System and method for magnet detection and operation tuning

Abstract

A device includes a housing configured to be placed over a tissue portion of a recipient, the tissue portion covering an implanted device. The housing includes a cavity configured to hold a magnet therein. The device also includes at least one sensor on or within the housing. The at least one sensor is configured to detect the magnet within the cavity and generate at least one signal indicating at least one property of the magnet. The device further includes a control circuitry system within the housing. The control circuitry system is configured to receive the at least one signal and adjust at least one operating parameter of the device in response to the at least one signal.

Description

background Technical Field

[0001] This application generally relates to systems and methods for operating external components that are held in place above a device implanted on or inside a recipient’s body by magnetic holding forces. Background Technology

[0002] Over the past few decades, medical devices have provided a wide range of therapeutic benefits to recipients. Medical devices can include internal or implantable components / devices, external or wearable components / devices, or combinations thereof (e.g., devices having an external component that communicates with the implantable component). Medical devices, such as conventional hearing aids, partially or fully implantable hearing prostheses (e.g., bone conduction devices, mechanical stimulators, cochlear implants, etc.), pacemakers, defibrillators, functional electrical stimulation devices, and other medical devices, have been successful for many years in performing life-saving and / or lifestyle improvement functions and / or recipient monitoring.

[0003] Over the years, the types of medical devices and the range of functions they perform have increased. For example, many medical devices, sometimes referred to as “implantable medical devices,” now typically include one or more instruments, devices, sensors, processors, controllers, or other functional mechanical or electrical components that are permanently or temporarily implanted in the recipient’s body. These functional devices are typically used to diagnose, prevent, monitor, treat, or manage diseases / injuries or their symptoms, or to study, replace, or modify anatomical structures or physiological processes. Many of these functional devices utilize power and / or data received from an external device that is part of or operates in conjunction with the implantable component. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one aspect disclosed herein, a device includes a housing configured to be placed over a tissue portion of a recipient, the tissue portion covering an implanted device. The housing includes a cavity configured to hold a magnet therein. The device also includes at least one sensor on or within the housing. The at least one sensor is configured to detect the magnet within the cavity and generate at least one signal indicating at least one property of the magnet. The device further includes a control circuitry system within the housing. The control circuitry system is configured to receive the at least one signal and adjust at least one operating parameter of the device in response to the at least one signal.

[0005] In another aspect disclosed herein, a method includes generating information indicating the magnetic field strength of a magnet placed within an external device at different times and indicating the different times the magnet was placed within the external device. The external device is configured to be held above the internal device on the recipient's body by an attractive magnetic force generated by the interaction between the magnet within the external device and the internal device within the recipient's body. A wireless transdermal communication link exists between the external device and the internal device. The method further includes adjusting at least one operating parameter of the external device and / or the internal device in real-time response to the information.

[0006] In another aspect disclosed herein, a device includes a housing, a first sensor on or within the housing, a second sensor on or within the housing, and a control circuitry system within the housing. The first sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicating at least one property of a magnet on or within the housing. The second sensor is configured to generate a second signal indicating at least one property of ambient sound. The control circuitry system is configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and to adjust operating parameters for processing the second signal in response to the first signal. Attached Figure Description

[0007] The embodiments are described in this article with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A This is a perspective view of an example cochlear implant auditory prosthesis implanted in a recipient according to some of the embodiments described herein; Figure 1B This is a perspective view of all example implantable middle ear implants and auditory prostheses implanted in a recipient according to some embodiments described herein; Figure 2A A side cross-sectional view of an example device according to certain embodiments described herein is shown schematically; Figure 2B The illustration schematically shows the area above the tissue portion of the recipient according to certain embodiments described herein. Figure 2A A side cross-sectional view of an example device; Figure 3A-3G Various example types and combinations of magnets and internal magnetic elements of implanted devices according to certain embodiments described herein are illustrated schematically. Figure 4A and 4B Two example sensors, an example control circuit system, and an example communication circuit system are schematically illustrated according to certain embodiments described herein; and Figure 5This is a flowchart of an example method according to some of the implementations described herein. Detailed Implementation

[0008] Some embodiments described herein provide an external wearable device that can be used with different magnets having different magnetic field strengths to hold the device above an implant for different skin flap thicknesses (SFT). The device includes at least one sensor configured to detect the magnetic field strength of the magnets and / or the magnetic field strength of the magnets and generate a sensor signal indicating the magnetic field strength of the magnets and / or the magnetic field strength of the magnets. Different magnetic field strengths can have different effects on the power / data transfer circuitry (e.g., different shifts or detuning of the circuitry's resonant frequency). The device's control circuitry is configured to receive the sensor signal and, in response, automatically (e.g., in real-time) optimize transfer efficiency by adjusting at least one operating parameter of the device. Examples of the at least one operating parameter may include: a drive voltage and / or drive current applied to the power / data transfer circuitry; electrical properties of the power / data transfer circuitry (e.g., capacitance; inductance; resonant frequency; quality (Q) factor); the dielectric constant of the device's housing; and the distance and / or inclination of the magnets relative to the implant.

[0009] The teachings detailed herein are applicable in at least some embodiments to any type of implantable or non-implantable stimulation or measurement system (e.g., implantable or non-implantable auditory prosthesis device or system). Such a system (e.g., an implantable sensor prosthesis; an implantable stimulation system; an implantable drug management system) can be configured to provide stimulation signals and / or drug doses from the implanted portion of the system to a part of the recipient's body in response to received information and / or control signals from an external portion of the system. Such a system (e.g., an implantable sensing system) can be configured to provide sensor signals from the implanted portion of the system to an external portion of the system. Embodiments may include any type of medical device that can utilize the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof. Furthermore, while some embodiments are described herein in the context of auditory prosthesis devices, certain other embodiments are compatible in the context of other types of devices or systems that provide broad therapeutic benefits to recipients, patients, or other users.

[0010] For ease of description only, the devices and methods disclosed herein are described primarily with reference to exemplary medical devices, which may include, but are not limited to: electroacoustic / electrical systems, cochlear implant devices, implantable hearing aid devices, middle ear implant devices, bone conduction devices (e.g., active bone conduction devices; passive bone conduction devices; transdermal bone conduction devices; percutaneous bone conduction devices), direct acoustic cochlear implants (DACI), middle ear transducers (MET), electroacoustic implant devices, other types of auditory prostheses and / or combinations or variations thereof, or any other suitable hearing prosthesis system with or without one or more external components. Embodiments may include any type of auditory prosthesis capable of utilizing the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof. Some such embodiments may be referred to as “partially implantable,” “semi-implantable,” “largely implantable,” “fully implantable,” or “completely implantable” auditory prostheses. In some embodiments, the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof may be utilized in other types of prostheses besides auditory prostheses.

