234results about "Implantable hearing aids" patented technology

A hearing aid system comprises a hearing aid, and a portable auxiliary device’ adapted to establish a communication link between them. The hearing aid comprises a microphone providing an electric input signal, a signal processor, and an output unit. The auxiliary device comprises a microphone providing an auxiliary electric input signal, and a user control interface allowing a user to initiate a specific calibration mode of operation of the hearing aid system. The signal processor of the hearing aid is configured to receive corresponding time segments of said electric input signal and said auxiliary electric input signal to provide an estimate of an acoustic transfer function from said microphone of said auxiliary device to said microphone of said hearing aid. A method of operating a hearing aid system is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used in various applications related to own voice detection and estimation.

A component of a bone conduction device, such as a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device or an active transcutaneous bone conduction device, or a percutaneous bone conduction device, used to evoke a hearing percept comprising a housing and a bender apparatus located in the housing, wherein the bender apparatus is a device of a piezoelectric bender.

An assembly is provided which includes a package and a printed circuit board. The package includes a housing bounding a region and an acoustic sensor within the region. The housing includes a base with a first hole. The sensor is configured to generate signals indicative of sound received by the sensor through the first hole. The printed circuit board is in mechanical communication with the base and includes a second hole aligned with the first hole such that sound received by the second hole propagates through the first hole to the sensor. The printed circuit board further includes an electrically conductive layer, at least a portion of which extends across the second hole and is configured to allow the sound to propagate through the second hole and to at least partially shield the region containing the sensor from electromagnetic interference.

An illustrative cochlear implant system includes a sound processor associated with a sound processor coil, a cochlear implant including a cochlear implant coil configured to form a transcutaneous narrowband inductive link with the sound processor coil when the cochlear implant is implanted within the recipient, and equalization circuitry integrated within the sound processor and configured to facilitate recovery, by the sound processor, of backward telemetry data from a backward telemetry signal transmitted by the cochlear implant by way of the transcutaneous narrowband inductive link.

A headpiece including a housing, a headpiece magnet carried by the housing, and a headpiece antenna carried by the housing.

A system, including an input subsystem configured to receive input and a convolutional based sub-system in signal communication with the input subsystem, wherein the convolutional based sub-system outputs electrode activation sequence based data. In an embodiment, the system is a sound processor system that is part of a cochlear implant configured to provide a signal to the input subsystem based on sound captured by a microphone.

A cochlear including a cochlear lead, a housing including a magnet pocket and a magnet aperture, a magnet, located within the magnet pocket, having a top surface adjacent to the magnet aperture that defines a top magnet outer perimeter and a bottom surface adjacent to the bottom wall that defines a bottom magnet outer perimeter that is greater than the top magnet outer perimeter, an antenna within the housing, a stimulation processor within the housing.

Presented herein are techniques for dynamically generating test materials for implementing speech test to, for example, hearing aid users or users of cochlear implants. Dynamic word list generation techniques are disclosed. Such techniques generate word lists with qualities intended to implement specific speech tests. For example, the disclosed techniques may be used to generate word lists with predetermined phonetic balance and / or perceptual balance. The disclosed techniques also provide for the generation of audio signals associated with the word lists used during the speech tests.

An apparatus including an actuator, such as a piezoelectric actuator, and a first tissue interface device and a second tissue interface device spaced away from the first tissue fixation device, wherein the apparatus is at least a partially extra-middle ear cavity dual bone interface force based implantable tissue stimulation portion of a hearing prosthesis.

The utility model relates to an ear-worn hearing aid device and a hearing aid device. A hearing aid device component is disclosed. The component includes a housing that accommodates an electrical or mechanical hearing aid device component and an opening configured to receive an end of an electrical cable assembly, sound tube, or other member. One or more retention members protruding from an inner surface of the opening are configured to mechanically engage an electrical cable assembly, sound tube, or other member disposed within the opening, and resist movement of the electrical cable assembly, sound tube, or other member relative to the opening. The component may be implemented as a RIC unit, a BTE unit of a BTE electrical connector, and other hearing aid device components.

