously transfer power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply, and configured to detect and receive, via the inductive coil, power from an auxiliary charger for recharging of the charger power supply. | 06-14-2012 |
20120158095 | Cochlear Implant with Cochleostomy Ground - A cochlear implant electrode arrangement is described. An electrode lead is connected to an implantable stimulator and contains electrode wires for carrying stimulation signals from the implantable stimulator. An electrode array penetrates through a cochleostomy opening into a patient cochlea for immersion in cochlear fluid within the cochlea. The electrode array has electrode contacts for delivering the stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. A cochleostomy ground contact at the cochleostomy opening separates the electrode lead and the electrode array and provides a return current path for the stimulation signals. There may also be a stimulator ground contact on an outer surface of the implantable stimulator that provides a second return current path for the stimulation signals. | 06-21-2012 |
20120179223 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF COMPENSATING FOR A DISABLED ELECTRODE - An exemplary method includes 1) identifying, by a cochlear implant system, an electrode included within an array of electrodes as being a disabled electrode, 2) selecting, by the cochlear implant system, at least two non-adjacent electrodes surrounding the disabled electrode, and 3) simultaneously applying, by the cochlear implant system, stimulation current to the at least two non-adjacent electrodes to compensate for a loss of stimulation resulting from the disabled electrode. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179224 | COMPENSATION CURRENT OPTIMIZATION FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS - An exemplary method includes 1) applying a main current to a first electrode disposed within a patient and associated with a first pitch, 2) concurrently applying a compensation current to a second electrode disposed within the patient and associated with a second pitch during the application of the main current, the compensation current being out-of-phase with the main current, and 3) optimizing an amount of the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient that is distanced from the first pitch in a pitch direction opposite a pitch direction of the second pitch in relation to the first pitch. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 07-12-2012 |
20120191160 | CURRENT LEAKAGE DETECTION METHOD AND DEVICE - An improved arrangement for detecting DC current leakage in implanted devices is disclosed. Currents are monitored, so that any unexpected imbalance indicates that a fault condition has occurred. The principle of the system is that if everything working correctly, the same current should be flowing into the tissue from VDDH-ELEC as is passing out of the tissue into VSS_ELEC. Any difference is indicative of current flowing into or out of the tissue from unknown paths, which is indicative of some fault. This replaces routine monitoring for specific faults. | 07-26-2012 |
20120191161 | Systems and Methods for Detecting Nerve Stimulation with an Implanted Prosthesis - The present application discloses systems and methods for detecting non-auditory nerve stimulation with an implant having a plurality of electrodes configured to electrically stimulate a target nerve of the implant recipient. One embodiment includes generating an electrical stimulation signal with a first set of electrodes of the implant, measuring a response to the electrical stimulation signal with a second set of electrodes of the implant, and determining whether the electrical stimulation signal stimulated at least one non-target nerve of the implant recipient based on the measured response. | 07-26-2012 |
20120197345 | Medical Device User Interface - A medical device includes a housing. A sensor, such as an accelerometer, a magnetic field sensor such as a Hall sensor, and/or a gyroscope, provides a sensor signal in response to a translation of the housing and/or a rotation of the housing. A controller controls the medical device, based at least in part, on the sensor signal. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197346 | Optimizing Pitch Allocation in a Cochlear Implant - Errors in pitch allocation within a cochlear implant are corrected in order to provide a significant and profound improvement in the quality of sound perceived by the cochlear implant user. The disclosure provides a tool for determining the implant fitting curve for cochlear implant system to correct pitch warping. The method presents familiar musical tunes to determine the implant fitting slope (relative alignment). In addition, in one embodiment, speech sounds may be used to determine the offset of the fitting line (absolute alignment). The use of music and speech to determine the implant fitting curve (line) and the slope is facilitated by using techniques to implement virtual electrodes to more precisely direct stimuli to the location or “place” on the cochlea. | 08-02-2012 |
20120209351 | Enhancing Fine Time Structure Transmission for Hearing Implant System - A system and method of signal processing for a hearing implant. The hearing implant includes at least one electrode, each electrode associated with a channel specific sampling sequence. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate for each electrode a band pass signal representing an associated band of audio frequency. For each electrode, a sequence signal is determined as a function of the electrode's associated band pass signal and channel specific sampling sequence. An envelope of each band pass signal is determined. The envelope of each band pass signal is filtered to reduce modulations resulting from unresolved harmonics, creating for each electrode an associated filtered envelope signal. Each electrode's sequence signal is weighted based, at least in part, on the electrode's associated filtered envelope signal. | 08-16-2012 |
20120215283 | RECORDING AND RETRIEVAL OF SOUND DATA IN A HEARING PROSTHESIS - 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. | 08-23-2012 |
20120221078 | FEEDTHROUGH HAVING A NON-LINEAR CONDUCTOR - The implantable medical device including a hermetic enclosure including at least one feedthrough having at least one electrically conductive path through the feedthrough. The at least one feedthrough includes an insulator having an entry face and an exit face, and at least one non-linear conductor is configured to extend, within the insulator, from the entry face to the exit face to provide the conductive path, wherein the entry and exit faces are not substantially parallel opposite faces of the insulator. | 08-30-2012 |
20120226332 | SENSITIVE MEASUREMENTS IN A HEARING PROSTHESIS - Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to taking measurements in a hearing prosthesis. In an embodiment, a power circuit, which may be a switched mode power circuit, is shut down during performance of the measurements to reduce interference. Then, power capacitively stored by the power circuit is used to power the hearing prosthesis during performance of the measurements. In an embodiment, the power circuit increases its voltage just prior to performance of the measurements. This serves to increase the amount of energy capactively stored by the power circuit and thus extends the period of time during which the measurements may be taken while the power circuit is shut off | 09-06-2012 |
20120232616 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS IN MEDICAL DEVICES - A medical device, comprising first and second components coupled via a first wireless link; and a third component coupled to the first device via a second wireless link. The device implements a communication scheme in which transmissions via the second wireless link occur during a time period that is interleaved between periods including transmissions via the first link. | 09-13-2012 |
20120239113 | MECHANICAL STIMULATOR HAVING A QUICK-CONNECTOR - An implantable hearing prosthesis comprising a vibrator for generating vibrations, a coupling arm adapted to be attached to an element of a recipient's ear; and a quick-connector comprising a first connector half disposed on the vibrator and a second connector half disposed on the coupling arm, wherein the connector halves are adapted to be releasably mated with one another to secure the coupling arm in relative position to the vibrator. | 09-20-2012 |
20120245654 | Wireless Audio Signal Monitor Output for Hearing Implant System - An external processor device for a hearing implant system is described. An audio signal processor is coupled to an audio input providing an electrical audio input signal and develops a corresponding implant stimulation signal output. A stimulation signal transmitter is coupled to the signal processor and receives the implant stimulation signal for transmission to an implanted portion of the hearing implant system. The device includes an audio bypass mode which provides the audio input signal to the stimulation signal transmitter for transmission. | 09-27-2012 |
20120245655 | Post-Auricular Muscle Response Based Hearing Prosthesis Fitting - An arrangement is described for fitting a hearing prosthesis system to a prosthesis patient. The PAMR measurement determines a post-auricular muscle reflex (PAMR) response of the patient to an auditory stimulus signal. For example, the PAMR response may include a PAMR amplitude growth function or a PAMR threshold stimulus level at which a PAMR is measured in the patient. Then a patient fitting module sets an operating characteristic of the hearing prosthesis system based on the PAMR response. | 09-27-2012 |
20120259385 | METHOD OF REMOTE MONITORING AND MODULATION OF MEDICAL APPARATUS - A method of remotely programming a cochlear implant comprises, at a remote patient location attendable by a patient, operatively coupling the cochlear implant to a remote programming computer configured to generate a signal to program the cochlear implant. The patient is provided with a remote video conferencing system configured to receive video and audio of a local operator remotely programming the cochlear implant to enable the patient to both hear and see a face of the local operator during programming to enable the patient to read lips of the local operator to supplement hearing of the patient in communicating with the local operator. At a local programming location, the local operator accesses a local programming computer that is communicationally coupled to the remote programming computer by which the local operator at the local programming location can interactively control the remote programming computer to program the cochlear implant. | 10-11-2012 |
20120265270 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING AND USING AN ELECTRICAL COCHLEAR RESPONSE ("ECR") IN ANALYZING OPERATION OF A COCHLEAR STIMULATION SYSTEM - Methods and systems for analyzing operation of a cochlear stimulation system. A sound stimulus signal is generated to excite the cochlear stimulation system to operate. During operation, the intracochlear electrodes generate signals into the auditory nerve system. The patient's nervous system's response may be measured as the Electrical Cochlear Response (“ECR”). The ECR can be detected and analyzed for fitting, calibration, performance evaluation and failure detection of the cochlear implant of the patient. Also example methods may be used to estimate the audiometric thresholds of the cochlear implant without the implanted patient's knowledge. | 10-18-2012 |
20120290045 | MULTIMODAL AUDITORY FITTING - The present invention provides for fitting a multimodal hearing system to a recipient. Such fitting may include determining a desired perception for an input signal, receiving a measurement of a perception evoked by applying to the recipient one or more stimulation signals that correspond to the input signal, wherein the one or more stimulation signals applied using two or more stimulation modes, and each stimulation signal is determined using stimulus mode weighting, and adjusting one or more of the stimulus mode weightings based on the difference between the measured evoked perception and the desired perception. A multimodal hearing system is able to stimulate using an acoustic, electrical, mechanical mode and/or photo effect mode. | 11-15-2012 |
20120303093 | INTERAURAL TIME DIFFERENCE ENHANCEMENT STRATEGY - Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to a modulation enhancement strategy that helps improve ITD perception by explicitly modulating the electrical stimulation signal. In an embodiment, the timing of the applied modulations is based on amplitude inflections (i.e., peaks or troughs) in the received sound signal. In an embodiment, the identified inflections (i.e., peaks or troughs) represent the most energetic portions of the signal over a particular time period (e.g., the time period prior to the inflection having a length equal to the expected fundamental period of the signal. Further, in an embodiment, the cochlear implant applies a delay to the stimulation signal to help maintain interaural timing cues. The application of this delay helps account for the traveling wave delay in the acoustic path of the opposite ear in embodiments in which the opposite ear is fitted with a hearing aid or is not fitted with a hearing device. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303094 | Optimal Model Constants For Simultaneous Stimulation With Channel Interaction Compensation - Approaches are described for fitting a simultaneous stimulation arrangement of a cochlear implant system to an implanted patient. Electrode contacts in an electrode array implanted in a patient cochlea are stimulated with a fitting pattern of stimulation signals. Then current spread decay parameters are determined for patient specific amplitude compensation of the simultaneous stimulation arrangement based on either a psychoacoustic aspect or an objective measurement of patient percept to the fitting pattern. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303095 | Progressive Parameter Scan for Cochlear Implants - A channel fitting process is described for a cochlear implant. A check is made for a channel fitting response condition to a stimulation signal, and if the condition is present, a channel operating parameter is set for the current electrode contact based on the channel fitting response condition, and if channel operating parameters have been set for all the electrode contacts, the channel fitting process ends. Otherwise, a next electrode contact is selected, the stimulation level is changed by a channel fitting increment, and if a stimulation level limit has been reached, the channel fitting process ends, or otherwise, the currently selected electrode contact is stimulated with the stimulation signal at the current stimulation level and the channel fitting process repeats. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303096 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING AN IMPEDANCE OF ONE OR MORE ELECTRODES IN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM - An exemplary method includes a sound processing unit 1) directing an implantable cochlear stimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes to generate an electrical stimulation current in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, 2) automatically detecting an impedance of at least one of the electrodes, and 3) directing, in accordance with the detected impedance, the implantable cochlear stimulator to adjust a pulse width of the electrical stimulation current to maintain constant a total electric charge level of the electrical stimulation current. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303097 | HEARING AID COMPRISING AN INTRA-COCHLEAR ACTUATOR - An at least partially implantable hearing aid has an input transducer ( | 11-29-2012 |
20120316618 | Cochlear Implant Power System and Methodology - A cochlear implant system has an implantable portion that includes a stimulator module for producing for the auditory system of a user an electrical stimulation signal representative of an acoustic signal. The implantable portion further includes a battery for supplying power to the stimulator module, a receiver module for receiving an electrical power signal across the skin of a user, and a recharge module that uses the electrical power signal to recharge the battery. The recharge module recharges the battery at less than the maximum recharge rate. | 12-13-2012 |
20120330378 | Modular Speech Processor Headpiece - A cochlear implant system includes: an electrode array implanted within a cochlea; an internal processor in communication with the electrode array; an implanted antenna which is electrically coupled to the internal processor; and a modular external headpiece which is removably positioned over the implanted antenna, the modular external headpiece including a core containing a sound processor for processing sound and providing a corresponding signal to the implanted antenna; and a modular component configured to releasably engage the core and supply electrical power to the core. A modular speech processor headpiece includes a core comprising a microphone and sound processor for producing a signal representing ambient sound to be transmitted to a cochlear implant, the core further comprising a number of electrical contacts; and a modular component containing a number of electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the core; wherein the core is configured to engage with the modular component such that electrical communication is made between the core and the modular component. | 12-27-2012 |
20130006327 | TWO-PIECE SOUND PROCESSOR SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS SYSTEM - An exemplary system includes 1) a headpiece module configured to be affixed to a head of a patient and comprising a primary sound processor configured to generate stimulation parameters used to direct an auditory prosthesis implanted within the patient to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient and 2) a sound processor module separate from the headpiece module and configured to be selectively and communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. The sound processor module includes a secondary sound processor configured to detect a communicative coupling of the sound processor module to the headpiece module and contribute to the generation of one or more of the stimulation parameters while the sound processor module is communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 01-03-2013 |