[0011] While some embodiments of systems and devices are described herein in the context of auditory prosthetic devices, certain other systems and devices configured to evoke other types of neural or sensory perception (e.g., visual, tactile, olfactory, gustatory) are also compatible with some embodiments described herein, including but not limited to: vestibular devices (e.g., vestibular implants), tinnitus treatment devices, visual devices (e.g., bionic eyes), visual prostheses (e.g., retinal implants), brain implants, somatosensory implants, and chemosensory implants. Certain other embodiments are compatible with other types of medical implants (e.g., epilepsy monitoring or treatment systems; pain control systems; bladder control systems; sleep apnea control systems; neurostimulators; pacemakers; drug delivery systems; defibrillators; functional electrical stimulation devices; electrocardiogram devices) or other medical implants besides sensory prostheses that can utilize the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof to provide a wide range of therapeutic benefits to recipients, patients, or other users for performing monitoring or measurement functions (e.g., sensors; EEG monitoring of brain function; ECG monitoring of cardiac function). Some other implementations are compatible with consumer products (e.g., wireless chargers; charging cases for earbuds or other electronic devices) or other devices that can be used with different magnets of different magnetic field strengths and can affect the operating configuration of the device.

[0012] Figure 1A This is a perspective view of an example cochlear implant auditory prosthesis 100 implanted in a recipient according to certain embodiments described herein. The example auditory prosthesis 100 is... Figure 1AThe image is shown to include an implantable stimulator unit 120 and a microphone assembly 124 (e.g., a partially implantable cochlear implant) external to the recipient. Example auditory prostheses 100 according to certain embodiments described herein (e.g., fully implantable cochlear implants; partially implantable cochlear implants) can be replaced with subcutaneously implantable microphone assemblies as described more fully herein. Figure 1A The external microphone assembly 124 is shown. In some embodiments, Figure 1A The example cochlear implant auditory prosthesis 100 can be combined with a liquid drug reservoir as described herein.

[0013] like Figure 1A As shown, the recipient has an outer ear 101, a middle ear 105, and an inner ear 107. In a fully functional ear, the outer ear 101 includes an auricle 110 and an ear canal 102. Sound pressure, or sound waves 103, are collected by the auricle 110 and guided into and through the ear canal 102. A tympanic membrane 104, which vibrates in response to sound waves 103, is located at the distal end of the ear canal 102. This vibration is connected to an elliptical or oval window 112 via three bones in the middle ear 105, collectively referred to as ossicles 106, and including the malleus 108, incus 109, and stapes 111. The bones 108, 109, and 111 of the middle ear 105 filter and amplify the sound waves 103, causing the elliptical window 112 to oscillate or vibrate in response to the vibration of the tympanic membrane 104. This vibration creates a fluid motion wave of perilymph within the cochlea 140. This fluid movement then activates tiny hair cells (not shown) inside the cochlea 140. The activation of the hair cells generates appropriate nerve impulses, which are transmitted to the brain (also not shown) via spiral ganglion cells (not shown) and the auditory nerve 114, where they are perceived as sound.

[0014] like Figure 1A As shown, the example hearing prosthesis 100 includes one or more components that are temporarily or permanently implanted in the recipient's body. The example hearing prosthesis 100 in... Figure 1A The device is shown to have: an external component 142 that is directly or indirectly attached to the recipient's body; and an internal component 144 that is temporarily or permanently implanted in the recipient's body (e.g., located in a recess of the temporal bone adjacent to the recipient's auricle 110). The external component 142 typically includes one or more sound input elements for detecting sound (e.g., an external microphone 124), a sound processing unit 126 (e.g., disposed in a behind-the-ear unit), a power supply (not shown), and an external transmitter unit 128. Figure 1AIn an exemplary embodiment, the external transmitter unit 128 includes an external coil 130 (e.g., a linear antenna coil comprising a single or multiple strand of electrically insulated platinum or gold wire), and preferably includes a magnet (not shown) directly or indirectly attached to the external coil 130. The external coil 130 of the external transmitter unit 128 is part of an inductive radio frequency (RF) communication link with the internal component 144. The sound processing unit 126 processes the output of the microphone 124, which in the depicted embodiment is positioned outside the receiver's body by the receiver's auricle 110. The sound processing unit 126 processes the output of the microphone 124 and generates an encoded signal, sometimes referred to herein as an encoded data signal, which is provided to the external transmitter unit 128 (e.g., via a cable). It will be appreciated that the sound processing unit 126 may utilize digital processing techniques to provide frequency shaping, amplification, compression, and other signal conditioning, including conditioning based on receiver-specific fitting parameters.

[0015] The power source of the external component 142 is configured to supply power to the hearing prosthesis 100, which includes a battery (e.g., located in the internal component 144 or disposed at a separate implantation site) that is recharged (e.g., via a transdermal power delivery link) by power supplied from the external component 142. The transdermal power delivery link is used to transfer power and / or data to the internal component 144 of the hearing prosthesis 100. Various types of power delivery (such as infrared (IR), electromagnetic, capacitive, and inductive) can be used to transfer power and / or data from the external component 142 to the internal component 144. During operation of the hearing prosthesis 100, the power stored in the rechargeable battery is distributed as needed to various other implanted components.

[0016] Internal component 144 includes an internal receiver unit 132, a stimulator unit 120, and an elongated electrode assembly 118. In some embodiments, the internal receiver unit 132 and the stimulator unit 120 are hermetically sealed within a biocompatible housing. The internal receiver unit 132 includes an internal coil 136 (e.g., a linear antenna coil comprising a single or multiple strands of electrically insulated platinum or gold wire), and preferably includes a magnet (also not shown) fixed relative to the internal coil 136. The internal receiver unit 132 and the stimulator unit 120, hermetically sealed within a biocompatible housing, are sometimes collectively referred to as the stimulator / receiver unit. The internal coil 136 receives electrical and / or data signals from the external coil 130 via a transdermal power delivery link (e.g., an inductive RF link). The stimulator unit 120 generates an electrical stimulation signal based on the data signal, and the stimulation signal is delivered to the recipient via the elongated electrode assembly 118.

[0017] An elongated electrode assembly 118 has a proximal end connected to the stimulator unit 120 and a distal end implanted in the cochlea 140. The electrode assembly 118 extends from the stimulator unit 120 through the mastoid bone 119 to reach the cochlea 140. In some embodiments, the electrode assembly 118 may be implanted at least in the basal region 116, and sometimes deeper. For example, the electrode assembly 118 may extend toward the apex of the cochlea 140 (referred to as the cochlear apex 134). In some cases, the electrode assembly 118 may be inserted into the cochlea 140 via a cochlear fenestration 122. In other cases, the cochlear fenestration may be formed via a round window 121, an elliptical window 112, a promontory 123, or through the apical gyrus 147 of the cochlea 140.