Presented herein are techniques to maintain a balanced loudness across stimulation channels when the volume of a hearing device is adjusted. The volume control techniques provided herein may be used to set an overall balanced map loudness and / or to replace existing volume controls in a stand-alone approach.

This disclosure relates to a hearing aid for placement on head of a user comprising a first second part. The first part may comprise an acoustic input transducer adapted to convert ambient sound picked up at the ear of the user to an electric signal, a signal processor adapted to process the electric signal according to specifications of user into a processed electric signal, and an output transducer adapted to covert the processed electric signal into a transmission signal, The second part may comprise an anchor adapted to fixate said second part under the skin to skull bone of the user, and a receiver adapted to receive the transmission signal and convert the transmission signal to an output signal perceivable as sound by the user. The first part may comprise an inner recess adapted to receive an insert element, where the insert element may comprise a first magnet adapted to in cooperation with the second part to cause the first part to attach to the head of the user.

The utility model relates to an ear-wearing hearing device. The ear-worn hearing device includes a body portion having a sound producing transducer acoustically coupled to a sound channel of a mouthpiece. The resilient portion protrudes from a side of the body portion and includes a physiological or activity sensor coupled to a flexible portion of the flexible harness. The elastic portion at least partially covers a portion of the flexible strap without hindering operation of the sensor, and when the elastic portion is depressed and released, the flexible portion and the sensor can bend towards and away from the body portion.

A hearing aid for placement on the head. The hearing aid includes a first part comprising an acoustic input transducer adapted to convert an ambient sound picked up at an ear of the user to an electric signal, a signal processor adapted to process the electric signal according to specifications of the user into a processed electric signal, and an output transducer adapted to convert the processed electric signal into a transmission signal, and a second part linkable to said first part by magnetic forces and comprising a receiver adapted to receive the transmission signal and convert the transmission signal to an output signal perceivable as sound by the user. Said first part comprises a receptacle adapted to receive an insert element, said insert element comprising protrusions configured for engaging with a recess of said first part by rotating the insert element relative to said first part.

Disclosed technology includes a sensory prosthesis configured to automatically select a broadcast channel based on a comparison with a signal from a sensor of the sensory prosthesis. In an example, a sound processor automatically connects to an appropriate wireless broadcast audio channel by comparing the sound the sound processor receives on a microphone with the audio the sound processor receives from each of the wireless broadcast channels that the sound processor can receive. If the sound processor finds a match between the sound from the microphone and the sound from a broadcast, then the sound processor automatically selects the matching wireless broadcast channel. The sound processor then provides auditory stimulation to the recipient based on the selected broadcast channel.

A device including a housing and a piezoelectric component, wherein the piezoelectric component is supported in the housing via at least one curved surface of a support element. In an embodiment the device is an active transcutaneous bone conduction device. In an embodiment, the curved surface is a spherical rolling element that is rigid.

A hearing aid comprises an input transducer configured to convert sound around a user to at least one electrical input signal representing the sound; an output transducer for providing an audible signal based on the at least one electrical input signal; transceiver circuitry configured to establish a wireless audio communication link with a secondary device; and a processor configured to operate the hearing aid in a system mode or a device mode. The hearing aid is configured to initiate establishment of the wireless audio communication link in dependence of a mode control signal. A non-wearable device comprising transceiver circuitry configured for establishing a wireless audio communication link with a hearing aid comprises a processor configured to receive and process at least one electrical input signal from a hearing aid to at least partially compensate for hearing impairment of a user; a power supply interface. The non-wearable device is integrated with another device having a specific other function.