20130006328 | SIMULTANEOUS DELIVERY OF ELECTRICAL AND ACOUSTICAL STIMULATION IN A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A cochlear prosthesis comprising an electrical signal analyser configured to process a first frequency sub-range of a detected sound signal for electric stimulation of the cochlea, and a delay circuit configured to impose a delay on at least one of an electrical signal delivery path and an acoustic signal delivery path, to provide for delivery of the electrical stimulation to the cochlea at a desired time relative to a time of arrival of acoustic stimuli at the cochlea, wherein the acoustic stimuli arriving at the cochlea and the electrical stimulation delivered to the cochlea at the desired time substantially simultaneously stimulate the cochlea. | 01-03-2013 |
20130006329 | STOCHASTIC STIMULATION IN A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A method, for inducing a hearing percept to a recipient of a cochlear implant, includes: building a sequence of electrical stimulation pulses having first and second inter-pulse intervals; and making stochastic the sequence including randomly selecting either the first or the second inter-pulse interval for insertion between consecutive pulses in the sequence. | 01-03-2013 |
20130013027 | Systems, Methods, and Articles of Manufacture for Configuring Hearing Prostheses - The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for fitting a hearing prosthesis to a hearing prosthesis recipient. Some embodiments include generating a first set of two or more stimulation signals via a corresponding set of two or more channels of a hearing prosthesis, reducing the corresponding stimulation levels of the stimulation signals of the first set of two or more stimulation signals in response to receiving an indication that a sound sensation corresponding to the first set of two or more stimulation signals is uncomfortably loud, and generating a second set of one or more stimulation signals at the reduced stimulation levels via a first subset of one or more channels. | 01-10-2013 |
20130023954 | Implantable Remote Control - 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. | 01-24-2013 |
20130023955 | High Accuracy Tonotopic and Periodic Coding with Enhanced Harmonic Resolution - A signal processing system is described for a cochlear implant. A pre-processor filter bank processes an acoustic audio signal to generate band pass signals which represent associated bands of audio frequencies. An information extraction module defines macro bands, each of which characterizes multiple band pass signals, and processes the macro bands in a sequence of sampling intervals. For each sampling interval the information extraction module processing includes: i. extracting timing and energy information from each band pass signal to form requested stimulation events, ii. decimating the requested stimulation events to select a maximum energy band pass signal within each macro band, and iii. decimating each selected band pass signal based on a pulse selection inhibition function and preserving temporal and spectral structures of the band pass signals so as to generate stimulation event signals. A pulse weighting module weights the stimulation event signals with a weighting matrix reflecting patient-specific pitch perception characteristics to produce output electrode stimulation signals to the implanted electrode array. | 01-24-2013 |
20130035744 | IMPLANTABLE MICROPHONE FOR AN IMPLANTABLE HEARING PROSTHESIS - An implantable microphone for a hearing prosthesis. The microphone comprises: a housing having a diaphragm chamber formed therein, and an aperture extending from the exterior surface of the housing to the chamber; a diaphragm disposed on the exterior of the housing so as to seal the aperture, and configured to vibrate in response to sound signals; a sensor positioned adjacent an end of the chamber opposing the diaphragm, and configured to detect vibration of the diaphragm, and to generate electrical signals based thereon; and a stiffening material substantially filling the regions of the housing external to the sensor and the diaphragm such that that air gaps within the filled regions of the housing are substantially eliminated, wherein the stiffening material has an elastic modulus that enables the housing to substantially resist deformation there of in response to body-noise. | 02-07-2013 |
20130041428 | Upgradeable Cochlear Implant - The present application discloses an upgradeable cochlear implant. In one example, the implant may include a stimulator configured to generate a stimulation current comprising at least one stimulus, a first lead configured to conduct the stimulation current from the stimulator to at least one electrode, and a second lead configured to allow connection of a separate module to the stimulator. The second lead may include a lead conductor, a reference electrode configured to collect the stimulation current, an electrode conductor configured to conduct the stimulation current between the reference electrode and the stimulator, and an insulating material surrounding at least the lead conductor and the electrode conductor. The reference electrode may be formed at an exterior surface of the second lead, or may be formed on a portion of a connector for connecting to the separate module. The implant may additionally include a protective element. | 02-14-2013 |
20130046359 | STIMULATION CHANNEL SELECTION FOR A STIMULATING MEDICAL DEVICE - Methods and systems are disclosed for determining an amplitude of one or more stimulation signals corresponding to a subject signal for use by a stimulating medical device having a first group of stimulation channels mapping to a second group of electrodes, respectively. Such a method, for example, includes: obtaining the subject signal; filtering the subject signal with a first plurality of band-pass filters (BPFs) having substantially contiguous pass-bands, respectively, to obtain a first set of one or more signals; selecting at least one of the stimulation channels based on the first set; filtering the subject signal with a second plurality of BPFs having significantly overlapping pass-bands, respectively, to obtain a second set of one or more signals; and determining at least one stimulation amplitude for the at least one selected stimulation channel, respectively, based on the second set of signals. | 02-21-2013 |
20130046360 | IMPLANT MAGNET SYSTEM - 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. | 02-21-2013 |
20130066398 | External Button Processor with a Rechargeable Battery - An external processor device is described for a hearing implant system. An external processor housing has a generally planar skin contacting surface and a central axis perpendicular to the skin contacting surface. A signal processor is located within the processor housing for developing an implant data signal. The processor housing also contains a transmitter coil for coupling the implant data signal across the skin to the implantable prosthetic system. A battery container forms an annular compartment around the central axis and contains a battery arrangement to provide electrical power to the signal processor and the transmitter coil. | 03-14-2013 |
20130073002 | MEDICAL IMPLANT WITH CURRENT LEAKAGE CIRCUITRY - Medical device implants for stimulating the nervous system of a recipient are disclosed. Embodiments include a cochlear implant with electrodes for delivering charge to the cochlea of the recipient and stimulation circuitry for delivering the charge to the electrodes. The medical devices include a transfer line which carries power and/or communication signals, the transfer line being in contact with tissue of the recipient when the medical device implant is implanted. A leakage capture conductor and/or sensing electrode is located or locatable proximate the insulated conductor. | 03-21-2013 |
20130079844 | Implantable Neurostimulation Electrode Interface - An implantable neurostimulation electrode interface and related system arrangements and methods are provided. The implantable interface may include at least a first stimulation signal channel for receiving a first electrode stimulation signal and a plurality of electrode signal channels electrically interconnected or interconnectable to a plurality of electrodes for neurostimulation. The interface may further include a router electrically interconnected to the first stimulation signal channel and to the plurality of electrode signal channels. The router is controllable to directly route the first electrode stimulation signal to different first successive sets of one or more of the plurality of electrode signal channels. The router may be adapted for routing the first electrode stimulation signal as an electrical current signal, without modification of the signal. Stimulation signal generation componentry and power source componentry may be located remotely from the implantable interface. Such componentry may be selectively interconnectable to and disconnectable from the implantable interface. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079845 | Accelerated Fitting of Ear Implants - Fitting a multi-channel cochlear implant system to an implanted patient is described. A fit map database is accessed that contains parameter data from fit maps of previously measured cochlear implant patients. For subsets of signal channels in each fit map, an average deviation is established between estimated parameter values and measured parameter values across signal channels not in a given subset based on measured parameter values of signal channels in the given subset. For a given number of signal channels, a subset of the same number of signal channels is identified that has a minimum average deviation. Then fit parameters for signal channels in the identified subset are measured and fit parameters for the remaining signal channels not in the identified subset are estimated. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079846 | EXTERNAL SPEECH PROCESSOR UNIT FOR AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS - A cochlear implant system comprising an external component having an external speech processor unit, and an internal component. The speech processor unit monitors one or more parameters, and the speech processor unit is configured to reduce the power consumption of the cochlear implant system in the absence of one or more parameters. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079847 | TRANSCUTANEOUS CAPACITIVE DATA LINK - An implantable medical device includes a transcutaneous capacitive data link circuit. The link circuit include: a first pair of capacitors each having an external electrode configured to be externally positioned on a recipient and an internal electrode configured to be internally positioned in the recipient; a first voltage driver having positive and negative terminals each connected to one of the external electrodes, and configured to generate a first voltage drive signal responsive to a first input control signal; and a first differential amplifier circuit connected to the internal electrodes, configured to generate a first output data signal representative of the first input control signal. | 03-28-2013 |
20130096646 | Battery Ventilation for a Medical Device - A medical device is presented that includes an external portion adapted for placement external to the skin of a user. The external portion includes a battery pack for interfacing with at least one battery cell. The battery pack includes a housing, the housing defining air inlet and/or outlet holes such that fluid flow is enabled through at least a part of the housing. A micro-ventilation mechanism moves air through at least a part of the housing. | 04-18-2013 |
20130103111 | FREQUENCY-TO-DIGITAL CONVERSION-BASED TRANSCUTANEOUS TRANSMISSION - A method for use in an active implantable medical device (AIMD) including an external module and an implantable module having a stimulation transducer implantable in an implantee and configured to deliver stimulation energy to auditory tissue so as to cause a hearing percept, the method including: receiving, at the implantable module, from the external module via a transcutaneous RF link, an analog frequency-modulated RF signal (analog FM) including stimulation signals representative of sound; performing frequency-to-digital conversion upon the frequency-modulated signal to obtain pulse-formatted signals corresponding to the stimulation signals; and energizing the stimulation transducer based upon the pulse-formatted signals to cause the hearing percept. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103112 | ELONGATE IMPLANTABLE CARRIER MEMBER HAVING AN EMBEDDED STIFFENER - An apparatus including a flexible elongate carrier member configured to introduce a therapeutic element into the recipient and a stiffening member, permanently embedded in and longitudinally extending through at least a first region of said carrier member, configured to decrease said flexibility of said carrier member region so as to prevent deformation of said first region during implantation into the recipient. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103113 | USING A GENETIC ALGORITHM TO FIT A MEDICAL IMPLANT SYSTEM TO A PATIENT - Apparatus and method for at least partially fitting a medical implant system to a patient is described. These apparatuses and methods comprise executing a genetic algorithm to select a set of parameter values for the medical implant system. This genetic algorithm may comprise executing a tabu search wherein value sets that are determined to be bad are added to a tabu list that may be consulted to exclude tabu value sets from successive generations of the genetic algorithm. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103114 | BATTERY LIFE OPTIMIZER - A method of controlling charging of a battery ( | 04-25-2013 |
20130110198 | Fixture and Removal of Hearing System External Coil | 05-02-2013 |
20130110199 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING ONE OR MORE CENTRAL AUDITORY POTENTIALS | 05-02-2013 |
20130116746 | Transpositional Acoustic Frequency Range In EAS Patients - An electric acoustic stimulation (EAS) hearing system includes a signal processor for processing an acoustic signal input to generate: i. an electrical communications signal representative of an upper electrical range of acoustic frequencies, and ii. an acoustic communications signal representative of a lower acoustic range of acoustic frequencies, the acoustic range including: (1) a lower subrange of acoustic frequencies perceivable by the patient with amplification, and (2) an upper subrange of acoustic frequencies not perceivable by the patient, wherein the signal processor uses frequency transposition to include the upper subrange in the lower subrange. An implanted electrical stimulation subsystem receives the electrical communications signal and delivers a corresponding electrical stimulation signal to auditory neural tissue of an implanted patient. An external acoustic stimulation subsystem receives the acoustic communications signal and delivers a corresponding amplified acoustic stimulation signal to the ear canal of the patient. | 05-09-2013 |
20130116747 | MODULAR SPEECH PROCESSOR HEADPIECE - A cochlear implant system includes: an electrode array implanted within a cochlea; an internal processor in communication with the electrode array; an implanted antenna which is electrically coupled to the internal processor; and a modular external headpiece which is removably positioned over the implanted antenna, the modular external headpiece including a core containing a sound processor for processing sound and providing a corresponding signal to the implanted antenna; and a modular component configured to releasably engage the core and supply electrical power to the core. A modular speech processor headpiece includes a core comprising a microphone and sound processor for producing a signal representing ambient sound to be transmitted to a cochlear implant, the core further comprising a number of electrical contacts; and a modular component containing a number of electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the core; wherein the core is configured to engage with the modular component such that electrical communication is made between the core and the modular component. | 05-09-2013 |
20130138180 | Fast Fitting of Cochlear Implants - Approaches are described for fitting an implanted cochlear implant having electrode array contacts to the implanted patient. A normal electrode stimulation arrangement is used to deliver electrode stimulation signals to the active electrode channel electrode contacts at an initial common charge level. The common charge level is increased until a desired common percept criteria is met to establish a common baseline charge level for the stimulation electrode contacts. For each individual electrode contact, a fitting stimulation signal is delivered to the electrode starting from the common baseline charge level and the charge level is increased until an individual electrode percept criteria is met. | 05-30-2013 |
20130158629 | Channel Specific Gain Control Including Lateral Suppression - A system is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for stimulation electrodes in an implanted electrode array on a given side of a bilateral cochlear implant system. A pre-processor module processes an acoustic audio signal with a bank of filters to generate a set of band pass signals each corresponding to a band of audio frequencies associated with one of the filters. An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit performs a channel specific dynamic amplitude mapping of the band pass signals to generate a set of compressed band pass signals. The AGC circuit uses a bilateral multiplication matrix characterizing a lateral suppression network and having at least one non-zero coupling element from a contralateral side. A stimulation timing module extracts stimulation information from the compressed band pass signals to generate stimulation timing signals. A pulse shaper module develops the stimulation timing signals into electrode stimulation signals to the stimulation electrodes. | 06-20-2013 |
