108results 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The disclosure relates to a bone anchored hearing aid device unit including a housing and an actuator having a first plate piezo element, and a clamp system configured for attaching the first plate piezo element to the housing, characterized in that the actuator has a second plate piezo element, in that the clamp system connects the first plate piezo element and the second plate piezo element, via the housing, and in that the clamp system is adapted for transferring, via the housing, a dynamic force between the first plate piezo element and the second plate piezo element. A method of operating a bone anchored hearing device unit is also disclosed.

An apparatus includes a chassis, a feedthrough, and a membrane having an outer perimeter portion affixed to the chassis and an inner perimeter portion affixed to the feedthrough. The membrane is configured to flex in response to a first force applied to the chassis and / or a second force applied to the feedthrough.

Presented herein are techniques related to setting a filter for an implanted medical device and using the filter to improve operation of the implanted medical device to evoke a hearing percept. A first output signal is generated and delivered to the recipient. A feedback resulting from delivery of the first output signal to the recipient is captured. A resonance associated with the feedback is identified, and a filter is set to attenuate the resonance. A second output signal is then generated based on an input signal, which is filtered via the filter to attenuate portions of potential feedback in the input signal. Thus, limited amounts of feedback are processed to generate the second output signal, and delivering the second output signal to the recipient evokes a hearing percept more desirably.

The present disclosure relates to a tinnitus suppression device, method, system and computer program. In some aspects, a tinnitus suppression device comprises a receiver module configured to receive sound signals, a processing module operably connected to a memory and to the receiver module, and a neurostimulation module operably connected to the processing module. In some aspects, the processing module and the neurostimulation module may be configured to determine a received sound signal that corresponds to a template stored in the memory, that is above a preconfigured threshold, preferably above a preconfigured threshold which is specific for the individual, or both. A multi-channel neurostimulation signal encoding the determined sound signal may be generated and applied to a neurostimulation device of the individual that may be configured to directly stimulate afferent sensory neurons of the central nervous system of the individual and thereby to elicit, for each channel of the neurostimulation signal, one or more non-auditory, preferably somatosensory, perceptions in a cortex area of the individual.

An implantable microphone assembly includes a microphone, a diaphragm configured to be mechanically coupled to an anatomical structure of a recipient, and a channel extending from the diaphragm to the microphone. The diaphragm is configured to receive sound-induced vibrations from the anatomical structure, and the channel is configured to transfer the sound- induced vibrations as acoustic pressure from the diaphragm to the microphone. The channel includes an inert gas having a substantially low speed of sound to provide an acoustic resonance frequency between approximately 2 kilohertz (kHz) and approximately 8 kHz.

Presented herein are techniques for initiating a night-time mode of operation in an implantable hearing prosthesis in response to detection of night-time recharging operations. More specifically, an implantable hearing prosthesis comprises a rechargeable battery that is configured to be recharged via an external night-time charging device, such as a pillow charger. The implantable hearing prosthesis is configured to detect inductive charging of the rechargeable battery by the external night-time charging device. In response, the implantable hearing prosthesis is switched to a night-time mode of operation.

An apparatus is provided which includes a cavity and a ferromagnet assembly having a first centroidal axis. The ferromagnet assembly is configured to be contained within the cavity. The ferromagnet assembly includes a first portion including at least one non-ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnet assembly further includes a second portion including at least one ferromagnetic material. The second portion has a second centroidal axis that is offset from the first centroidal axis.

Presented herein are techniques to deliver both electrical stimulation and vibrational stimulation to a recipient of a medical device such as a hearing device. A method can include delivering electrical stimulation to a recipient via a plurality of electrical stimulation contacts disposed on a carrier of a stimulating assembly and causing a pressure wave to be generated by the carrier within the recipient without introducing consequential movement of the plurality of electrical stimulation contacts relative to tissue of the recipient.

Presented herein are in-situ techniques for monitoring a recipient's cochlea health to proactively identify (i.e., predict) changes to the recipient's cochlea health outside of a clinical setting. The cochlea health monitoring techniques presented herein obtain one or more cochlea health biomarkers associated with a recipient's cochlea health, such the recipient's residual hearing, and analyze these biomarkers to predict that a cochlea health change is likely to occur.

Presented herein are techniques for enabling a user of a wearable or implantable device to define noise sources for suppression / attenuation in an ambient environment. In particular, a plurality of devices within the ambient environment form a wearable or implantable system. The plurality of devices capture environmental signals (e.g., sound signals, visual signals, etc.) from the ambient environment and the system determines, from the environmental signals, one or more noise sources present in an ambient environment. The system is configured to determine at least one user-preferred noise source from the one or more noise sources for suppression (attenuation) and, accordingly, suppress the at least one user-preferred noise source within the environmental signals to generate noise-suppressed environmental signals. In certain examples, the system generates stimulation signals from the noise-suppressed environmental signals and the system delivers the stimulation signals to a user.