[0018] The elongated electrode assembly 118 includes an array 146 of contacts or electrodes 148 disposed along its length, longitudinally aligned and extending distally, sometimes referred to herein as an electrode or contact array 146. Although the electrode array 146 may be disposed on the electrode assembly 118, in most practical applications, the electrode array 146 is integrated into the electrode assembly 118 (e.g., the electrode array 146 is disposed within the electrode assembly 118). As noted, the stimulator unit 120 generates a stimulation signal, which is applied by the electrodes 148 to the cochlea 140, thereby stimulating the auditory nerve 114.

[0019] Although Figure 1A A hearing prosthesis 100 utilizing an external component 142 including an external microphone 124, an external sound processing unit 126, and an external power supply is schematically shown. However, in some other embodiments, one or more of the microphone 124, sound processing unit 126, and power supply may be implanted in or within the recipient's body (e.g., within the internal component 144). For example, the hearing prosthesis 100 may have each of the microphone 124, sound processing unit 126, and power supply that can be implanted in or within the recipient's body (e.g., enclosed within a subcutaneous biocompatible component) and may be referred to as a fully implantable cochlear implant (“TICI”). For another example, the hearing prosthesis 100 may have most of the components of a cochlear implant that can be implanted in or within the recipient's body (e.g., excluding the microphone, which may be an in-ear canal microphone) and may be referred to as a largely implantable cochlear implant (“MICI”).

[0020] Figure 1B A perspective view is schematically shown of an example fully implantable auditory prosthesis 200 (e.g., a fully implantable middle ear implant or a fully implantable acoustic system) implanted in a recipient using an acoustic actuator according to certain embodiments described herein. Figure 1B Example hearing prosthesis 200 includes a biocompatible implantable component 202 (e.g., including an implantable capsule) located subcutaneously (e.g., under the recipient's skin and on the recipient's skull). Although Figure 1B An example implantable component 202 including a microphone is schematically shown, but in other example hearing prostheses 200, a pendant microphone (e.g., connected to the implantable component 202 via a cable) may be used. The implantable component 202 includes a signal receiver 204 (e.g., including a coil element) and an acoustic transducer 206 (e.g., a microphone including a diaphragm and an electret or piezoelectric transducer), the acoustic transducer being positioned to receive acoustic signals through the recipient's covering tissue. The implantable component 202 may also be used to accommodate multiple components of the entire implantable hearing prosthesis 200. For example, the implantable component 202 may include an energy storage device and a signal processor (e.g., a sound processing unit). Various additional processing logic and / or circuitry components may also be included in the implantable component 202 as a design option.

[0021] for Figure 1B The example hearing prosthesis 200 shown includes an implantable component 202 whose signal processor and actuator 210 (e.g., including a transducer configured to generate mechanical vibrations in response to an electrical signal from the signal processor) operate in communication (e.g., electrically interconnected via wire 208). In some embodiments, Figure 1A and 1B The example auditory prostheses 100, 200 shown may include implantable microphone components, such as Figure 1B The microphone assembly 206 is shown. For such an example auditory prosthesis 100, the signal processor of the implantable component 202 can operatively communicate with the microphone assembly 206 and the stimulator unit 120 of the main implantable component (e.g., via electrical interconnection via wires). In some embodiments, at least one of the microphone assembly 206 and the signal processor (e.g., a sound processing unit) is implanted on or inside the recipient.

[0022] Figure 1B The actuator 210 of the example auditory prosthesis 200 shown is supportably connected to a positioning system 212, which is then (e.g., via a hole drilled through the skull) connected to a bone anchor 214 installed in the recipient's mastoid bone. The actuator 210 includes a connection device 216 for connecting the actuator 210 to the recipient's ossicles 106. In the connected state, the connection device 216 provides a communication path for acoustic stimulation of the ossicles 106 (e.g., by transmitting vibrations from the actuator 210 to the incus 109).

[0023] During normal operation, ambient acoustic signals (e.g., ambient sounds) impact the recipient's tissue and are received transdermally at microphone assembly 206. Upon receiving the transdermal signal, a signal processor implantable within assembly 202 processes the signal to provide a processed audio drive signal to actuator 210 via wire 208. It will be appreciated that the signal processor can utilize digital processing techniques to provide frequency shaping, amplification, compression, and other signal conditioning, including conditioning based on recipient-specific fitting parameters. The audio drive signal causes actuator 210 to transmit acoustic vibrations to connection device 216 to influence the desired sound sensation via mechanical stimulation of the recipient's incus 109.

[0024] The subcutaneously implantable microphone assembly 202 is configured to respond to auditory signals (e.g., sound; pressure changes within the audible frequency range) by generating output signals (e.g., electrical signals; optical signals; electromagnetic signals), the output signals indicating auditory signals received by the microphone assembly 202, and these output signals are used by auditory prostheses 100, 200 to generate stimulus signals that are provided to the auditory system of a recipient. To compensate for the reduced acoustic signal intensity reaching the microphone assembly 202 due to implantation, the septum of the implantable microphone assembly 202 may be configured to provide higher sensitivity than that of externally non-implantable microphone assemblies. For example, the septum of the implantable microphone assembly 202 may be configured to be more robust and / or larger than that of externally non-implantable microphone assemblies.

[0025] Figure 1A The example hearing prosthesis 100 shown utilizes an external microphone 124, and Figure 1B The auditory prosthesis 200 shown utilizes an implantable microphone assembly 206 including a subcutaneously implantable acoustic transducer. In some embodiments described herein, the auditory prosthesis 100 utilizes one or more implantable microphone assemblies located on or within the recipient. In some embodiments described herein, the auditory prosthesis 200 utilizes one or more microphone assemblies positioned externally to the recipient and / or implanted on or within the recipient, and utilizes one or more acoustic transducers (e.g., actuator 210) implanted on or within the recipient. In some embodiments, an external microphone assembly may be used to supplement the implantable microphone assembly of the auditory prosthesis 100, 200. Therefore, the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof can be used with any type of external or implantable microphone arrangement, and Figure 1A and 1B The acoustic transducer shown is merely illustrative.