20130165992 | Stimulation Prosthesis with Configurable Data Link - The present application discloses systems and methods for operating a stimulation prosthesis that contains a command module and a stimulator module that communicate by a data link. The stimulation prosthesis has at least two operating states: a configuration state and a stimulation state. In one embodiment, the stimulation prosthesis may use a communication protocol that is suitable for the current operating state. The risk of unintended transitions between the operating states due to data transmission errors is substantially eliminated. And in accordance with another embodiment, in addition to switching stimulation strategies, the stimulation prosthesis may also switch stimulation data formats to a format that is optimized for the new stimulation strategy. | 06-27-2013 |
20130184784 | DIRECTIONAL SOUND PROCESSING IN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT - A cochlear implant implementing a directional sound processing system is provided. Specifically, the cochlear implants implementing the present invention comprise a plurality of audio sensors arranged in at least one external component of the cochlear implant to spatially receive ambient sound. At least one audio sensor is located in one of the external components of the cochlear implant, while one other audio sensor is located elsewhere, such as in a component other than the first component. The cochlear implant includes an directional sound processor comprising an array processor and a sound processor to convert the received sounds into a cochlea stimulation instruction signal. | 07-18-2013 |
20130190839 | DRUG DELIVERY USING A SACRIFICIAL HOST - An implantable drug-doped component, e.g., a cochlear implant, includes host material, a host-embedded drug and a sacrificial material integrated with the host. Upon exposure of the sacrificial material to a solvent, e.g., perilymph fluid, voids in the host are created which facilitate release of the drug. The host can be, e.g., polysiloxane or silicone rubber. The sacrificial material, e.g., can be a glucose monomer, sugar, cyclodextrin, a salt, a bioresorbable material, hyaluronic acid, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, etc. Alternatively, the sacrificial material can be the host, and can facilitate release of the drug through changing a property of the sacrificial material, e.g., by exposing the component to an ethanol wash. For a cochlear implant, e.g., the drug doped material can be applied to a non-stimulating surface of the electrode array. | 07-25-2013 |
20130197606 | Tonality-Based Optimization of Sound Sensation for a Cochlear Implant Patient - An exemplary system includes a sound processor configured to 1) divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels and 2) generate one or more tonality indices each representing a tonality of one of the analysis channels, and an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processor and configured to 1) generate one or more stimulation pulses configured to represent the audio signal in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, and 2) adjust the one or more stimulation parameters based on at least one of the tonality indices. | 08-01-2013 |
20130204325 | CONFIGURING A HEARING PROSTHESIS WITH A REDUCED QUANTITY OF PARAMETERS - A method for determining a first set of one or more parameters for configuring a system, the method including evaluating a behavior of the system over a predetermined selection of parameter values for a second set of parameters, and deriving a first set of one or more parameters to configure the system based on the evaluated behavior of the system, wherein the number of parameters in the first set is less than the number of parameters in the second set. | 08-08-2013 |
20130204326 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MINIMIZING AN EFFECT OF CHANNEL INTERACTION IN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM - An exemplary method of minimizing an effect of channel interaction among a plurality of channels in a multi-channel cochlear implant system includes empirically generating an electrical spread matrix that is specific to a patient and representative of a channel interaction among a plurality of channels defined by a plurality patient of electrodes of a multi-channel cochlear implant system associated with the patient, generating a model electrical spread matrix that approximates the empirically generated electrical spread matrix and that has a band inverse matrix, and using the band inverse matrix to determine a set of stimulation current levels to be applied by way of a corresponding set of electrodes included in the plurality of electrodes in order to produce desired stimulation current levels at a plurality of stimulation sites within the cochlea in the presence of the channel interaction. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 08-08-2013 |
20130218236 | System and Method for Fine-Structure Processing for Hearing Assistance Devices - A hearing assistance device and method is presented. An electrode is configured to be disposed within a cochlea of a user. A processor is in communication with the electrode and is configured to stimulate the electrode. The processor is configured to receive an input audio signal, band-pass filter the input audio signal into a plurality of channel signals, apply a Hilbert transform to at least one of the plurality of channel signals to generate a transformed audio signal, and analyze the transformed audio signal to identify at least one positive-moving zero crossing of the transformed audio signal. Upon identifying the at least one positive-moving zero crossing of the transformed audio signal, the processor is configured to trigger an electric current pulse to be delivered to the electrode. | 08-22-2013 |
20130218237 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT FITTING SYSTEM - A system for electrically stimulating a first cochlear implant includes (a) an electrode contact simultaneously transmitting a first electrical stimulus from stimulation hardware to a first ear fitted with the first cochlear implant and a second stimulus from the stimulation hardware to a second ear, the second stimulus being one of electrical and acoustical; (b) a component establishing a plurality of frequency-to-electrode maps used to determine the first electrical stimulus; (c) a user-interface component permitting a user to adjust the frequency-to-electrode maps and receive the corresponding auditory stimulation in the first cochlear implant; (d) a component storing the frequency-to-electrode maps; and (e) a display component displaying a visual representation of multiple frequency-to-electrode maps to facilitate a comparison between the frequency-to-electrode maps in making a determination by a user of a most desired frequency-to-electrode map. | 08-22-2013 |
20130231714 | ELECTRODE STIMULATION SIGNAL GENERATION IN A NEURAL AUDITORY PROSTHESIS - An auditory stimulation signal processing device includes a plurality of signal inputs adapted to receive a plurality of frequency bin signals; a signal selector adapted to select a selected frequency bin signal from the plurality of frequency bin signals; a parameter modifier adapted to vary at least one stimulation signal generation parameter used for generating an electrode stimulation signal and affecting a shape of a basic stimulation pulse; and an electrode stimulation signal generator adapted to generate the electrode stimulation signal for application to an electrode of a neural auditory prosthesis, the electrode corresponding to a frequency of the selected frequency bin signal. A corresponding method and a computer readable digital storage medium are also disclosed. | 09-05-2013 |
20130238054 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AN ELECTRODE STIMULATION SIGNAL IN A NEURAL AUDITORY PROSTHESIS - An auditory stimulation signal processing has a plurality of signal inputs adapted to receive a plurality of frequency bin signals, a selection probability value assigner, a random selector, and an electrode stimulation signal generator. The selection probability assigner is adapted to assign a selection probability value to at least one frequency bin signal of the plurality of frequency bin signals. The random selector is adapted to select one frequency bin signal from the plurality of frequency bin signals by means of a random process taking into account the selection probability value assigned to the at least on frequency bin signal. The electrode stimulation generator is adapted to generate an electrode stimulation signal for application to an electrode of a neural auditory prosthesis, the electrode corresponding to a frequency of the selected frequency bin signal. A corresponding method and a computer readable digital storage medium are also disclosed. | 09-12-2013 |
20130245717 | Using Alternative Stimulus Waveforms To Improve Pitch Percepts Elicited With Cochlear Implant Systems - A cochlear implant system is described which includes an electrode array for implantation in the scala tympani of a cochlea. Electrodes on the outer surface of the electrode array apply electrode stimulation signals to nearby neural tissue. An implantable stimulator module develops the electrode stimulation signals. The electrode stimulation signals have different waveforms. A basal waveform for one or more electrodes at the basal end of the electrode array has the form of a sequence of conventional high-amplitude short-duration electrode stimulation signals. An apical waveform for one or more electrodes at the apical end of the electrode array has the form of a sequence of lower-amplitude longer-duration electrode stimulation signals. The apical waveform is adapted to selectively stimulate peripheral neural processes towards the apical end of the electrode array so as to provide a tonotopic place-pitch response to the electrode stimulation signals. | 09-19-2013 |
20130253609 | Methods and Systems for Representing Different Spectral Components of an Audio Signal Presented to a Cochlear Implant Patient - An exemplary system includes a sound processor configured to identify one or more spectral peaks of an audio signal presented to a cochlear implant patient and an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processor and configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of the one or more spectral peaks to at least one stimulation site within the cochlear implant patient using a partial multipolar stimulation configuration and apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more other spectral components of the audio signal to at least one other stimulation site within the cochlear implant patient using a monopolar stimulation configuration. Corresponding systems methods are also disclosed. | 09-26-2013 |
20130261701 | IMPLANTABLE ACTUATOR FOR HEARING STIMULATIOIN - There is provided an implantable actuator for stimulating a patient's hearing, comprising a support frame ( | 10-03-2013 |
20130268024 | Simultaneous-Script Execution - The present application discloses systems and methods for engaging in a peer approach to script execution. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the disclosed systems and methods, a hearing prosthesis receives two scripts. Each script defines a different set of instructions to be carried out by the hearing prosthesis. In one embodiment, the command module receives one script and the stimulation module receives the other script. In such an embodiment, each module executes the script at substantially the same time. Furthermore, when one module encounters portions of the script that are somewhat time sensitive (e.g., a portion of a script that dictates to receive a transmission from the other module), the module will pause execution of the script and wait for execution of the other script to catch up. | 10-10-2013 |
20130274826 | TRANSFORMABLE SPEECH PROCESSOR MODULE FOR A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A method for operating an external component of a cochlear implant hearing system. The external component includes a speech processor module operable in a stand-alone mode of operation and a body-worn mode of operation, and a protective case. The method includes operating the speech processor module in the stand-alone mode, determining when the speech processor module is mounted in the case, and operating the speech processor module in the body-worn mode in response to determining that the speech processor module is mounted in the case. | 10-17-2013 |
20130274827 | PERCEPTION-BASED PARAMETRIC FITTING OF A PROSTHETIC HEARING DEVICE - According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of adjusting an established initial operational settings profile, the profile having two or more operational setting values for a speech processor of a recipient's cochlear implant, comprising: setting one or more profile adjustment functions with one or more function parameters; and modifying concurrently said two or more operational setting values in said operational settings profile using each of said set profile adjustment functions. | 10-17-2013 |
20130282077 | Channel-Specific Adjustment of Sound Processing Strategies Based on Electrode Impedance - An exemplary method includes a sound processing unit 1) directing an implantable cochlear stimulator to apply a plurality of stimulation pulses each having a first pulse width by way of a plurality of electrodes during a first stimulation frame, the plurality of electrodes including a first electrode and a set of remaining electrodes, 2) detecting a change in impedance of the first electrode, 3) adjusting, in response to the change in impedance of the first electrode, a pulse width parameter associated with the first electrode to define a second pulse width, and 4) directing the implantable cochlear stimulator to apply a stimulation pulse having the second pulse width by way of the first electrode and a plurality of stimulation pulses having the first pulse width by way of the set of remaining electrodes during a second stimulation frame subsequent to the first stimulation frame. | 10-24-2013 |
20130289654 | IMPLANTABLE ACOUSTIC SENSOR - An implantable sound pickup system. The system comprises an intracochlear acoustic sensor implantable in a recipient's cochlea comprising: piezoelectric element configured to detect pressure waves in the perilymph of the cochlea when the acoustic sensor is at least partially implanted in the cochlea, and to produce electrical signals corresponding to the detected pressure waves. | 10-31-2013 |
20130289655 | Non-Pressure Sensitive Implantable Microphone - An implantable microphone is described for use in hearing prosthesis systems. A cylindrical microphone housing has opposing circular cylinder ends and an interior volume containing an incompressible housing liquid. At least one housing membrane is on one of the cylinder ends and is in contact with the housing liquid and moveable in response to an acoustic signal outside the housing. An acoustic-electric transducer is coupled to the housing membrane for converting movement of the housing membrane into a corresponding electrical microphone signal. | 10-31-2013 |
20130289656 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF CONVEYING FINE STRUCTURE INFORMATION TO A COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENT - An exemplary system includes 1) a sound processor configured to divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels, wherein each of the analysis channels contains information corresponding to a distinct frequency band of the audio signal, and wherein one of the analysis channels contains fine structure information corresponding to the audio signal, and 2) an implantable cochlear stimulator configured to generate electrical stimulation in accordance with the information contained within each of the analysis channels, apply the electrical stimulation to at least one stimulation site within a patient via a plurality of stimulation channels, each of the stimulation channels corresponding to one of the analysis channels and configured to convey the information contained within the analysis channels to the patient via at least one electrode, and at least partially isolate one of the stimulation channels from a rest of the stimulation channels. | 10-31-2013 |
20130296969 | Electrode Weighting Unit - The present application discloses systems and methods for performing a weighting operation in a stimulation module of a stimulation prosthesis. Accordingly, a command module transmits one data word (i.e., the channel and amplitude value) to the stimulation module. The stimulation module then determines the individual electrodes and magnitudes of electrical signals to apply thereto so as to achieve appropriate stimulation on the channel. In accordance with one embodiment, a stimulation module includes a receiver that is configured for receiving stimulation data transmitted by the command module, the stimulation data defining a channel and an amplitude, a weighting unit configured for calculating, based on the channel and amplitude value, a set of magnitudes, and an arrangement of current sources-and-switches configured for applying current to the array of electrodes based on the calculated set of magnitudes. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296970 | IMPLANTABLE HEARING PROSTHESIS - An implantable hearing prosthesis comprising an implantable upgrade module including a pre-processing unit configured to generate audio signals based on microphone information; and a implantable main module, physically separate from and electrically connected to the upgrade module. The implantable main module comprises a sound processing unit configured to generate stimulation information based on the audio signals received from the pre-processing unit, and a stimulator unit configured to generate stimulation signals based on the stimulation information. The hearing prosthesis also comprises a stimulation module configured to deliver the stimulation signals to a recipient. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296971 | SOUND PROCESSOR HOUSINGS, SOUND PROCESSORS AND IMPLANTABLE COCHLEAR STIMULATION SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME - Sound processor housings, sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed. | 11-07-2013 |
20130304157 | CONFIGURING AN ELECTRICALLY STIMULATING DEVICE TO STIMULATE USING A SUBSET OF ELECTRODE CONTACTS - A method of configuring a prosthesis having two or more electrode contacts, including configuring the prosthesis to provide stimulation to a first tissue site from a subset of electrode contacts based on data based on a comparison of first data to second data, wherein the first data is based on respective estimated voltages for the first site and one or more of additional respective sites to be applied by the subset of electrode contacts, the respective estimated voltages being based on empirical stimulation data for the first and additional sites, and the second data is based on respective target voltages for the first and additional sites, respectively. | 11-14-2013 |