Presented herein are techniques for fitting a recipient device to a recipient. A priori data is used to determine a first plurality of candidate stimulation setting groups for a recipient device of a recipient based on principal component analysis and system, processor, implant, and patient data. A selected one of the first plurality of candidate stimulation setting groups is instantiated in the recipient device. Measurement data associated with the recipient device is obtained while operating using the first one of the first plurality of candidate stimulation setting groups. A second plurality of candidate stimulation setting groups for the recipient device is determined using the measurement data and a selected one of the second plurality of candidate stimulation setting groups is instantiated in the recipient device. This process is repeated iteratively until a high confidence score is reached.

A cochlear implant and analysis system includes a stimulator, an input source, a signal processor, a wireless communication interface, and an external device. The system can receive an acoustic stimulus, generate an input signal representative thereof, and apply a transfer function to the input signal to generate and output a stimulation signal to the stimulator. The signal processor can receive an analysis input indicating a first signal for analysis and generate an analysis signal based on the received analysis input. The first signal can be an input signal from an input source or a result of one or more processing steps. The signal processor can output the analysis signal to the wireless communication interface with the wireless communication interface configured to output a signal representative of the analysis signal to an external device.

A receiver for a bone-anchored hearing system (BAHS) is disclosed the receiver comprises a data transfer antenna tuned at a first resonant frequency and configured to receive a transmitted data signal from a transmitter, wherein the data transfer antenna is configured to provide a data signal based on the transmitted data signal; an energy receiver coil tuned at a second resonant frequency and configured to receive a transmitted energy signal from the transmitter, wherein the energy receiver coil is configured to provide an energy signal based on the transmitted energy signal; a receiver circuit configured to receive the energy signal and the data signal, wherein the receiver circuit is configured to convert the data signal to an output signal; and a vibrator transducer configured to receive the output signal and to provide, based on the output signal, a vibration perceivable as sound by the user.

An exemplary system directs a display screen to display a graphical user interface that includes a selectable option to perform an electrode sweep with respect to a plurality of electrodes disposed on an electrode lead implanted at least partially within a cochlea of a recipient of a cochlear implant, detects a selection by a user of the option, directs, in response to the selection of the option, an acoustic stimulation generator to apply acoustic stimulation having a frequency to the recipient, directs the cochlear implant to use each electrode included in the plurality of electrodes to record an evoked response measurement in response to the acoustic stimulation, determines an amplitude of each of the evoked response measurements recorded by the plurality of electrodes, and presents, within the graphical user interface, a tuning curve that graphically indicates the amplitudes of the evoked response measurements.

The present application discloses a receiver having a plurality of coils for a bone-anchored hearing system and a bone-anchored hearing system wherein the receiver comprises: a data transmission antenna tuned at a first resonant frequency and configured to receive a transmission data signal from a transmitter, the data transmission antenna is configured to provide a data signal based on the transmission data signal; an energy receiving coil tuned at a second resonant frequency and configured to receive a transmitted energy signal from the transmitter, where the energy receiving coil is configured to provide an energy signal based on the transmitted energy signal; a receiver circuit configured to receive the energy signal and the data signal, where the receiver circuit is configured to convert the data signal to an output signal; and a vibration transducer configured to receive the output signal and generate vibration perceivable as sound by a user based on the output signal.

A device includes a housing, first communication circuitry on or within the housing, detection circuitry on or within the housing, and second communication circuitry on or within the housing. The first communication circuitry is configured to be in wireless communication with a first device that may be separate from the apparatus. The detection circuitry is configured to generate at least one signal indicative of at least one condition of an environment of the apparatus when the first communication circuitry is not in wireless communication with the first apparatus. The second communication circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit the at least one signal to a second device separate from the apparatus.

A sound anchor for transmitting a sound and vibration to human tissues in an ear canal is provided. The sound anchor includes a first link, and an anchor which is fixed to an ear canal inner wall of a user, receives the sound and vibration from the first link, and transmits the sound and vibration to at least one of an ear canal bone portion, a bone portion skin surface, and an auditory ossicle protrusion portion of an eardrum. The anchor includes a bar-shaped connection portion and an ear canal contact portion which is installed in the connection portion. The ear canal contact portion includes a first contact portion which is installed in one end portion of the connection portion and is in contact with the skin surface or the bone portion, and a second contact portion which is installed in the other end portion of the connection portion and is in contact with the skin surface or the bone portion. The first link is attachable to or detachable from the anchor.