[0026] Figure 2A A side cross-sectional view of an example device 300 according to some embodiments described herein is shown schematically. Figure 2BThe illustration schematically shows an area above the tissue portion 230 (e.g., skin) of the recipient, according to certain embodiments described herein. Figure 2A A side cross-sectional view of an example device 300. Device 300 includes a housing 310 configured to be placed over a tissue portion 230 of a recipient. The tissue portion 230 covers an implantation device 250. The housing 310 includes a cavity 312 configured to hold a magnet 314 therein. Device 300 also includes at least one sensor 320 on or within the housing 310. The at least one sensor 320 is configured to detect the magnet 314 within the cavity 312 and generate at least one signal 322 indicating at least one property of the magnet 314. Device 300 also includes a control circuitry system 330 within the housing 310. The control circuitry system 330 is configured to receive at least one signal 322 and adjust at least one operating parameter of device 300 in response to the at least one signal 322.

[0027] For example, the implantable device 250 (e.g., internal component 144) and the device 300 (e.g., external component 142) may be components of a transdermal system (e.g., auditory prosthesis 100, 200). The device 300 may also include an external communication circuitry system 340 (e.g., external transmitter unit 128), which includes at least one external coil 342 (e.g., external coil 130) configured to form a wireless transdermal communication link (e.g., via magnetic induction energy transfer) with the internal communication circuitry system 240 (e.g., at least one internal coil 242) of the implantable device 250. In addition... Figure 2A and 2B In addition to the components shown, device 300 may also include an external microphone 124, a sound processing unit 126, and a power source (e.g., a battery).

[0028] The implantable device 250 may include a biocompatible shell 252 (e.g., plastic; PEEK; silicone; ceramic; zirconium oxide; nonmagnetic metal; titanium) configured to be positioned below tissue portions 230 of the recipient's body (e.g., below layers of skin, fat, and / or muscle) and above bones (e.g., the skull) in a part of the recipient's body (e.g., the head). Within the biocompatible shell 252, the implantable device 250 may also include at least one active element 254 (e.g., stimulator unit 120; component 202; vibration actuator; drug reservoir with flow control elements or valves), an internal magnetic element 256, and an internal communication circuitry system 240 (e.g., at least one internal coil 242). The biocompatible housing 252 may include a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being configured to house at least one active element 254 and the second portion being configured to house an internal magnetic element 256 and an internal communication circuit system 240, or the biocompatible housing 252 may include a single housing portion configured to house at least one active element 254, an internal magnetic element 256 and an internal communication circuit system 240.

[0029] At least one active element 254 may be configured to provide stimulation signals and / or agents to the recipient's body and / or generate measurement signals indicative of properties of the recipient's body (e.g., electrical activity; analyte concentration). The internal magnetic element 256 may comprise a disk or plate of ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material or a permanent magnet and may be configured to establish a magnetic attraction 257 with the magnet 314 of the device 300, the magnetic attraction being configured to hold the housing 310 on the outer surface (e.g., skin surface) of the tissue portion 230, such that the external communication circuitry 340 (e.g., at least one external coil 342) wirelessly communicates with the internal communication circuitry 240 (e.g., at least one internal coil 242) during operation of the implanted device 250 with the device 300.

[0030] The coupling coefficient between the external communication circuit system 340 of device 300 and the internal communication circuit system 240 of implantation device 250 depends inversely to the distance between at least one internal coil 242 and at least one external coil 342. Additionally, the strength of the magnetic attraction between the magnet 314 of device 300 and the internal magnetic element 256 depends inversely to the distance between the magnet 314 and the internal magnetic element 256. These distances depend on the thickness of the tissue portion 230 between device 300 and implantation device 250, which may be referred to as flap thickness (SFT). Figure 2BAs shown in the figure. Depending on the recipient, the SFT of a hearing prosthesis system can range, for example, from 2 mm to 12 mm, and other types of systems can have a larger maximum SFT. In addition to the differences in SFT between different recipients, SFT can also change under various physiological conditions (e.g., recipient weight loss or gain; recipient growth).

[0031] In some embodiments, the housing 310 includes at least one biocompatible material (e.g., compatible with being worn on a recipient's skin) that is substantially transparent to electric, magnetic, and / or electromagnetic fields, such that the housing 310 does not significantly interfere with the wireless transdermal communication link and / or the attractive magnet 257 between the device 300 and the implantation device 250. For example, the material of the housing 310 may include at least one of the following: plastic; PEEK; silicone; ceramic; zirconium oxide; nonmagnetic metal; titanium. The housing 310 may have a width of less than or equal to 40 mm (e.g., in the range of 15 mm to 35 mm; in the range of 25 mm to 35 mm; in the range of less than 30 mm; in the range of 15 mm to 30 mm) or greater in a lateral direction substantially parallel to the surface of the recipient's tissue portion 230 (e.g., skin). In some embodiments, housing 310 includes a removable or hinged cover (not shown) configured to open to provide access to cavity 312 (e.g., to remove magnet 314 from cavity 312; to place magnet 314 into cavity 312).

[0032] In some embodiments, cavity 312 has a cylindrical shape having a cross-section (e.g., circular; elliptical; square; rectangular; polygonal; geometric; irregular; symmetrical; asymmetrical) having straight, curved, or irregular sides in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 313 of cavity 312 and a perimeter in the same plane. For example, cavity 312 may have a straight cylindrical shape having a first diameter and a first circumference in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 313 (e.g., the axis of symmetry of cavity 312) and a first height along the longitudinal axis 313. The first diameter may range from 6 mm to 14 mm, and the first height may range from 2 mm to 12 mm. Other shapes (e.g., rectangular prisms; hexagonal prisms) and / or dimensions of cavity 312 are also compatible with some embodiments described herein.

[0033] In some embodiments, magnet 314 includes a permanent magnet, which includes at least one of the following: iron, nickel, cobalt, and steel. Magnet 314 may comprise a single, integral magnet 314 or multiple magnets 314 coupled to each other. Magnet 314 may generate an external static magnetic field 315 (e.g., magnetic flux), such as... Figure 2AThe diagram is schematically shown. In some embodiments, the magnet 314 is configured to be received within a cavity 312. In some embodiments, the magnet 314 has a cylindrical shape having a cross-section (e.g., circular; elliptical; square; rectangular; polygonal; geometric; irregular; symmetrical; asymmetrical) having straight, curved, or irregular sides in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magnet 314 and a perimeter in the same plane. For example, the magnet 314 may have a straight cylindrical shape having a second diameter and a second circumference in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magnet 314 (e.g., the axis of symmetry of the shape of the magnet 314), and a second height along the longitudinal axis. The second diameter may be less than or equal to the first diameter, the second circumference may be less than or equal to the first circumference, and the second height may be less than or equal to the first height, such that the magnet 314 is configured to fit within the cavity 312. The second diameter may range from 6 mm to 14 mm, and the second height may range from 2 mm to 12 mm. Other shapes (e.g., rectangular prism; hexagonal prism) and / or dimensions of the magnet 314 are also compatible with some of the embodiments described herein. For example, both the cavity 312 and the magnet 314 may have asymmetrical shapes, such that the magnet 314 is configured to be received within the cavity 312 in only one orientation.