20130317566 | COMPENSATION CURRENT OPTIMIZATION FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS - An exemplary method includes 1) applying a main current to a first electrode disposed within a patient and associated with a first pitch, 2) concurrently applying a compensation current to a second electrode disposed within the patient and associated with a second pitch during the application of the main current, the compensation current being out-of-phase with the main current, and 3) optimizing an amount of the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient that is distanced from the first pitch in a pitch direction opposite a pitch direction of the second pitch in relation to the first pitch. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 11-28-2013 |
20130345775 | Determining Control Settings for a Hearing Prosthesis - Methods, systems, and devices for determining control settings used by a hearing prosthesis to process a sound are disclosed. A first model output based on control settings is received by a computing device configured to fit the hearing prosthesis to a user. A difference between the first model output and a reference output based on normal human hearing at a target frequency is determined. If the difference between the first model output and the reference output at the target frequency is within a specification, the computing device sends a signal to the hearing prosthesis that includes information indicative of the control settings. | 12-26-2013 |
20140005746 | Cochlear Implant Stimulation with Low Frequency Channel Privilege | 01-02-2014 |
20140012349 | MRI-Safe Implant Magnet with Angular Magnetization - A magnetic arrangement is described for an implantable system for a recipient patient. An implantable coil housing contains a signal coil for transcutaneous communication of an implant communication signal. Freely rotatable within the coil housing is a cylindrical implant magnet for transcutaneous magnetic interaction with a corresponding external attachment magnet. The implant magnet has a central cylinder axis of symmetry, and a magnetization direction along a magnetic axis angled away from the axis of symmetry at a non-zero angle less than 45 degrees. | 01-09-2014 |
20140012350 | INTEGRATED IMPLANTABLE HEARING DEVICE, MICROPHONE AND POWER UNIT - An implantable hearing unit is provided that includes an implantable microphone, a rechargeable power storage device and a speech signal processor. The hearing unit further includes a signal coupling device that is adapted for electrical interconnection to an implantable auditory stimulation device, which is operative to stimulate an auditory component of a patient. Such a stimulation device may include cochlear implants, brain stem stimulation systems, auditory nerve stimulation systems, and middle or inner ear transducer systems. The signal coupling device is operative to provide processed drive signals from the signal processor to the stimulation device as well provide power from the power storage device to operate the stimulation device. In one arrangement, the signal coupling device is a wireless coupling between first and second coils. In such an arrangement, the hearing unit may be utilized with an existing implanted stimulation device to make that device a fully implanted hearing system. | 01-09-2014 |
20140012351 | Methods and Systems for Managing Cochlear Implant Fitting Software Features - An exemplary system includes 1) a storage facility configured to maintain data representative of a cochlear implant fitting software package comprising a plurality of cochlear implant fitting features and maintain data representative of a plurality of independent licensing heuristics corresponding to the plurality of cochlear implant fitting features, wherein each independent licensing heuristic within the plurality of independent licensing heuristics corresponds to a different cochlear implant fitting feature within the plurality of cochlear implant fitting features, and 2) a feature control facility configured to selectively enable or disable each cochlear implant fitting feature in accordance with the corresponding independent licensing heuristic. Corresponding methods and systems are also described. | 01-09-2014 |
20140025137 | Electrical Isolation in an Implantable Device - A total implantable hearing aid system is described. The system includes a single transformer that acts as an insulator between simulation circuitry and associated electrodes, and other system elements residing in the tissue. These other system elements include an RF receiver coil, a microphone system, a battery, and a digital signal processor. The transformer also increases the battery output voltage to a level needed by the simulation circuitry with electrodes. | 01-23-2014 |
20140025138 | Hearing Prosthesis with a Standard Wire Interface - Methods, systems, and devices for receiving a data signal and a power signal by a hearing prosthesis are disclosed. An input signal is received at a first unit of a hearing prosthesis. The first unit receives the input signal at a wired interface module that conforms to a standardized interface. The first unit identifies a data signal and a power signal included in the input signal. The first unit transfers at least a portion of the power signal to a second unit of the hearing prosthesis. The second unit is implanted in a body and is configured to stimulate an auditory organ, allowing a user to perceive at least a portion of a sound. | 01-23-2014 |
20140031898 | Shabbat-Compatible Auditory Prosthesis Systems and Methods - An exemplary method includes a Shabbat-compatible auditory prosthesis system (a) detecting a transition of a clock signal from being in an on state to being in an off state, (b) directing, in response the transition of the clock signal to being in the off state, a sound processor to turn off and enter an extended off state during which the sound processor remains off for a first predetermined amount of time, and (c) directing, in response to an elapsing of the first predetermined amount of time, the sound processer to turn on and enter a search state for up to a second predetermined amount of time during which the sound processor searches for an implanted auditory prosthesis. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 01-30-2014 |
20140031899 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT SIGNAL PROCESSING - An exemplary speech processor configured to be used in a cochlear implant system includes signal processing circuitry that 1) separates an incoming audio signal into a plurality of channels, wherein each channel included in the plurality of channels includes a channel signal included in a plurality of channel signals and representing a portion of the audio signal, 2) selects one or more channel signals from the plurality of channel signals that have a spectral power that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the selected one or more channel signals corresponding to one or more channels included in the plurality of channels, and 3) designates only the one or more channels that correspond to the selected one or more channel signals to be used for stimulation representative of the incoming audio signal. | 01-30-2014 |
20140039576 | Automatic Sound Optimizer - Disclosed herein are systems and methods that help to optimize the sound quality produced when a sound processing mode is enabled in an audio device, such as a hearing prosthesis. When the sound processing mode is enabled, a sound processor in the audio device will create a candidate transformed signal based on a default set of parameters associated with the sound processing mode (i.e. a candidate signal processing function). Further, the sound processor will create a reference transformed signal based on the same enabled sound processing mode, but with a varied set of parameters (i.e. a modified signal processing function). The sound processor will then compare the candidate transformed signal to the reference transformed signal to determine which signal has a higher quality. The device then creates an output based on the higher quality signal. | 02-06-2014 |
20140046402 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MINIMIZING A PERCEPTUAL DISTURBANCE CAUSED BY SHORTED ELECTRODES IN AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS SYSTEM - An exemplary system for minimizing a perceptual disturbance caused by shorted electrodes in an auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor ( | 02-13-2014 |
20140052217 | Fitting Bilateral Hearing Prostheses - Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and computing devices for fitting bilateral hearing prostheses. An example method includes sending a signal to a first hearing prosthesis and a second hearing prosthesis. The signal causes the first hearing prosthesis to deliver a first stimulus to a body part in a left auditory pathway of a user. The signal also causes the second hearing prosthesis to deliver a second stimulus to a body part in a right auditory pathway of the user. The first stimulus and the second stimulus cause the user to perceive a sound and are delivered simultaneously. The method also includes receiving an indication of a perception of the sound by the user. The method further includes determining an adjustment to at least one of the first stimulus or the second stimulus based on the perception of the sound by the user. | 02-20-2014 |
20140058478 | Reduction of Transient Sounds in Hearing Implants - A method is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for electrode contacts in a cochlear implant electrode array. An input audio signal is processed to generate band pass channel signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. A channel envelope is extracted from each channel signal. The input audio signal and the channel envelopes are processed to produce transient reduced envelopes based on: i. determining for each channel envelope a normalized channel-specific transient indicator characterizing transient noise present in the channel signal, ii. determining a combined transient indicator as a function of the channel-specific transient indicators, and iii. applying a channel-specific gain to the channel envelopes as a function of the combined transient indicator to produce the transient reduced envelopes. The transient reduced envelopes are then used to generate electrode stimulation signals to the electrode contacts. | 02-27-2014 |
20140074183 | Spectral Contrast Enhancement in a Cochlear Implant Speech Processor - Among other things, enhancing spectral contrast for a cochlear implant listener includes detecting a time domain signal. A first transformation is applied to the detected time domain signal to convert the time domain signal to a frequency domain signal. A second transformation is applied to the frequency domain signal to express the frequency domain signal as a sum of two or more components. A sensitivity of the cochlear implant listener to detect modulation of each component is obtained. | 03-13-2014 |
20140074184 | Encoding Fine Time Structure in Presence of Substantial Interaction Across an Electrode Array - Among other things, a stimulation strategy can be customized for a cochlear implant implanted in an individual by testing at least a pair of electrodes selected from an array of electrodes associated with the cochlear implant. Testing the at least a pair of electrodes includes applying a first stimulation to the at least a pair of electrodes using a first pair of pulse trains that are out of phase, and applying a second stimulation to the at least a pair of electrodes using a second pair of pulse trains that are out of phase. A determination is made on whether the at least a pair of electrodes stimulate the same neural population based on a sensitivity of the individual to detect a perceived difference between the two pairs of pulse trains. The one or more electrodes of the array of electrodes are selectively stimulated based on the determination. | 03-13-2014 |
20140081352 | Inner Hair Cell Stimulation Model for Use by a Cochlear Implant System - The stimulation provided in the electrically stimulated cochlea is modulated in accordance with the amplitude of a received acoustic signal and the onset of a sound in a received acoustic signal to provide increased sound perception. An onset time that corresponds to the onset of a sound is detected in an acoustic signal associated with a frequency band. A forcing voltage and a transmitting factor are determined, wherein the forcing voltage and the transmitting factor are associated with the frequency band at the detected onset time. The acoustic signal is modulated as a function of the forcing voltage and the transmitting factor to generate an output signal. The generated output signal can be used to stimulate the cochlea. The modulation strategy can be used in conjunction with sound processing strategies that employ frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, or a combination of frequency and amplitude modulation. | 03-20-2014 |
20140094874 | Implant Sensor and Control - An implant includes a humidity sensor for generating a signal indicative of humidity within the implant. A controller within the implant receives the signal indicative of humidity, and controls the implant based on the signal indicative of humidity. | 04-03-2014 |
20140100630 | Test Method for Cochlear Implant Stimulation Strategies - An arrangement and method for hearing implant signal processing is described. A hearing implant signal processor converts a speech signal input into multi-channel electrical stimulation signals for a cochlear implant electrode array. A feature adjustment module adjusts feature resolution of the electrical stimulation signals to produce a corresponding sequence of cochlear stimulation feature vectors. A speech recognition vector pre-processor maps the cochlear stimulation feature vectors into corresponding speech recognition feature vectors. A speech recognition engine evaluates the speech recognition features vectors with probabilistic state sequence models to produce speech recognition outputs corresponding to the speech signal input. | 04-10-2014 |
20140107730 | Electrical Nerve Stimulation with Broad Band Low Frequency Filter - A system and method of generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted multi-channel electrode array of a cochlear implant includes processing an acoustic audio signal with a bank of filters. Each filter in the bank of filters is associated with at least one channel having an electrode. The bank of filters includes a first band pass filter that produces a broadband signal b(t) with frequencies that substantially cover at least one of a pitch frequency range of 100 Hz to 400 Hz and a first format range of 400 Hz-1000 Hz. At least one electrode associated with the first band pass filter is activated with electrode stimulation signals based, at least in part, on the broadband signal b(t). The filter bank may include at least one electrode associated with one or more filters other than the first band pass filter, the one or more filters producing signals having only higher frequencies than broadband signal b(t). | 04-17-2014 |
20140114375 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING ADJUSTMENT OF ONE OR MORE FITTING PARAMETERS BY AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS PATIENT - An exemplary method of facilitating adjustment of one or more fitting parameters by an auditory prosthesis patient includes 1) receiving, by a fitting subsystem communicatively coupled to a sound processor, user input representative of a selection of a fitting parameter, 2) associating, by the fitting subsystem in response to the user input, the fitting parameter with a physical input mechanism that is a part of the sound processor, and 3) dynamically adjusting, by the fitting subsystem, a value of the fitting parameter in response to actuation by a user of the physical input mechanism. Corresponding methods and systems are also described. | 04-24-2014 |
20140121725 | Temporal Coding for Hearing Implants - A system and method is provided for activating electrodes in a multi-channel electrode array having electrodes that are spatially divided. At least one pulse for stimulating a single electrode of the electrode array is determined. Each of the pulses is converted into a plurality of pulses for stimulating a plurality of electrodes in the electrode array. | 05-01-2014 |
20140128940 | Multi-Channel Object-Oriented Audio Bitstream Processor for Cochlear Implants - An audio-cochlear implant processor device for a hearing impaired listener is described. An input signal decoder decodes an audio input data signal into a corresponding multi-channel audio signal representing multiple audio objects. An audio processor adjusts the multi-channel audio output based on user-specific hearing impairment characteristics to produce a processed audio output to a cochlear implant audio processor with auditory scene analysis (ASA) cues for the hearing impaired listener. | 05-08-2014 |
20140135871 | External Unit of an Implanted Medical Device - 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. | 05-15-2014 |
20140135872 | Systems and Methods of Facilitating Manual Adjustment of One or More Cochlear Implant System Control Parameters - An exemplary system includes a sound processing unit configured to apply noise reduction to an audio signal in accordance with a noise reduction parameter, an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processing unit and configured to apply stimulation representative of the noise reduced audio signal to a patient via one or more electrodes, and a user input facility communicatively coupled to the sound processing unit and that facilitates manual adjustment of the noise reduction parameter. | 05-15-2014 |