According to a first aspect, a sound processor unit of a cochlear implant system is disclosed. The sound processor unit comprises an electric circuit, which comprises a sound processor antenna with a sound processor antenna capacitance and a sound processor antenna inductance, wherein the sound processor antenna capacitance and the sound processor antenna inductance are connected in series and form a resonant circuit. An improved cochlear implant system is provided in that the electric circuit of the sound processor unit further comprises a switching element connected in series with the sound processor antenna capacitance and the sound processor antenna inductance, and the electric circuit of the sound processor unit further comprises an inductive element connected in parallel with the switching element, wherein when the switching element is in a closed state, the inductive element is in a short-circuited state and the sound processor antenna has a first resonant frequency, and when the switching element is in an open state, the inductive element is in a non-short-circuited state and the sound processor antenna has a second resonant frequency which differs from the first resonant frequency.

Charging and updating of an implantable hearing aid is disclosed, wherein an implantable hearing aid system, including a charger unit comprising a coil unit having a first resonant frequency, a hearing aid and an implantable part comprising an implantable coil; the hearing aid comprising: a rechargeable battery; an inductive coil structure having a second resonant frequency, the inductive coil structure configured to form an inductive charging link with the coil unit to receive a power signal from the charger unit; a step-down converter configured to reduce a voltage of the power signal received from the charger unit for charging the rechargeable battery; and a step-up converter configured to increase a voltage of a signal obtained from the rechargeable battery; and wherein the inductive coil structure is further configured to form a transcutaneous link with the implantable coil to transfer at least one of data and power to the implantable part, and wherein the first resonant frequency and the second resonant frequency are matched or partially matched.

A middle ear implant system includes a disc-shape vibration surface that is configured for implantation within skin lying over skull bone of a patient, with the disc-shape vibration surface parallel to an outer surface of the skin and to the skull bone so that sound vibrations striking the outer surface of the skin create corresponding vibrations in the disc-shape vibration surface within the skin. A rigid ossicle connector has a proximal end connected to the disc-shape vibration surface and a distal end connected to an ossicle in the middle ear of the patient so that vibrations of the disc-shape vibration surface are mechanically coupled to the ossicle for perception by the patient as sound.

Presented herein are techniques for securing / fixing implantable medical devices in a recipient using soft tissue. As described further below, implantable medical devices in accordance with certain embodiments presented herein include one or more suture zones that enable a surgeon to suture the implantable medical device to soft tissue of the recipient and, accordingly, at least temporarily secure the implantable medical devices at a selected location in the recipient. After the implantable medical device is sutured to the tissue, soft tissue growth can further secure or stabilize the implantable medical device in the recipient.

An apparatus includes an electrically conductive housing configured to be implanted beneath a skin portion of a recipient's body. The apparatus further includes a transducer on or within the housing. The transducer is configured to receive and / or to generate vibrations. The apparatus further includes an electrically insulative and biocompatible material overlaying the housing. The material is configured to electrically insulate the housing and the transducer from the recipient's body. The apparatus further includes at least one vibration conduit configured to be in contact with the recipient's body and to transfer the vibrations between the recipient's body and the transducer. The at least one vibration conduit includes a first portion covered by the material and a second portion not covered by the material.

Electrical stimulation devices can be used to treat tinnitus. For example, tinnitus can be treated using implantable electrodes and stimulation devices for delivering electrical stimulation to a patient's cochlear region, such as the cochlear promontory. Intraosseous cochlear promontory electrode(s), endosteal electrode(s), subendosteal electrode(s), or short intracochlear electrode(s) (or a combination thereof), connected to a cochlear implant receiver / stimulator device, can provide a successful model for long-term treatment of tinnitus in a large number of patients. In some cases, patients can simply turn on the tinnitus implant when experiencing troublesome tinnitus and gain instant relief.