[0034] Given the different possible SFT values ​​that the recipient may have, the device 300 can be configured to be operated using a magnet 314 within the cavity 312, the magnet 314 being selected from a set of different magnets 314 with different magnetic attraction strengths. The selected magnet 314 can be placed within the cavity 312 for operation of the device 300 together with an implantable device 250 spaced apart from the device 300 by the recipient's SFT. The magnet 314 is selected to provide a sufficiently strong magnetic attraction 257 to hold the device 300 in place (e.g., against the outer surface of the tissue portion 230, such that the external communication circuitry 340 and the internal communication circuitry 240 can communicate wirelessly via SFT).

[0035] Figure 3A-3G Various example types and combinations of magnet 314 and implanted magnetic element 256 according to certain embodiments described herein are illustrated schematically. Figure 3A-3GAs shown, each of magnet 314 and implanted magnetic element 256 may include a magnet type selected from the group consisting of: axially magnetized (axial) magnets; radially magnetized (radial) magnets; and oblique quadrupole magnets. Magnet 314 may have a permanent first magnetization comprising a first dipole moment 318 (e.g., a dipole magnet; an axial magnet; a radial magnet) or multiple first dipole moments 318 (e.g., multipole moments; portions having two or more different dipole moments or magnetizations; oblique quadrupole magnets). Implanted magnetic element 256 may have a permanent second magnetization comprising a second dipole moment 258 (e.g., a dipole magnet; an axial magnet; a radial magnet) or multiple second dipole moments 258 (e.g., multiple moments; portions having two or more different dipole moments or magnetizations; oblique quadrupole magnets). The first magnetization is configured to interact with the second magnetization to generate an attractive magnetic force 257.

[0036] In some implementations (e.g., see...) Figure 3A-3G In some embodiments, the magnet 314 and the implanted magnetic element 256 are substantially equal in size and shape to each other, while in others, the magnet 314 and the implanted magnetic element 256 have significantly different sizes and / or shapes. Additionally, the magnet 314 and / or the implanted magnetic element 256 may comprise multiple magnetic elements or other types of magnets. In some embodiments, the magnet 314 at least partially covers the implanted magnetic element 256.

[0037] exist Figure 3A In this embodiment, each of the magnet 314 and the implanted magnetic element 256 includes an axial magnet having corresponding first dipole magnetic moments 318 and 258 that are substantially parallel to each other. Figure 3B In this configuration, each of the magnet 314 and the implanted magnetic element 256 includes a counter-polar magnet having a first dipole moment 318 and a second dipole moment 258 that are substantially antiparallel to each other (e.g., substantially parallel and pointing in substantially opposite directions). Figure 3C In this configuration, each of the magnet 314 and the implanted magnetic element 256 includes a skewed quadrupole magnet having a corresponding first dipole moment 318 and a second dipole moment 258. Figure 3D In the middle, magnet 314 includes a radial magnet and implanted magnetic element 256 includes a beveled quadrupole magnet, and in Figure 3E In the middle, magnet 314 includes an angled quadrupole magnet and embedded magnetic element 356 includes a diameter magnet. Figure 3F In the middle, magnet 314 includes an axial magnet and implanted magnetic element 256 includes a radial magnet, and in Figure 3G In the middle, magnet 314 includes an axial magnet and implanted magnetic element 256 includes a skew quadrupole magnet.

[0038] although Figure 3C and 3E The diagram shows that each of the two first dipole moments 318 has a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the magnet 314, but the two first dipole moments 318 of the angled quadrupole magnet can be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magnet 314 (e.g., one of the first dipole moments 318 points upward and the other points downward). Similarly, although Figure 3C , 3D Figure 3G shows that each of the two second dipole magnetic moments 258 has a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the implanted magnetic element 256, but the two second dipole magnetic moments 258 of the angled quadrupole magnet can be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the implanted magnetic element 256 (e.g., one of the second dipole magnetic moments 258 points upward and the other of the second dipole magnetic moments 258 points downward).

[0039] In some embodiments (e.g., where magnet 314 comprises a counter-diameter magnet or a beveled quadrupole magnet), magnet 314 is configured to rotate freely about its longitudinal axis when within cavity 312 (e.g., in response to the resulting magnetic force) to substantially align the first dipole moment 318 with the second dipole moment 258. As a result of the rotation of the counter-diameter magnet 314, the vector sum of the first dipole moments 318 may be substantially antiparallel to the second dipole moment 258 (e.g., see...). Figure 3B , 3E ) or substantially antiparallel to the vector sum of the second dipole magnetic moment 258 (e.g., see Figure 3C , 3D In some embodiments, in response to the attracting magnetic force 257, the magnet 314 can self-position (e.g., self-center) relative to the implanted magnetic element 256 of the implantation device 250, thereby moving the device 300 relative to the implantation device 250.

[0040] In some embodiments, the attractive magnetic force 257 generated by the magnet 314 and the implanted magnetic element 256 depends on the type of magnet and the relative positioning of the magnet 314 and the implanted magnetic element 256. For example, in the case where the magnet 314 substantially covers the implanted magnetic element 256 (e.g., see...). Figures 3A-3E With zero lateral displacement between the centers of magnet 314 and implanted magnetic element 256, the attractive magnetic force 257 can be at its strongest (e.g., maximum value). For another example, the maximum value of the attractive magnetic force 257 can correspond to a non-zero lateral displacement between the centers of magnet 314 and implanted magnetic element 256 (e.g., for similar widths of magnet 314 and implanted magnetic element 256, the lateral displacement can be substantially equal to half the width; see, for example, [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 3F-3G ).

[0041] In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 includes at least one magnetic field sensor configured to generate at least one signal 322 (e.g., an analog or digital electrical signal) indicating the strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnet 314. This at least one magnetic field sensor may be positioned on or within the housing 310 and sufficiently close to the magnet 314 within the cavity 312 to receive a portion of the magnetic field 315 (e.g., magnetic flux) from the magnet 314. Although Figure 2A-2B Sensor 320 is shown located on one side of cavity 312, but other positioning is also compatible with some embodiments described herein. Examples of magnetic field sensors compatible with some embodiments described herein include, but are not limited to: Hall sensors; magnetoresistive sensors; semiconductor magnetoresistive (SMR) sensors; anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensors; giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors; tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) sensors; reed switches; and magnetic proximity sensors. Other types of magnetic field sensors (e.g., load sensors that respond to tension or strain caused by magnetic force generated by magnet 314; piezoelectric elements that respond to displacement caused by magnetic force generated by magnet 314) are also compatible with some embodiments described herein.