20140172042 | OPTIMIZING OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A method for operating a hearing prosthesis is provided. A plurality of settings are provided, each setting providing a different operating functionality for the hearing prosthesis suitable for different situations. A signal analysis is executed on input signals to the hearing prosthesis. The signal analysis monitors characteristics of a current situation to detect any change and, in the case of detecting change, classifies the current situation into one of a plurality of predefined states. The suitability of the settings is compared with the determined state. One or more optimal choice(s) of setting(s) is identified for the current situation. The one or more optimal choice(s) of setting(s) is presented to a user . The user is then allowed to make a selection from the presented choice(s) of setting(s). If a selection is received from the user, the selected setting is executed . A hearing prosthesis is also provided. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172043 | EXTERNAL SPEECH PROCESSOR UNIT FOR AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS - A cochlear implant system comprising an external component having an external speech processor unit, and an internal component. The speech processor unit monitors one or more parameters, and the speech processor unit is configured to reduce the power consumption of the cochlear implant system in the absence of one or more parameters. | 06-19-2014 |
20140180362 | RECORDING AND RETRIEVAL OF SOUND DATA IN A HEARING PROSTHESIS - 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. | 06-26-2014 |
20140188189 | BILATERAL AUDITORY PROSTHESIS SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An exemplary bilateral auditory prosthesis system includes 1) a primary auditory prosthesis configured to be implanted on a first side of a head of a patient, 2) a secondary auditory prosthesis configured to be implanted on a second side of the head of the patient and to be communicatively coupled to the primary auditory prosthesis with one or more wires, the second side being contralateral to the first side, and 3) a sound processor configured to be communicatively coupled to the primary auditory prosthesis and to control an operation of the secondary auditory prosthesis by transmitting control data to the secondary auditory prosthesis by way of the primary auditory prosthesis and at least one wire included in the one or more wires. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 07-03-2014 |
20140200630 | Fully Implantable Cochlear Implant Systems Including Optional External Components and Methods for Using the Same - An exemplary method includes 1) detecting, by an external module configured to be positioned external to and worn by a patient, an input audio signal presented to the patient, 2) acoustically transmitting, by the external module, an audio signal representative of the input audio signal, 3) detecting, by an implantable module configured to be implanted within the patient, the acoustically transmitted audio signal, 4) generating, by the implantable module, one or more stimulation parameters based on the acoustically transmitted audio signal, and 5) applying, by the implantable module, electrical stimulation representative of the input audio signal to one or more stimulation sites within the patient in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters. | 07-17-2014 |
20140214123 | Bilateral Communication in a Two-Channel System - A hearing prosthesis system has a hearing prosthesis device for each ear. In the case of a cochlear implant, the prosthesis may have both an external portion and an internal portion. The external portion provides a wireless communication to the internal portion. Additionally, each prosthesis is configured to communicate with the other prosthesis. Thus, a second wireless signal provides a bilateral communication link between the two prostheses. Advantageously, in order to mitigate potential wireless interference due to each prosthesis communicating with both a corresponding internal component and the other external component, the disclosed systems and methods operate in a specific communication mode. Under this mode, for each time period, one external component is in a transmit mode, while the other external component is in a receive mode. As the time period advances, the external components simultaneously switch modes. | 07-31-2014 |
20140222104 | STIMULUS TIMING FOR A STIMULATING MEDICAL DEVICE - Methods and systems are disclosed for determining the timing of stimulation applied using a medical device. In embodiments, the medical device filters a received signal to obtain a plurality of band-pass filtered signals, each corresponding to one or more stimulation channels. The medical device then determines the envelopes of these band-pass filtered signals. Next, the medical device determines the stimulation timing (i.e., the pulse times) for the corresponding stimulation channel based on the timing of a particular phase (e.g., a peak, a minimum, etc.) of the envelope. A pulse amplitude for the stimulation channel may then be determined, and stimulation applied using the determined amplitude and pulse time. | 08-07-2014 |
20140243928 | COMPENSATION CURRENT OPTIMIZATION FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS - An exemplary system includes a sound processor configured to process one or more audio signals and an implantable cochlear stimulator configured to apply stimulation representative of the one or more audio signals to a patient via a plurality of electrodes. In some embodiments, the sound processor directs the implantable cochlear stimulator to 1) apply a main current to a first electrode included in the plurality of electrodes and associated with a first pitch, 2) concurrently apply, during the application of the main current, a compensation current to a second electrode included in the plurality of electrodes and associated with a second pitch that is lower than the first pitch, and 3) adjust the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient, the target pitch being higher than the first pitch. | 08-28-2014 |
20140257431 | COMPENSATION CURRENT OPTIMIZATION FOR AUDITORY PROSTHESIS SYSTEMS - An exemplary system includes an implantable cochlear stimulator implanted within a patient, a short electrode array coupled to the implantable cochlear stimulator and having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon, and a sound processor communicatively coupled to the implantable cochlear stimulator. The sound processor may direct the implantable cochlear stimulator to apply a main current to a first electrode included in the plurality of electrodes and associated with a first pitch, direct the implantable cochlear stimulator to concurrently apply, during the application of the main current, a compensation current to a second electrode included in the plurality of electrodes and associated with a second pitch, and optimize an amount of the compensation current to result in a target pitch being presented to the patient that is distanced from the first pitch in a pitch direction opposite a pitch direction of the second pitch in relation to the first pitch. | 09-11-2014 |
20140277275 | Coil Cable for an Implantable Medical Device - Presented herein is a shapeable coil cable for use in connection with an implantable medical device comprising first and second external components. The shapeable coil cable is a conformable and non-resilient member that is sufficiently pliable to accept a configuration set by a user and sufficiently rigid to retain the configuration set by the user. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277276 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING SPEECH AND MUSIC PERCEPTION BY A BILATERAL COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENT - An exemplary method of optimizing speech and music perception by a bilateral cochlear implant patient includes identifying a first ear of a bilateral cochlear implant patient as being relatively more suited for processing speech than a second ear of the patient, directing a first cochlear implant subsystem associated with the first ear to operate in accordance with a first sound processing program configured to enhance speech perception by the patient, and directing a second cochlear implant subsystem associated with the second ear to operate in accordance with a second sound processing program configured to enhance music perception by the patient. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140296937 | PULSED INFRARED MODULATION OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL COCHLEAR IMPLANT FOR THE MULTICHANNEL ELECTRICAL DEPOLARIZATION OF SPIRAL GANGLION CELLS TO ACHIEVE SOUND PERCEPT - A hearing assistance device for use with respect to a mastoid cavity and an ear canal with a tympanic membrane, external ear canal bone, incudo-stapedial joint of an ossicular chain and a cochlea having a round window membrane. The device includes a removable unit with a microphone to convert a received sound into electrical sound signals, and includes a digital audio signal processor to process the electrical sound signals into envelopes of the electrical sound signals, and includes an infrared transmitter to transmit the envelopes of sound signals as packages of infrared light pulses. The hearing assistance device also includes an implant unit with a photovoltaic cell to receive the packages of light pulses and demodulate the packages of light pulses into electrical signals, and at least one active electrode that delivers the demodulated electrical signals to the cochlea. | 10-02-2014 |
20140303688 | ENERGY HARVESTING COCHLEAR IMPLANT - The invention is related to a totally implantable cochlear implant having a transducer which is a piezoelectric vibration energy harvester to be mounted on the ossicular chain or the tympanic membrane to detect the frequency of oscillations and generate the required voltage to stimulate the relevant auditory nerves. The invention enables patients' continuous access to sound, since it eliminates the outside components of conventional cochlear implants. The invention also eliminates the problem of battery need, since the transducer generates voltage required to stimulate auditory nerves from the vibrations of ossicular chain. The transducer is fabricated using Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication techniques. The invention incorporates of two main parts, a transducer acting both as a frequency detector and an energy harvester, and electrodes to stimulate the auditory nerve inside the cochlea. | 10-09-2014 |
20140309711 | Electrically Evoked Brainstem Response Measurements via Implant Prosthesis - A method of measuring electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses of a patient or animal body is provided. The method includes surgically implanting an auditory prosthesis having an electrode array, the electrode array positioned either intracochlear or substantially proximate a brainstem of the body. At least one electrode is stimulated in the electrode array. Electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses resulting from said stimulation are recorded using, at least in part, an electrode in the electrode array as a negative electrode, and a positive electrode positioned substantially proximate the vertex of the head of the body. | 10-16-2014 |
20140309712 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNCHRONIZING AN OPERATION OF A MIDDLE EAR ANALYZER AND A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM - An exemplary system for synchronizing an operation of a middle ear analyzer and a cochlear implant system includes 1) a mapping facility configured to maintain mapping data representative of an association between a plurality of sound levels and a plurality of current levels and between a plurality of frequencies and a plurality of electrodes, 2) a detection facility configured to receive an acoustic signal transmitted by the middle ear analyzer and detect a sound level and a frequency of the acoustic signal, and 3) a processing facility configured to identify, based on the mapping data, a current level associated with the detected sound level and one or more electrodes associated with the detected frequency and direct the cochlear implant system to apply electrical stimulation having the identified current level to one or more stimulation sites within a patient by way of the identified one or more electrodes. | 10-16-2014 |
20140324122 | Electrical Nerve Stimulation Based on Channel Specific Sampling Sequences - A method of activating at least two electrodes in a multichannel electrode array using channel specific sampling sequences is presented. A channel specific sampling sequence is defined for each electrode, the sequence having a particular duration, pulse amplitude distribution, and number of pulses. A weighting factor is applied to the channel specific sampling sequence. Each electrode in the multichannel electrode array is then simultaneously activated using sign-correlated pulses, the sign-correlated pulses based on parameters of spatial channel interaction reflecting geometric overlapping of electrical fields from each electrode, non-linear compression, and each electrode's weighted channel specific sampling sequence. | 10-30-2014 |
20140330344 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING BINAURAL HEARING BY A COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENT - An exemplary system for facilitating binaural hearing by a cochlear implant patient includes 1) a spectral analysis facility configured to divide a first audio signal presented to a first ear of the patient and a second audio signal presented to a second ear of the patient into first and second sets of analysis channels, respectively, and 2) a processing facility configured to process acoustic content contained in a first analysis channel included in the first set of analysis channels and acoustic content contained in a second analysis channel included in the second set of analysis channels, mix the processed acoustic content contained in the first and second analysis channels, and direct a cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of the mixed acoustic content to the first ear by way of a stimulation channel that corresponds to the first analysis channel. | 11-06-2014 |
20140336725 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR LOWERING A PITCH SENSATION AS PERCEIVED BY A COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENT - An exemplary method of lowering a pitch sensation as perceived by a cochlear implant patient includes 1) identifying a most apical electrode included in a plurality of electrodes disposed within a cochlea of the patient, 2) directing a cochlear implant communicatively coupled to the plurality of electrodes to apply one or more anodecathode biphasic stimulation pulses to the most apical electrode during a stimulation period, and 3) directing the cochlear implant to apply one or more cathode-anode biphasic stimulation pulses to one or more other electrodes included in the plurality of electrodes during the stimulation period. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 11-13-2014 |
20140343626 | RETENTION OF A MAGNET IN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT - A system for retaining a magnet in a cochlear implant, comprising a retainer embedded within an encapsulant of the cochlear implant, and a magnet case engaged with the retainer. A retainer for retaining a magnet within a cochlear implant comprising a number of first fasteners that couple with a number of corresponding second fasteners of a magnet case hermetically sealing the magnet, and a number of supports embedded within an encapsulant of the cochlear implant. | 11-20-2014 |
20140350640 | Implantable Medical Device and Tool Sensors - Implantable medical devices and instruments (tools) including one or more implantable sensors. In certain embodiments, a hearing prosthesis comprises an implantable stimulating assembly configured to be implanted in a recipient's cochlea. At least one implantable sensor is disposed in the implantable stimulating assembly and is configured to monitor an insertion attribute. | 11-27-2014 |
20140350641 | INFORMATION PROCESSING AND STORAGE IN A COCHLEAR STIMULATION SYSTEM - Information can be stored in a cochlear stimulation system by determining an item of patient specific information, transferring the item of patient specific information to an implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system, and permanently storing the item of patient specific information in the implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system. The item of patient specific information can comprise a parameter for use in generating a stimulation current. The implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system also can be configured to permanently store one or more items of patient specific information in an alterable fashion. Further, an item of patient specific information can be retrieved from the implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system. Additionally, an item of non-patient specific information for use in processing a received acoustic signal can be determined and permanently stored in an external portion of the cochlear stimulation system. | 11-27-2014 |
20140371815 | Sound Processor Accessory - Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to a sound processor accessory configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to a sound processor of an auditory prosthesis. The sound processor accessory comprises first and second sound input elements that are each configured to independently provide electrical signals representing sound signals to the sound processor via a shared connection. | 12-18-2014 |
20140379047 | MEDICAL DEVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM AND METHODS - Systems, methods, and apparatuses may be used to charge battery-powered devices using a charging device. Such battery-powered devices include the external portions of auditory prostheses or other medical devices. The charging device prioritizes the charging requirements of a number of batteries and transfers power to one or more batteries. The charging device also sends a signal to activate an indicator on each external portion. | 12-25-2014 |
20150012058 | INTEGRATED SPEECH PROCESSOR HEADPIECE - An integrated headpiece for a cochlear implant system includes a microphone for outputting an audio signal; signal processing electronics for processing the audio signal; and a transmitter for transmitting a processed audio signal received from the electronics to an implanted receiver. All of the microphone, signal processing electronics, and transmitter are disposed in a common housing of the integrated headpiece. The headpiece may also be one of a set of headpieces that can be alternatively used as needed to suit power consumption requirements or environmental conditions. | 01-08-2015 |