An apparatus includes at least one actuator configured to generate vibrations over a range of vibration frequencies. The at least one actuator includes a housing configured to be positioned on or within a recipient's body. The actuator further includes a support portion configured to be in operative communication with a fixture implanted within the recipient's body. The actuator further includes an oscillator within the housing, the oscillator includes piezoelectric material and has a first portion in mechanical communication with the support portion and a second portion spaced from the support portion. The piezoelectric material is configured to undergo bending oscillations in response to received electric voltage signals in which the second portion moves relative to the first portion. The actuator further includes at least one damper configured to damp at least one vibrational resonance of the at least one actuator over at least a portion of the range of vibration frequencies and independently of spring damping by the piezoelectric material.

The invention provides an acoustic electric exciter with an outer magnetic circuit part having high magnetic flux density and an output device. The invention relates to an electrodynamic exciter having a voice coil arrangement and a magnetic circuit system, in which the magnetic circuit system comprises a (annular) outer magnetic circuit part which extends radially beyond the voice coil arrangement and comprises two axially outer regions and a central region between the two axially outer regions. The voice coil device and the outer magnetic circuit portion are arranged in a fixed relationship to each other, and the magnetic circuit system additionally includes an inner magnetic circuit portion arranged radially within the voice coil device. A magnetic flux density of the magnetic flux in the central region of the outer magnetic circuit portion is at least 80% of a saturation magnetic flux density in the central region. Further, an output device is disclosed comprising a sound emitting structure and such an electrodynamic actuator connected thereto.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a receiver for a bone-anchored hearing system (BAHS). The receiver can include a data transfer antenna tuned at a first resonant frequency configured to receive a transmitted data signal from a transmitter. The receiver can include an energy receiver coil tuned at a second resonant frequency configured to receive a transmitted energy signal from the transmitter.

The invention relates to a method for controlling an active medical implant (1) by means of a hearing instrument (20), wherein the active medical implant (1) checks a condition (B) for activating and / or changing a medical function (F), and upon occurrence of the condition (B), a corresponding first message (N1) is transmitted to the hearing instrument (20), wherein, based on the first message (N1), an electro-acoustic output transducer (28) of the hearing instrument (20) issues a user request (An) regarding the activation and / or change of the medical function (F) to a user of the active medical implant (1), wherein, based on a response of the user to the user request (An), a corresponding second message (N2) is transmitted from the hearing instrument (20) to the active medical implant (1).and wherein the activation and / or modification of the medical function (F) of the active medical implant (1) is carried out based on the second message (N2) about the user's response to the user request (To).

A method includes receiving a user input first signal configured to trigger a device to perform a measurement procedure utilizing at least one electrode implanted within a recipient's body. The method further includes, in response to said receiving the user input first signal, performing an evaluation of whether performing a conditioning procedure of the at least one electrode is potentially warranted prior to performing the measurement procedure. The method further includes generating and communicating a user output signal indicative of a result of the evaluation to the user. The method further includes receiving a user input second signal configured to trigger the device either to perform the conditioning procedure prior to performing the measurement procedure or to perform the measurement procedure without performing the conditioning procedure prior to performing the measurement procedure.

An implantable device includes a low-profile housing having a cavity defined in a side thereof, and an element insertably removable with respect to the housing in a direction substantially parallel to a surgical plane of the implantable device. The element has a first portion adapted to be received in the housing cavity. The element further includes a second portion adapted to protrude from the housing upon insertion of the element into the housing cavity. The second portion includes at least one surface adapted for engagement with a surgical instrument for insertion and removal of the element with respect to the housing. A method for servicing the implantable device includes, at an incision proximate an implant location of the implantable device, insertably and removably accessing the element in a direction substantially parallel to a surgical plane of the implantable device.

A method, including an action of receiving first data based on data based on ambient sound captured with a first microphone, and further including an action of receiving second data based on data based on the ambient sound captured with a second microphone, wherein the first microphone is a part of a hearing prosthesis, the second microphone is part of an indoor sound capture system or indoor sound capture sub-system, and the method further comprises comparing the first data to the second data.