[0042] Figure 4A and 4B Two example sensors 320 are schematically shown according to certain embodiments described herein. Figure 4A Example sensor 320 includes a triaxial Hall sensor 324, which is configured to generate digital signals 322 indicating the measured magnetic field strength in three substantially orthogonal directions and transmitted via a communication bus (e.g., an integrated circuit bus or I / O bus). 2 The C bus transmits digital signals 322 to the control circuit system 330. Figure 4B Example sensor 320 includes a magnetoresistive sensor 326 and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 328. The magnetoresistive sensor is configured to adjust an analog voltage indicating the strength of a measured magnetic field in at least one direction. The ADC is configured to receive the analog voltage, generate a digital signal 322 in response, and transmit the digital signal 322 to a control circuit system 330. Although Figure 4A and 4B Each example sensor 320 is shown individually, but at least one sensor 320 in some embodiments includes multiple sensors 320 with different positions on or within the housing 310 (e.g., three sensors 320 arranged in a triangular configuration).

[0043] In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 includes at least one optical sensor and / or at least one switch configured to generate at least one signal 322 (e.g., an analog or digital electrical signal) indicating the magnetic field strength of the magnet 314, which indicates the identifier of the magnet 314. The at least one optical sensor may be positioned on or within the housing 310 such that it detects symbols, letters, numbers, or other optical markings on the surface of the magnet 314 (e.g., via light reflected from the surface of the magnet 314). The at least one switch may be positioned at the boundary of the cavity 312 such that it opens or closes based on the presence of protrusions, recesses, or other tactile markings on the surface of the magnet 314. In some embodiments, at least one sensor 320 includes (e.g., utilizing a lookup table and / or conversion algorithm in the data storage circuitry of the at least one optical sensor) a circuitry that converts the detected optical or tactile markings into a detected magnetic field strength of the magnet 314, the detected magnetic field strength being transmitted to a control circuitry 330 by at least one signal 322. In some other embodiments, at least one signal 322 indicates a detected optical or tactile mark, and the control circuitry 330 is configured (e.g., using lookup tables and / or conversion algorithms in the data storage circuitry of the control circuitry 330) to convert at least one signal 322 into the detected magnetic field strength of the magnet 314.

[0044] Figure 4A and 4B Example control circuitry system 330 and external communication circuitry system 340 according to certain embodiments described herein are schematically illustrated. In some embodiments, control circuitry system 330 includes processor 332 (e.g., microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit, general-purpose integrated circuit programmed with software having computer-executable instructions, microelectronic circuitry system, microcontroller). Processor 332 may operate in communication with at least one storage device of control circuitry system 330 (e.g., at least one tangible or non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; read-only memory; random access memory; flash memory) or be separate from device 300 and operate in communication with control circuitry system 330. At least one storage device may be configured to store information (e.g., data and / or commands) accessible to processor 332 during operation. At least one storage device may be encoded with software (e.g., a computer program downloaded as an application) including computer-executable instructions for instructing processor 332 (e.g., executable data access logic, evaluation logic, and / or information output logic). In some embodiments, processor 332 executes the instructions of the software to provide the functionality as described herein.

[0045] In some embodiments, the control circuitry 330 includes at least one coil driver 334 (e.g., an amplifier) ​​configured to generate and adjust a time-varying (e.g., oscillating) drive voltage and / or drive current applied to an external communication circuitry 340 (e.g., at least one external coil 342) in response to a drive control signal 335 from the processor 332, to wirelessly transmit power and / or data to an internal communication circuitry 240 (e.g., at least one internal coil 242) of the implanted device 250. For example, in response to the drive control signal 335, at least one coil driver 334 may turn on the drive current, turn off the drive current, and / or adjust the drive current to have a selected magnitude, phase, and / or frequency.

[0046] In some embodiments, the external communication circuitry 340 includes at least one external coil 342 and an adjustment circuitry 344 configured to modify at least one electrical property of the external communication circuitry 340 in response to an adjustment control signal 337 from the processor 332. For example, such as Figure 4A and 4B As schematically shown, at least one external coil 342 has capacitance and inductance, and the adjustment circuit system 344 is in serial electrical communication with at least one external coil 342, such that a time-varying drive current generated by at least one coil driver 334 flows serially through the adjustment circuit system 344 and at least one external coil 342. Although Figure 4A and 4B The adjustment circuit system 344 is shown as a component of the external communication circuit system 340, but in some other embodiments, the adjustment circuit system 344 is a component of the control circuit system 330.

[0047] The adjustment circuit system 344 may include at least one switch 346 and at least one passive electrical element 348 (e.g., a capacitor; an inductor). The at least one switch 346 may have a first state and a second state, in which the at least one passive electrical element 348 is in the circuit through which the time-varying drive current flows, and in the second state, the at least one passive electrical element 348 is not in the circuit through which the time-varying drive current flows. The at least one switch 346 may respond to an adjustment control signal 337 from the processor 332 to switch from the first state to the second state or vice versa. In this way, the control circuit system 330 may adjust the capacitance, inductance, resonant frequency, and / or Q factor of the external communication circuit system 340.

[0048] The control circuitry system 330 may also include at least one input interface that communicates operatively with the processor 332. This at least one input interface may be configured to receive input signals including information (e.g., data and / or commands) from (e.g., from a recipient; from a medical practitioner). For example, this information may include the size, strength, and / or magnet type of the implanted magnetic element 256 (e.g., identifying the implanted magnetic element 256 as an axial magnet, a radial magnet, or a bevel quadrupole magnet). As another example, this information may include the model number, serial number, and / or other identification markings of the implanted device 250, and the control circuitry system 330 may be configured to convert the received information into information about the implanted magnetic element 256. Examples of at least one input interface include, but are not limited to: (e.g., a rotatable knob connected to a potentiometer); a button; a switch; a touchscreen; a microphone and voice response circuitry. As another example, at least one input interface may include an antenna configured to receive wireless input signals (e.g., Bluetooth signals; WiFi signals) from a device separate from device 300 (e.g., a smartphone, a smart tablet, a smartwatch; a computing device).