20150012059 | DEVICE FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT WITH SENSOR AND ELECTRODE - Disclosed is a device for a cochlear implant with a sensor and an electrode to sense vibration of a sound and stimulate the auditory nerve, the device comprising a sensor unit inserted in a scala tympani of the cochlea, sensing vibration caused by a sound from the cochlea, converting the sensed vibration into an electrical signal, and transmitting the converted electrical signal to the outside of the cochlea. | 01-08-2015 |
20150018897 | HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE COMPRISING AN IMPLANTED PART FOR MEASURING AND PROCESSING ELECTRICALLY EVOKED NERVE RESPONSES - The application relates to a hearing assistance device comprising an implanted part and to a method of its operation. The disclosure aims at improving the identification and processing of recorded nerve response data in an implanted part. The implanted part comprises a) A multitude of electrodes; b) Stimulation circuitry electrically coupled to a stimulation electrode during a stimulation time period; c) Measurement circuitry electrically coupled to a recording electrode during a measurement time period; d) A control unit configured to control the timing of the application of the stimulation signal in the stimulation time period and to control the measurement time period relative to the stimulation time period; and e) A processing unit configured to record the measured signal in the measurement time period and to identify a response from the auditory nerve based on said measured signal. The invention may e.g. be used for cochlear implant type hearing aids. | 01-15-2015 |
20150025595 | TRANSFORMABLE SPEECH PROCESSOR MODULE FOR A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A method for operating an external component of a cochlear implant hearing system. The external component includes a speech processor module operable in a stand-alone mode of operation and a body-worn mode of operation, and a protective case. The method includes operating the speech processor module in the stand-alone mode, determining when the speech processor module is mounted in the case, and operating the speech processor module in the body-worn mode in response to determining that the speech processor module is mounted in the case. | 01-22-2015 |
20150025596 | Optimised Channel Configuration Based On Spatial Profiles - A cochlear implant arrangement includes an implant electrode having electrode contacts for delivering to adjacent neural tissue electrode stimulation signals for a defined frequency band reflecting tonotopic organization of the cochlea. An implantable stimulation processor is coupled to the implant electrode for producing the electrode stimulation signals. At least one of the electrode contacts is deactivated based on current spread overlap and an electrode masking function of long term average spectra data to avoid delivering electrode stimulation signals to an electrode contact masked by an adjacent electrode contact | 01-22-2015 |
20150025597 | Triphasic Pulses to Reduce Undesirable Side-Effects in Cochlear Implants - An arrangement for operating a cochlear implant system is described. Stimulation signals are applied to stimulation electrodes in a cochlear implant electrode with an initial signal format using biphasic electrical stimulation pulses. One or more undesired somatic responses to the stimulation pulses are identified. The one or more undesired somatic responses are reduced by selecting an adapted signal format using charge-balanced triphasic electrical stimulation pulses to apply stimulation signals to one or more of the stimulation electrodes. | 01-22-2015 |
20150032186 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BALANCE STABILIZATION - A system for rehabilitating patients affected by balance disorders with or without vestibular hypofunction and/or malfunction with or without an associated hearing loss, which includes sensors of sound and head movement, processing circuitry, a power source coupled to head phones, an air conduction hearing aid, bone conduction hearing aid, middle ear implant or an electrical stimulator implanted into the cochlea capable of stimulating areas within the cochlea with the potential for current spread to surrounding non-auditory areas including the vestibular system. | 01-29-2015 |
20150039052 | RECOGNITION OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Controlling the interaction between an external device and an implanted device, including a method of controlling interaction between an external device and an implanted device, the method including at least the steps of: establishing communications between the implanted device and the external device; the external device determining an identification of the implant and comparing the identification with identifications in a stored list; if the device matches one of said identifications, then using a corresponding set of operating parameters to interact with said implant; and otherwise, not interacting with said device. | 02-05-2015 |
20150045855 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS INCLUDING MAGNETIC FLUX REDIRECTION MEANS - An exemplary cochlear implant system includes a component that houses a circuit board comprising electronic circuitry that generates one or more signals, an induction coil that transmits the one or more signals by generating a telemetry magnetic field, and a telemetry flux guide positioned between and in direct contact with a top surface of the induction coil and a bottom surface of the circuit board. | 02-12-2015 |
20150051667 | HEARING PROSTHESIS SYSTEM HAVING INTERCHANGEABLE HOUSINGS - There is disclosed a hearing prosthesis comprising a first housing containing a primary signal processor that receives signals output by a microphone; and a second housing removably connectable to the first housing; wherein a user interface is provided on the second housing that provides control of one or more features of the operation of the primary signal processor. | 02-19-2015 |
20150051668 | Auditory Prosthesis Using Stimulation Rate as a Multiple of Periodicity of Sensed Sound - A method is described for an auditory prosthesis system to generate electrical stimulation signals to stimulation contacts on an outer surface of an implanted electrode array. An input audio signal having a prominent sensed frequency is pre-processed to produce multiple representative frequency band signals. Each of the frequency band signals is then processed to generate corresponding electric stimulation signals for the stimulation contacts. Each of the electric stimulation signals has an associated stimulation frequency, and for at least one of the electric stimulation signals, the stimulation frequency is varied to maintain an integer ratio between the stimulation frequency and the prominent sensed frequency of the input audio signal. | 02-19-2015 |
20150051669 | Auditory Prosthesis Stimulation Rate as a Multiple of Intrinsic Oscillation - A method is described for generating electrical stimulation signals for stimulation contacts in an auditory implant system. Characteristic feature periods are determined for frequency components in an input audio signal. For selected feature periods that meet a period selection criteria, adjusted feature periods are determined that correspond to a nearest integer multiple of a language-specific fundamental period. A corresponding stimulation rate frequency is determined for each adjusted feature period, and each stimulation rate frequency is assigned to one or more stimulation contacts. The stimulation signals are then generated for the stimulation contacts at their respective stimulation rate frequencies. | 02-19-2015 |
20150066107 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANIMAL-HUMAN NEURAL INTERFACE - Aspects of the invention include system and method for transmitting neural data extracted from an electrical signal of a non-human mammal to a human. The system includes an electrode implantable into the animal auditory nerve, brainstem, or midbrain of the non-human mammal, configured to record the electrical signal of the non-human mammal, the electrical signal being in the form of sequences of pulses or pulse trains encoding frequency information of the non-human mammal, a processing device electrically coupled with the electrode, configured to process the electrical signal and convert the processed electrical signal into a digital signal, a transmitting device electrically coupled with the processing device, configured to transmit the digital signal, and a receiving device electrically coupled with the transmitting device, configured to receive the transmitted digital signal, convert the received digital signal into a sensory output perceptible to the human, and apply the sensory output to the human. | 03-05-2015 |
20150080980 | Dynamic Stimulation Channel Selection - A signal processing arrangement generates electrode stimulation signals to stimulation contacts in a cochlear implant electrode array. A signal filter bank transforms an input sound signal into band pass signals, which each represent an associated frequency band of audio frequencies. An envelope processing module processes the band pass signals in a sequence of sampling time frames, wherein for each time frame, the processing includes calculating for each band pass signal at least one signal envelope dynamic property that is changing during the time frame. A channel selection module selects one or more of the band pass signals for each time frame based on the dynamic properties to produce the electrode stimulation signals to the stimulation contacts. | 03-19-2015 |
20150088225 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CUSTOMIZING COCHLEAR IMPLANT STIMULATION AND APPLICATIONS OF SAME - One aspect of the invention provides a method for customizing cochlear implant stimulation of a living subject. The cochlear implant includes an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes implanted in a cochlea of the living subject. The method includes determining a position for each of the plurality of electrodes and spiral ganglion nerves that the electrode array stimulates, determining a geometric relationship between neural pathways within the cochlea and the electrode array implanted therein, and using one or more electrodes of the electrode array to stimulate a group of SG neural pathways of the cochlea based on the location of the one or more electrodes and their geometric relationship with the neural pathways. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088226 | DEVICE IMPLANTABLE UNDER SKIN - A cochlear implant includes a sealed housing containing electronics for at least stimulation or collection of data and at least one antenna for communicating with an external device and a magnet configured to hold the external device in proximity to the sealed housing. The sealed housing includes an upper cover being closest to the skin when the device is implanted, and a lower cover that is hermetically connected to the upper cover. The lower cover includes an elevated region, a recessed region, and at least one feedthrough element formed in the recessed region of the lower cover. The recessed region provides space for a lead to connect to the feedthrough element and protects it from shock and other environmental risks. | 03-26-2015 |
20150105841 | SENSITIVE MEASUREMENTS IN A HEARING PROSTHESIS - Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to taking measurements in a hearing prosthesis. In an embodiment, a power circuit, which may be a switched mode power circuit, is shut down during performance of the measurements to reduce interference. Then, power capacitively stored by the power circuit is used to power the hearing prosthesis during performance of the measurements. In an embodiment, the power circuit increases its voltage just prior to performance of the measurements. This serves to increase the amount of energy capacitively stored by the power circuit and thus extends the period of time during which the measurements may be taken while the power circuit is shut off. | 04-16-2015 |
20150112407 | BODY WORN SOUND PROCESSORS WITH DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE APPARATUS - A sound processor, for use with a cochlear implant, that includes directional microphone capabilities. | 04-23-2015 |
20150112408 | Objective Allocation of Implant Electrode Bands Based on Excitation Spread - A cochlear implant arrangement is described for creating sound perception in an implanted patient. An implant electrode contains electrode wires for carrying stimulation signals to corresponding electrode contacts distributed along a length of an outer surface of an apical electrode array section of the implant electrode. An apical portion of the electrode array is characterized by a tendency to fold back against a more basal section of the electrode array when inserted into a cochlea of the patient. An implantable stimulation processor produces the stimulation signals such that each electrode contact, including any in a folded back portion, delivers stimulation signals for a frequency band defined based on a function of spatial spread of stimulation voltage and correctly associated with tonotopic frequency response of the adjacent neural tissue. | 04-23-2015 |
20150290458 | CONNECTORIZED COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An exemplary system includes 1) a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient and comprising cochlear implant circuitry configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, and 2) a modular connector coupled to the cochlear implant module by way of a cable and configured to be implanted within the patient. The modular connector may be removably connected to an implantable antenna in order to facilitate communicative coupling of the implantable antenna to the cochlear implant circuitry. In this configuration, the cochlear implant circuitry may wirelessly communicate with a sound processor located external to the patient. The modular connector may alternatively be removably connected to an implantable sound processor. In this configuration, the cochlear implant circuitry and the implantable sound processor may communicate one with another by way of a wired connection. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 10-15-2015 |
20150297890 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING USE OF A MIDDLE EAR ANALYZER IN DETERMINING ONE OR MORE STAPEDIUS REFLEX THRESHOLDS ASSOCIATED WITH A COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENT - An exemplary system includes a detection facility configured to 1) receive an acoustic signal transmitted by a middle ear analyzer and 2) detect a sound level of the acoustic signal, and a processing facility configured to 1) use the sound level of the acoustic signal to control a current level of electrical stimulation applied by a cochlear implant system by way of a first set of one or more electrodes implanted within a patient, 2) synchronize the middle ear analyzer with the cochlear implant system in accordance with a first mapping data set during a first stapedius reflex measurement session, 3) identify a current level of the electrical stimulation at which the stapedius reflex occurs, and 4) automatically generate a second mapping data set based on the identified current level for use during a second stapedius reflex measurement session subsequent to the first stapedius reflex measurement session. | 10-22-2015 |
20150306388 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF A PATIENT'S COCHLEAR - A system includes a cochlear implant electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of stimulation channels; means for dividing an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels means for establishing an electrode-nerve-interface model of hearing stimulation via the cochlear implant electrode arrangement means for determining a signal level value and a noise level value for each analysis channel by analyzing the respective frequency domain signal; means for determining a noise reduction gain parameter for at least some of the analysis channels as a function of the signal level value and the noise level value of the respective analysis channel means for applying noise reduction to the frequency domain signal according to the noise reduction gain parameters to generate a noise reduced frequency domain signal; and means for generating a stimulation signal for each of the stimulation channels according to the noise reduced frequency domain signal. | 10-29-2015 |
20150314124 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING AN OCCURRENCE OF A STAPEDIUS REFLEX WITHIN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENT - An exemplary system includes 1) a probe frequency management facility configured to determine a resonant frequency of a middle ear space of a patient fitted with a cochlear implant system and select, in accordance with the determined resonant frequency, a probe frequency for use by a middle ear analyzer, and 2) a control facility configured to direct the middle ear analyzer to generate a measurement probe tone having the selected probe frequency and to use the measurement probe tone to monitor for an occurrence of a stapedius reflex in response to the cochlear implant system applying electrical stimulation by way of one or more electrodes implanted within the patient. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 11-05-2015 |
20150328456 | FOCUSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE IN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM - An exemplary sound processor ( | 11-19-2015 |
20150328457 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A WIDTH OF AN EXCITATION FIELD CREATED BY CURRENT APPLIED BY A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM - An exemplary sound processor ( | 11-19-2015 |
20150328471 | RANDOM-ACCESS ELECTRODE ADDRESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An exemplary cochlear implant includes a communication facility configured to receive at least a first data word and a second data word in series from a sound processor by way of a forward-telemetry link and a processing facility communicatively coupled to the communication facility and configured to 1) use the first data word to dynamically determine an address associated with an electrode by way of which a stimulation pulse is to be applied during a time slot of a stimulation frame and 2) use the second data word to determine an amplitude of the stimulation pulse that is to be applied by way of the electrode during the time slot of the stimulation frame. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 11-19-2015 |
20150335889 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM INCLUDING AN IMPLANTABLE BATTERY - An exemplary cochlear implant system includes 1) a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a patient, 2) a sound processor configured to be located external to the patient and to direct the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, and 3) an implantable battery configured to be implanted within the patient and to provide operating power for the cochlear implant. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 11-26-2015 |
20150335890 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NEURAL HEARING STIMULATION - The invention relates to an auditory prosthesis device for neural stimulation of a patient's hearing, comprising means for providing an input audio signal, a sound processor for generating a neural stimulation signal from the input audio signal, an implantable stimulation assembly for stimulation of the patient's hearing according to the neural stimulation signal, and a control unit for controlling the sound processor, the control unit being adapted to control at least one parameter used in the generation of the neural stimulation signal from the input audio signal such that, during an adjustment period, the value of the at least one parameter is automatically changed from a first value to a second value as a function of the time having passed since a reference point in time. | 11-26-2015 |
20150343217 | FITTING METHOD USING CHANNELS - A method, comprising, fitting an electrical stimulating device to the recipient, the electrical stimulating device including electrodes implanted in the recipient, the electrical stimulating device being a multipolar electrical stimulating device, wherein the fitting includes simultaneously applying multipolar stimulation to the recipient via the electrodes based on at least two different stimulation channels of the electrical stimulating device. | 12-03-2015 |
20150343218 | Optimizing Operational Control of a Hearing Prosthesis - A method for operating a hearing prosthesis is provided. A plurality of settings are provided, each setting providing a different operating functionality for the hearing prosthesis suitable for different situations. A signal analysis is executed on input signals to the hearing prosthesis. The signal analysis monitors characteristics of a current situation to detect any change and, in the case of detecting change, classifies the current situation into one of a plurality of predefined states. The suitability of the settings is compared with the determined state. One or more optimal choice(s) of setting(s) is identified for the current situation. The one or more optimal choice(s) of setting(s) is presented to a user . The user is then allowed to make a selection from the presented choice(s) of setting(s). If a selection is received from the user, the selected setting is executed. A hearing prosthesis is also provided. | 12-03-2015 |
20150352359 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NEURAL HEARING STIMULATION - An auditory prosthesis device for neural stimulation of a patient's hearing having an audio signal input device; a sound processor for generating a neural stimulation signal; and an implantable stimulation assembly having plural stimulation channels for stimulation of the patient's hearing, the sound processor having a filter bank for dividing the input audio signal into plural analysis channels, each containing a frequency domain signal representative of a portion of the audio signal, a signal level determiner for each analysis channel for analyzing the respective frequency domain signal, a neural stimulation signal generator for each analysis channel, a mapping unit for allocating the analysis channels to the stimulation channels according to an adjustable mapping scheme, and a control unit for controlling the mapping unit such that a standard mapping scheme is used in a standard operation mode and a low bandwidth mapping scheme is used in a low bandwidth operation mode. | 12-10-2015 |
20150360028 | Diagnostic Testing and Adaption - Presented herein is diagnostic and adaptive circuitry for use in an implantable medical system (prosthesis) having at least two physically separate implantable modules (packages) that are electrically connected by a lead assembly (cable). The diagnostic and adaptive circuitry is configured to execute testing and adaptive (corrective) functions. | 12-17-2015 |
20150360029 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RENDERING A CUSTOMIZED ACOUSTIC SCENE FOR USE IN FITTING A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM TO A PATIENT - An exemplary system includes 1) a fitting facility configured to maintain data representative of a library of one or more sounds and data representative of a library of one or more environments, and 2) a detection facility configured to detect a selection by a user of a sound included in the library of one or more sounds an environment included in the library of one or more environments. The fitting facility is further configured to generate, based on the selected sound and the selected environment, an audio signal representative of an acoustic scene and use the audio signal to fit a cochlear implant system to a patient. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 12-17-2015 |
20150367130 | INTERNAL PRESSURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A device including an implantable sensor having a membrane displaceable in response to physical phenomena outside the sensor, wherein the device is configured to equalize a static pressure difference between an ambient environment and a back volume of the sensor. | 12-24-2015 |
20150367131 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NEUROMODULATION DEVICE CODING WITH TRANS-SPECIES LIBRARIES - Aspects of the invention include systems and methods for neuromodulation device coding with a neural code library. The method includes identifying a pattern of a sensory signal, retrieving one or more digital representations of a neural response corresponding to the identified pattern from a neural code library, where the neural code library comprises a plurality of digital representations of neural responses of neural units corresponding to each pattern, selecting one or more neural units of a patient to be stimulated by a neuromodulation device associated with the patient based on the retrieved one or more digital representations of a neural response pattern, and stimulating the selected neural units of the patient. | 12-24-2015 |
20150374986 | Prefitting Evaluation of Cochlear Implant Patients - Arrangements are described for assessing potential fitting processes for a cochlear implant patient. A test stimulation sequence at a given test frequency is delivered to the cochlear implant patient. The test stimulation sequence includes jittered stimulation periods when the test frequency varies due to a jitter variation component, and unjittered stimulation periods when the test frequency is constant without a jitter variation component. At least two different responses of the cochlear implant to the test stimulation sequence are measured in parallel. The different responses include an objective electrophysiological response, and a subjective psychophysical response. A correlation between the different responses is evaluated to determine an appropriate fitting process for the cochlear implant patient. | 12-31-2015 |
20150374987 | Stimulus Signal for Simultaneous Measurement of Auditory Steady State Responses and Psychophysical Pitch Discrimination - Arrangements are described for fitting a cochlear implant system to an implanted patient. A test stimulation sequence is delivered to the implanted patient which is based on a concatenated sequence of time shifted envelopes of sinusoidal amplitude modulated (SAM) signals that have a carrier frequency f | 12-31-2015 |
20150374988 | HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE COMPRISING AN IMPLANTABLE PART - The application relates to a hearing assistance device comprising an implantable part for electrically stimulating an auditory nerve of a user. The application further relates to a method of operating a hearing assistance device. The object of the present application is to improve the electrical stimulation of the cochlear nerve by a cochlear implant hearing assistance device. The problem is solved in that the implanted part comprises a) a current source generator; and b) an electrode array configured to be located inside one of the cochlear scala or adjacent to the auditory nerve. The hearing assistance device is configured to produce a time-varying waveform delivered by the current source generator, the time-varying waveform comprising a positively sloping positive pulse. This has the advantages of providing a smaller spatial spread of neurons being discharged by electric stimuli from a given electrode. The invention may e.g. be used in cochlear implant hearing assistance devices. | 12-31-2015 |
20150374989 | MAGNET INSTALLATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANTS - Apparatus and methods for installing a magnet into a cochlear implant. | 12-31-2015 |
20150375003 | Portable Power Charging of Implantable Medical Devices - An implantable medical device, comprising an implantable component having a rechargeable power supply and an external wireless charger. The wireless charger has a rechargeable power supply, and an inductive coil configured to transcutaneously transfer power from the charger power supply to the implantable power supply, and configured to detect and receive, via the inductive coil, power from an auxiliary charger for recharging of the charger power supply. | 12-31-2015 |
20150382118 | MOISTURE RESISTANT HEADPIECES AND IMPLANTABLE COCHLEAR STIMULATION SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME - Cochlear implant headpieces with improved moisture resistance. | 12-31-2015 |
20160001075 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF NEURAL OR MUSCULAR TISSUE - A device for electrical stimulation of neural and/or muscular tissue. The device includes a cochlear implant being equipped with a power source, a speech processor, a microphone adapted to deliver sound signals to said speech processor, a current stimulator, at least an array of electrodes attached to the stimulator, and at least a signal sensor other than the microphone. The device further includes a signal transformation unit, said signal sensors being adapted to capture relevant input information and to deliver a corresponding input signal to the transformation unit, the latter allowing to transform said input signal received from the signal sensors into a modulated electrical output signal adapted to be treated by the speech processor of the cochlear implant. | 01-07-2016 |
20160001076 | Implant Fixation and Impact Displacement Protection Systems - A cochlear implant system is described which includes an implant housing containing a stimulation processor for processing externally produced communications signals to generate electrical stimulation signals for the cochlea of an implant patient. The implant housing lies substantially in a plane and has an outer perimeter adapted to fit within a surgically prepared housing recess in skull bone of the implant patient. Multiple housing fixation features are located on the outer perimeter and cooperate to develop lateral force in the plane of the implant housing between the implant housing and adjacent skull bone of the housing recess to fixedly secure the implant housing within the housing recess. | 01-07-2016 |
20160001077 | COCHLEAR SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present disclosure relates to a method of calibrating a cochlea implant and present disclosure relates to a cochlea implant. Further, the present disclosure relates to use of cochlea implants and use of calibration method for cochlea implants. The methods, uses, and implants of the present disclosure provides improved auditory experience for the users of cochlea implants. | 01-07-2016 |
20160008596 | IMPLANT MAGNET SYSTEM | 01-14-2016 |
20160008598 | SINGLE CHANNEL COCHLEAR IMPLANT ARTIFACT ATTENUATION IN LATE AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIALS | 01-14-2016 |
20160008599 | RELAY INTERFACE FOR CONNECTING AN IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICE TO AN EXTERNAL ELECTRONICS DEVICE | 01-14-2016 |
20160015973 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT APPARATUS FOR ACTIVE FEEDBACK CONTROL, AND METHOD FOR SAME - The present invention relates to a cochlear implant apparatus, and more particularly, to a cochlear implant apparatus capable of controlling the sensitivity or selectivity of sound through actuators. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a cochlear implant apparatus for active feedback control which is inserted into the human body and configured to detect a sound in each frequency band includes a sensor unit configured to detect vibration according to a sound and generate an electrical signal corresponding to a magnitude of the vibration and actuators disposed in the sensor unit and each configured to react to the electrical signal and to control sensitivity according to the magnitude of the sound or the selectivity of a sound detected in each frequency band. | 01-21-2016 |
20160015974 | ELECTRICAL COCHLEAR STIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system includes means for providing an input audio signal; a sound processor for generating an electric stimulation signal from the input audio signal; and a cochlear implant electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of stimulation channels for stimulating the cochlea according to the electric stimulation signal. | 01-21-2016 |
20160015975 | Cochlear Implant Stimulation - Presented herein are trans-modiolar stimulation techniques in which stimulation current is sourced (delivered) by at least one intra-cochlear stimulating contact and is sunk at a group of other intra-cochlear stimulating contacts. The group of other infra-cochlear stimulating contacts is positioned (located) across a section of the recipient's modiolus from the intra-cochlear stimulating contact that sources the stimulation. As such, stimulation current generally passes through the modiolus to stimulate spiral ganglion cells and evoke a hearing percept. | 01-21-2016 |
20160022990 | Implanted Medical Devices Having Electrode Assemblies - Disclosed herein are electrode assemblies configured for use with a medical device, such as an implantable medical device. In one aspect, the disclosed electrode assembly includes at least a first electrode and a second electrode, each of which is configured to deliver electrical stimuli to a body part of a recipient. The electrode assembly also includes a first wire that is attached at one end to the first electrode and comprises a conductor that has a first diameter, and a second wire that is attached to the second electrode and comprises a conductor that has a second diameter, with the first diameter being greater than the second diameter. Additionally, each of the first wire and the second wire pass through a proximal end of the assembly is configured to connect the one of the electrodes to a stimulation unit of a medical device. | 01-28-2016 |
20160022991 | MULTI-CARRIER PROCESSING IN AUDITORY PROSTHETIC DEVICES - A method for multi-carrier processing in an auditory prosthetic device comprises receiving an audio signal comprising multiple signals, each produced by an independent source, and identifying at least a first signal and a second signal in the received audio signal. The method also comprises adjusting an amplitude of a first carrier signal based on a first signal or a signal envelope associated with the first signal, and adjusting an amplitude of a second carrier signal based on a second signal or a signal envelope associated with the second signal. The amplitude-adjusted first and second signals are delivered to one or more stimulation devices associated with an auditory prosthetic. | 01-28-2016 |
20160023006 | SHIELDING DEVICE FOR SIGNAL TRANSMISSION COIL - Systems and apparatuses are used to transmit data between external and internal portions of auditory prostheses or other medical devices. The external portion of the auditory prosthesis includes a magnet and an implanted coil that provides stimulation to the device recipient. A shaped shield material can be placed between the external coil and the sound processing hardware to improve efficiency and effectiveness between the external coil and implanted coil. Adverse effects on tuning frequencies can be reduced by disposing the shield material away from the magnet. | 01-28-2016 |
20160030744 | Tonal Deafness Compensation in an Auditory Prosthesis System - Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to techniques for compensating for tonal deafness experienced by a recipient of an auditory prosthesis. More specifically, an auditory prosthesis system includes an external device configured to generate a graphical representation that enables the recipient to compensate for reduced tonal perception associated with delivery of the stimulation signals representative of speech signals. The external device is configured to analyze received speech signals to determine vocal articulator movement of the speaker of the speech signals and/or emotion of the speaker. The external device is further configured to display one or more animated visual cues representative of the detected vocal articulator movement and/or emotion. | 02-04-2016 |
20160038738 | HEARING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED SIGNAL PROCESSING COMPRISING AN IMPLANTED PART - The application relates to a hearing assistance system (a method and its use) for processing an input signal representative of sound according to a user's needs, the hearing assistance system comprising an implanted part adapted for being at least partially implanted in a user's head and comprising a sensing unit capable of measuring an endocochlear potential at one or more positions along the length of the cochlear partition. The hearing assistance system further comprises a decoder configured to receive said endocochlear potentials or signals derived therefrom and to transform the received signals into signals appropriately conditioned for use as control inputs to the signal processing unit, and wherein the signal processing unit is configured to process the electric input signal in dependence of said control inputs from said decoder. Thereby the processing of the audio signal of a hearing assistance device can be automatically adapted over time. | 02-11-2016 |