[0049] The control circuitry system 330 may also include at least one output interface that operatively communicates with the processor 332. This at least one output interface may be configured to provide an output signal (e.g., an alarm signal) to a user (e.g., a recipient; a clinician; a medical practitioner) or to a data storage device (e.g., at least one storage device operatively communicating with the processor 332) for later access by the user (e.g., as part of a data log of an event). The output signal may include information relating to at least one characteristic of the interaction between the device 300 and the implanted device 250 (e.g., at least one property indicating the magnet 314). Examples of the at least one output interface include, but are not limited to: a speaker configured to generate an audio signal; an LED or LCD display configured to generate a visual signal (e.g., colored light, an image, or alphanumeric characters); and a haptic motor configured to generate vibrations or other tactile signals. As another example, the at least one output interface may include an antenna on or within the housing 310, configured to transmit a wireless output signal (e.g., a Bluetooth signal; a WiFi signal) to a communication device (e.g., a smartphone, a smart tablet, a smartwatch; a computing device) separate from the device 300 to display the indication. The communication device can be configured to generate an audio, visual, or tactile signal in response to an output signal, indicating at least one property of a magnet 314 detected by at least one sensor 320. In some embodiments, the control circuitry system 330 includes a user interface (e.g., a touchscreen; a transceiver antenna) configured to operate as both at least one input interface and at least one output interface.

[0050] In some embodiments, cavity 312 is located in a region close to at least one external coil 342 of external communication circuitry 340 (e.g., surrounded by at least one external coil of external communication circuitry 342). In some such locations, magnet 314 within cavity 312 may (e.g., by acting as the core of at least one external coil 342) influence the operating characteristics of external communication circuitry 340. For example, magnet 314 may make a detuning contribution to the resonant frequency of external communication circuitry 340, which is in the range of ±25 kHz, ±50 kHz, ±500 kHz or higher (e.g., a magnet 314 with a stronger magnetic field 315 may produce a larger shift in the resonant frequency of at least one external coil 342 compared to a magnet 314 with a weaker magnetic field 315).

[0051] At various times, the magnet 314 within cavity 312 can be removed and replaced with another magnet 314 having a different magnetic field strength 315. For example, during a fitting procedure performed by a clinician, the clinician can place different magnets 314 in cavity 312 to determine which magnet 314 provides sufficient magnetic field strength to hold device 300 to the recipient's body without causing discomfort (e.g., skin compression due to an excessively strong magnet 314). As another example, during normal operation, the recipient can remove and insert magnets 314 into device 300 to find a magnet 314 with the optimal magnetic field strength for the expected level of activity (e.g., a stronger magnet 314 for athletic activities; a weaker magnet 314 for sedentary activities). However, because different magnetic field strengths of magnets 314 have different detuning contributions, the resonant frequency of external communication circuitry system 340 may depend on the magnet 314 used, potentially resulting in a lower-than-optimal resonant frequency for power and / or data transmission.

[0052] In some embodiments, removing and replacing the magnet 314 includes removing the device 300 from the recipient's body (e.g., removing the device 300 from the recipient's skin). In some embodiments, the control circuitry 330 is configured to (e.g., by detecting the loss and reconstruction of the wireless transdermal communication link between the device 300 and the implantation device 250) detect whether the device 300 has been removed from and repositioned onto the recipient's body. The control circuitry 330 may also be configured to receive at least one signal 322 and / or respond to at least one signal 322 in response to detecting that the device 300 has been removed from and repositioned onto the recipient's body (e.g., during which time the magnet 314 may have been removed and replaced with another magnet 314).

[0053] In some other embodiments where the housing 310 includes a removable or hinged cover configured to open to provide access to the cavity 312 (e.g., to remove the magnet 314 from the cavity 312; to place the magnet 314 into the cavity 312), the device 300 may include a cover sensor (e.g., a switch; an optical sensor) configured to generate a cover sensor signal indicating whether the cover is open or closed. The control circuitry system 330 may also be configured to receive at least one signal 322 and / or respond to at least one signal 322 in response to detecting that the cover is open and closed (e.g., during which time the magnet 314 may have been removed and replaced with another magnet 314).

[0054] In some embodiments, the control circuitry 330 is configured to receive at least one signal 322 from at least one sensor 320 when the device 300 is removed from the recipient's body (e.g., such that at least one sensor 320 is unaffected by the magnetic field contribution from the implanted magnetic element 256). In some other embodiments, the control circuitry 330 is configured to receive at least one signal 322 from at least one sensor 320 when the device 300 is on the recipient's body, and is configured to take into account the magnetic field contribution from the implanted magnetic element 256 (e.g., using stored information about the implanted magnetic element 256).

[0055] In some embodiments, the control circuitry 330 is configured to receive at least one signal 322 from at least one sensor 320 indicating at least one attribute of the magnet 314 and adjust at least one operating parameter of the device 300 in response to the at least one signal 322. The at least one attribute of the magnet 314 may include a magnetic field strength directly measured by at least one sensor 320 (e.g., in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 313) and / or an identifier of the magnet type detected by at least one sensor 320 (e.g., an optical and / or tactile sensor), the magnet type indicating the magnetic field strength, spatial distribution of the magnetic field, or other magnetic properties of the magnet 314. For example, the control circuitry 330 may access (e.g., stored by at least one storage device) a lookup table or be configured to convert the detected identifier into a conversion algorithm for the magnet type of the magnet 314.

[0056] In some embodiments, at least one operating parameter may include the drive voltage and / or drive current applied to the external communication circuitry 340. For example, in response to at least one signal 322 from at least one sensor 320, the processor 332 may transmit a drive control signal 335 to at least one coil driver 334 to adjust the magnitude, phase, and / or frequency of the drive voltage and / or drive current applied to the external communication circuitry 340.

[0057] In some embodiments, at least one operating parameter may indicate the electrical properties of the external communication circuitry system 340 of device 300 (e.g., at least one external coil 342). This electrical property may be selected from the group consisting of: capacitance; inductance; resonant frequency; and quality (Q) factor. For example, in response to at least one signal 322 from at least one sensor 320, processor 332 may transmit an adjustment control signal 337 to adjustment circuitry system 344 to change the state of at least one switch 346 such that at least one passive element 348 receives a time-varying (e.g., oscillating) drive current generated by at least one coil driver 334, or at least one passive element 348 does not receive a time-varying drive current. Figure 4A and 4B As schematically shown, at least one passive element 348 may include a capacitor, and in response to at least one signal 322 from at least one sensor 320, the control circuitry 330 can compensate for the detuning of the external communication circuitry 340 caused by the magnet 314 by receiving a drive current with or without the passive element 348 (e.g., a capacitor), thereby changing the capacitance and resonant frequency of the external communication circuitry 340. In some other embodiments, at least one passive element 348 includes an inductor, and the control circuitry 330 can change the inductance of the external communication circuitry 340.