20160045749 | Fitting an Auditory Prosthesis - A method and system for fitting and adjusting the operation of an acoustic hearing prosthesis or a hybrid electric and acoustic hearing prosthesis. A graphic user interface allows for the acoustic and electric fitting parameters to be viewed and adjusted in a comparable way. The method further allows for the parameters for acoustic stimulation of the acoustic channels to be adjusted in response to behavioral or objective measurement of response to known stimuli, so as to achieve a desired response curve. | 02-18-2016 |
20160051819 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELICITING A STAPEDIAL REFLEX TO PROTECT HEARING - An exemplary system includes 1) a sound detector configured to detect an audio signal, 2) an implantable stimulator configured to be implanted within a user, and 3) a sound processor communicatively coupled to the implantable cochlear stimulator and the sound detector. The sound processor is configured to determine that a level of the audio signal exceeds a predetermined threshold and direct, in response to the determination that the level of the audio signal exceeds the predetermined threshold, the implantable stimulator to elicit a stapedial reflex within the user by applying electrical stimulation to one or more stimulation sites within the user. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. | 02-25-2016 |
20160059012 | Acoustic Transmitter and Implantable Receiver - Among other things, in general, an acousto-mechanical transducer for the interconversion of electricity and acoustic waves is described. Methods are also described for the construction of such transducers. | 03-03-2016 |
20160059013 | SYSTEMS FOR ACCOMMODATING SEPARATION OF BODY PARTS IN AUDITORY PROSTHESES - An auditory prosthesis includes a fixation system manufactured in whole or in part from a deformable material, such as a viscoelastic material. The viscoelastic material responds viscously to loads applied over an extended period of time. Thus, the material is able to accommodate growth of a recipient's anatomy without becoming disconnected or misaligned from any attachment points. This allows the device to accommodate growth of a recipient over time. | 03-03-2016 |
20160059014 | Event Detection In An Implantable Auditory Prosthesis - Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the physical state of a stimulating assembly to, for example, detect the occurrence of an adverse event. More specifically, an elongate stimulating assembly comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced contacts is at least partially implanted into a recipient. Electrical measurements are performed at one or more of the plurality of contacts and the electrical measurements are evaluated relative to one another to determine the physical state of the stimulating assembly. | 03-03-2016 |
20160059015 | INTRA-COCHLEAR STIMULATING ASSEMBLY INSERTION - Presented herein are intra-operative techniques for setting the angular insertion depth of a stimulating assembly during implantation into a recipient's cochlea. In certain embodiments, the angular insertion depth is monitored in real-time and advancement of the stimulating assembly is terminated when a selected angular insertion depth is achieved. In further embodiments, a linear insertion depth that corresponds to a selected angular insertion depth is intra-operatively calculated and advancement of the stimulating assembly is terminated when the calculated linear insertion depth is achieved. | 03-03-2016 |
20160082249 | THIN PROFILE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS - A thin profile impact resistant cochlear implant includes a single piece machined case having a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface is concave and a single piece machined cover configured to be joined to the case, the cover comprising a convex upper surface. A method for forming thin profile cochlear implant is also provided. | 03-24-2016 |
20160089542 | User Interfaces of a Hearing Device - Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for dynamically adjusting a user interface provided by an external unit of a hearing device. In an example method, the external unit determines whether a state of the external unit is one of (i) a coupled state when the external unit and the stimulation unit are coupled or (ii) a decoupled state when the external and the stimulation unit are decoupled. The external unit then provides one of (i) a first user interface when the determined state is the coupled state or (ii) a second user interface when the determined state is the decoupled state. The second user interface provides access to a greater number of functions of the hearing device than first user interface provides. | 03-31-2016 |
20160096018 | HEARING SYSTEM - The present disclosure relates to a hearing system. The hearing system comprises an implantable device configured to be implanted under the skin of a wearer and an external device configured to be positioned at an ear of the wearer. The external device comprises a transmit system configured to generate a wireless signal for being transmitted to the implantable device. | 04-07-2016 |
20160100796 | PLURAL TASK FITTING - A method, including subjecting the recipient to a plurality of groups of tasks, respective groups of tasks corresponding to respective sets of parameters by which the device will be fitted, obtaining data indicative of respective listening effort associated with the respective groups of tasks based on performance of the recipient of the respective groups of tasks, at least partially fitting the hearing prosthesis to the recipient based on the obtained data. | 04-14-2016 |
20160101285 | Neural Coding with Short Inter Pulse Intervals - Arrangements are described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array having multiple stimulation contacts. An audio input preprocessor receives an input audio signal and generates band pass signals that represent associated bands of audio frequencies. A band pass signal analyzer analyzes each band pass signal to detect when one of the band pass signal components reaches a defined transition event state. A stimulation signal generator generates a set of electrode stimulation signals for the stimulation contacts from the band pass signals such that the electrode stimulation signals to a given stimulation contact: i. use a transition event stimulation pattern whenever a transition event is detected in a band pass signal associated with the given stimulation contact, and ii. use a different non-transition stimulation pattern after the transition event stimulation pattern until a next subsequent transition event is detected. | 04-14-2016 |
20160106980 | Triphasic Pulses to Reduce Undesirable Side-Effects in Cochlear Implants - An arrangement is described for generating electrode stimulation signals to electrode contacts in an implanted cochlear implant electrode array. A signal processor processes an input sound signal to generate stimulation timing signals for signal channels associated with the electrode contacts. A pulse generator produces the electrode stimulation signals for each electrode contact based on the stimulation timing signals. A pulse adapter controls a signal format of the pulse generator in response to a somatic response input signal reflecting presence or absence of an undesired somatic response to the electrode stimulation signals. The signal format is an initial signal format based on biphasic stimulation pulses when the somatic response input signal reflects absence of the undesired somatic response, and an adapted signal form based on triphasic stimulation pulses when the somatic response input signal reflects presence of the undesired somatic response. | 04-21-2016 |
20160119724 | Sound Processing in a Hearing Device Using Externally and Internally Received Sounds - Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for mitigating the impact of noise, such a low-frequency noise caused by wind, on sounds received at a hearing prosthesis. An example method includes receiving an external sound signal transduced externally to a recipient from an ambient sound and an internal sound signal transduced internally to the recipient from the ambient sound. The example method also includes determining that a triggering condition is present in the external sound signal. The triggering condition may be indicative of a condition in that more adversely affects externally-received sounds than internally-received sounds. In response to determining that the triggering condition is present in the external sound signal, the example method further includes generating a stimulation signal that is based at least in part on spectral information of the internally-transduced sound. | 04-28-2016 |
20160121117 | Tinnitus Fitting Method in CI and ABI Patients - A method is described for adjusting hearing implant operating parameters for electrode contacts in an implantable electrode array to minimize tinnitus in an implanted patient. A channel tinnitus masking stimulation level is measured for each electrode contact at which maximum tinnitus masking occurs, Y | 05-05-2016 |
20160136425 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NEURAL HEARING STIMULATION - A system for stimulation of a patient's ipsilateral cochlea, having at least two spaced apart patient-worn microphones for providing first and second audio signals from ambient sound; a sound processor for generating an ipsilateral auditory nerve stimulation signal in a plurality of output channels from at least one of the input audio signals; and a stimulation assembly for being implanted within the ipsilateral cochlea and having a plurality of stimulation channels for ipsilateral stimulation of the patient's hearing according to the ipsilateral auditory nerve stimulation signal. The sound processor comprising a DOA unit for determining periodically a main direction of incidence of ambient sound from a sound source by analyzing the first and second audio signals, and a directional information coding unit for coding information concerning the determined main direction of incidence in the ipsilateral auditory nerve stimulation signal in manner to enable the patient to localize the sound source. | 05-19-2016 |
20160136426 | COIL ASSEMBLY IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - According to an embodiment, a receiver coil assembly for an implantable medical device is disclosed. The receiver coil assembly includes at least two spatially separated coil units comprised by a housing of an internal component. The spatial separation is along a thickness of the housing. | 05-19-2016 |
20160144170 | IMPLANT MAGNET SYSTEM - 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. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144177 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAXIMIZING LOUDNESS SENSATION IN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENT - An exemplary system includes a processing facility configured to process an audio signal presented to a cochlear implant patient and a control facility configured to direct a cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the cochlear implant patient by 1) directing the cochlear implant to concurrently apply a first biphasic stimulation pulse by way of a first electrode and a second biphasic stimulation pulse by way of a second electrode during a first time slot, and 2) directing the cochlear implant to concurrently apply a third biphasic stimulation pulse by way of the second electrode and a fourth biphasic stimulation pulse by way of a third electrode during a second time slot that immediately follows the first time slot. The third and fourth biphasic stimulation pulses are flipped in phase compared to the first and second biphasic stimulation pulses. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144178 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NON-OBTRUSIVE ADJUSTMENT OF AUDITORY PROSTHESES - Systems and methods for performing non-obtrusive, automatic adjustment of an auditory prosthesis are disclosed. A control expression can be detected during a conversation. Upon detection of the control expression, an audio setting adjustment can be selected and applied to the auditory prosthesis. Multiple adjustments can be made in response to identifying multiple control expressions during a conversation. | 05-26-2016 |
20160144179 | INNER HAIR CELL STIMULATION MODEL FOR USE BY A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM - The stimulation provided in the electrically stimulated cochlea is modulated in accordance with the amplitude of a received acoustic signal and the onset of a sound in a received acoustic signal to provide increased sound perception. An onset time that corresponds to the onset of a sound is detected in an acoustic signal associated with a frequency band. A forcing voltage and a transmitting factor are determined, wherein the forcing voltage and the transmitting factor are associated with the frequency band at the detected onset time. The acoustic signal is modulated as a function of the forcing voltage and the transmitting factor to generate an output signal. The generated output signal can be used to stimulate the cochlea. The modulation strategy can be used in conjunction with sound processing strategies that employ frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, or a combination of frequency and amplitude modulation. | 05-26-2016 |
20160151629 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM | 06-02-2016 |
20160158546 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING DEGRADATION OF A MICROPHONE INCLUDED IN AN AUDITORY PROSTHESIS SYSTEM - An exemplary system includes a sound processor associated with a patient and a microphone ( | 06-09-2016 |
20160158547 | FITTING METHOD USING TOKENS - A method, including obtaining data indicative of an ability of a recipient of a hearing prosthesis to discriminate between tokens of respective token pairs of a plurality of token pairs in respective evoked hearing percepts induced by the hearing prosthesis and adjusting one or more but less than all frequency channels of a plurality of frequency channels of the hearing prosthesis based on the obtained data. | 06-09-2016 |
20160165363 | Hearing Implant Bilateral Matching of ILD Based on Measured ITD - Arrangements are described for generating electrode stimulation signals for stimulation contacts in implanted electrode arrays of a bilateral hearing implant system having electrode arrays on both the left- and right-sides. Left-side and right-side audio input signals are processed to generate corresponding left-side and right-side band pass signals, which each represent an associated band of audio frequencies in the audio input signal. Frequency-specific interaural time delays (ITDs) are estimated for the band pass signals, and the estimated ITDs are used to adjust interaural level differences (ILDs) in the band pass signals. The adjusted band pass signals then are used to generate left-side and right-side electrode stimulation signals for the stimulation contacts in the corresponding left-side and right-side electrode arrays. | 06-09-2016 |
20160175590 | CONNECTORIZED COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS | 06-23-2016 |
20160175592 | COMPLEX STIMULATION CHANNEL ARRANGEMENTS | 06-23-2016 |
20160184586 | FREQUENCY-DEPENDENT FOCUSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE IN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM - An exemplary system includes a processing facility and a control facility. The processing facility is configured to 1) divide an audio signal presented to a cochlear implant patient into a plurality of analysis channels each containing a frequency domain signal, and 2) maintain data representative of a crossover frequency. The control facility is configured to 1) direct a cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of each frequency domain signal included in a plurality of low frequency analysis channels located below the crossover frequency in accordance with a low frequency stimulation strategy that includes a degree of focusing, and 2) direct the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of each frequency domain signal included in a plurality of high frequency analysis channels located above the crossover frequency in accordance with a high frequency stimulation strategy that includes a lesser degree of focusing than the low frequency stimulation strategy. | 06-30-2016 |
20160199642 | Cochlear Implant Fitting Via Efferent Nerve Fibers | 07-14-2016 |
20160199643 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT AND AN OPERATING METHOD THEREOF | 07-14-2016 |
20160199644 | IMPLANTED AUDITORY PROSTHESIS CONTROL BY COMPONENT MOVEMENT | 07-14-2016 |
20160199645 | AUDITORY SIGNAL PROCESSING | 07-14-2016 |
20160199646 | Input Selection For An Auditory Prosthesis | 07-14-2016 |
20160199648 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANIMAL-HUMAN NEURAL INTERFACE | 07-14-2016 |
20160375242 | IMPLANTABLE HEARING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS AND CORRESPONDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of a head mountable power supply to power an implantable cochlear stimulator. | 12-29-2016 |
20160375243 | IMPLANTABLE HEARING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS AND CORRESPONDING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of distributed power. | 12-29-2016 |
20160375244 | Selective Stimulation with Cochlear Implants - A signal processing arrangement generates electrode stimulation signals to stimulation contacts in a cochlear implant electrode array. A signal filter bank transforms an input sound signal into band pass signals, which each represent an associated frequency band of audio frequencies. A signal processing module processes the band pass signals in a sequence of sampling time frames, wherein for each time frame, the processing includes performing a spectral feature analysis of the band pass signals, and dynamically assigning a stimulation focus pattern to one or more of the band pass signals based on the spectral feature analysis. A stimulation coding module is configured to code the processed band pass signals for each time frame to produce the electrode stimulation signals for delivery by the stimulation contacts to a region of adjacent auditory neural tissues. | 12-29-2016 |
20170232256 | Implantable Remote Control | 08-17-2017 |