[0058] In some embodiments, the at least one operating parameter includes the distance between the magnet 314 and the implantation device 250 and / or the inclination of the magnet 314 relative to the implantation device 250. For example, the device 300 may include an adjustable element in mechanical communication with the magnet 314 and the housing 310. The adjustable element may include a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer material configured to respond to an applied voltage (e.g., in response to a control signal generated by the control circuitry system 330) by controllably moving a portion of the magnet 314 and / or the housing 310 to adjust the distance (e.g., manually adjusting the SFT) and / or the inclination. In some other embodiments, the at least one operating parameter includes the distance between the housing 310 and the implantation device 250 or another component of the device 300 within the housing 310.

[0059] In some embodiments, at least one operating parameter includes the dielectric constant of the portion of housing 310 between communication circuitry 340 and implantation device 250. For example, this portion of housing 310 may include a ferroelectric material (e.g., zirconate; titanate) configured to change its dielectric constant in response to an applied voltage (e.g., in response to a control signal generated by control circuitry 330).

[0060] In some embodiments, device 300 includes at least one second sensor configured to generate an electrical signal indicating a sensory stimulus signal received by the at least one second sensor, and at least one operating parameter includes an operating parameter of the at least one second sensor that depends on the strength of magnet 314. For example, the at least one second sensor may include at least one microphone configured to generate an electrical signal indicating sound received by the at least one microphone. The at least one microphone may be proximate to magnet 314 such that the performance of the at least one microphone depends on the magnetic field strength of magnet 314 (e.g., eddy current damping due to the interaction of the movable portion of the microphone with the magnetic field; amplified noise contribution due to the magnetic field). In some embodiments, at least one operating parameter is a physical operating parameter of the microphone (e.g., the spring constant of the movable portion).

[0061] In some other embodiments, at least one operating parameter is stored in the firmware of device 300 and can be adjusted to improve data integrity performance. For example, device 300 may include a signal processing circuitry system (e.g., part of control circuitry system 330) configured to receive, for example, a sensory signal indicative of sensor information (e.g., sound) from at least one second sensor and generate a processed sensory signal in response to the sensory signal using a signal processing algorithm. The processed sensory signal may be configured to be transmitted to and received by implantation device 250 (e.g., via a wireless transdermal link) to generate a stimulus signal to be applied to the recipient's tissue (e.g., by at least one active element 254) to evoke sensory (e.g., hearing) perception in the recipient. Example operating parameters may include noise cancellation circuitry (e.g., a notch filter) and / or notch depth of the signal processing circuitry system, configured to operate on a portion of the sensory signal received from at least one second sensor (e.g., a microphone) or a signal derived from a portion of the sensor signal. For example, in response to at least one signal 322 (e.g., from at least one sensor 320), the control circuitry 330 may enable or disable noise cancellation circuitry (e.g., enable if the magnetic field strength is high enough to cause noise amplification), and / or may adjust the notch depth (e.g., increase the notch depth for stronger magnetic field strengths). Another example operating parameter may include a stimulus map used by the control circuitry 330 or at least one active element 254 to convert processed sensory signals into stimulus signals, the stimulus map having a stimulus level as a function of stimulus frequency. For example, a first stimulus map may be used for stronger magnetic field strengths (e.g., for magnet 314 selected for outdoor activities), and a second stimulus map may be used for weaker magnetic field strengths (e.g., for magnet 314 selected for indoor activities).

[0062] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of an example method 500 according to some implementations described herein. Although by reference... Figure 2A-2B , Figure 3A-3G and Figures 4A-4B The example device 300 describes some of the structures of method 500, but other devices and systems with other configurations of components may also be used to perform method 500 according to some of the embodiments described herein.

[0063] In operation block 510, method 500 includes generating information indicating the magnetic field strength of a magnet (e.g., magnet 314) placed in an external device (e.g., device 300) at different times and indicating the different times the magnet is placed in the external device. In operation block 520, method 500 also includes, in response to the information, a real-time portion (e.g., automatically) adjusting at least one operating parameter of the external device and / or an internal device (e.g., implanted device 250) that is wirelessly communicating with the external device.

[0064] The external device can be configured to be held above the internal device on the recipient's body by an attractive magnetic force (e.g., magnetic attraction force 257) generated by the interaction between a magnet (e.g., magnet 314) within the external device (e.g., within cavity 312) and an internal device (e.g., with internal magnetic element 256) within the recipient's body. A wireless transdermal communication link can be present between the external device and the internal device. For example, the external device may include at least one first communication coil (e.g., at least one external coil 342), and the internal device may include at least one second communication coil (e.g., at least one internal coil 242), and the at least one first communication coil and the at least one second communication coil can be configured to communicate magnetically with each other to form a wireless transdermal communication link.

[0065] In some embodiments, information generation is performed simultaneously with the external device leaving the receiver's body (e.g., so that the internal device does not affect the generated information). In some embodiments, adjusting at least one operating parameter includes modifying at least one electrical property of at least one first communication coil, the at least one electrical property being selected from the group consisting of: drive voltage or current; capacitance; inductance; resonant frequency; quality (Q) factor. In some other embodiments, adjusting at least one operating parameter includes modifying the distance between the magnet and the internal device, modifying the slope of the magnet relative to the internal device, and / or modifying the dielectric constant of the portion of the external device between the magnet and the internal device.

[0066] In some embodiments, method 500 further includes using a signal processing algorithm (e.g., a noise cancellation algorithm; a stimulus mapping algorithm) to process sensory signals received from an external device (e.g., microphone signals) and to transmit the processed sensory signals to an internal device (e.g., for use in generating stimulus signals to be delivered to the recipient's tissues). In some such embodiments, adjusting at least one operating parameter includes modifying the signal processing algorithm.

[0067] In some embodiments, method 500 further includes, in response to a real-time portion of the information, detecting whether the external and internal devices are misaligned with each other, causing degradation of the wireless transdermal communication link. Adjustments to at least one operating parameter can be performed to counteract the degradation of the wireless transdermal communication link (e.g., by adjusting at least one electrical property of at least one first communication coil).

[0068] In some implementations, method 500 further includes transmitting at least some of the information to a data storage circuitry system (e.g., non-volatile memory) for storage as at least one data log accessible to a user. For example, at least one data log may include magnetic field strength as a function of time or data derived from measured magnetic field strength. The data storage circuitry system may be part of an external device (e.g., a component of device 300; part of control circuitry system 330). For another example, the data storage circuitry system may be part of a device separate from external and internal devices (e.g., a smartphone; a smart tablet; a smartwatch; a computing device) that wirelessly communicates with a network (e.g., via the Internet). At least one data log may be configured to track the use of different magnets 314 with device 300 (e.g., times when magnets are replaced, duration of use for each magnet). Such data logs may be used by clinicians to assess magnet selection over time or wound healing (e.g., reduction in SFT due to swelling decreasing over time after implantation surgery).

[0069] While common terminology is used to describe systems and methods of certain embodiments for ease of understanding, these terms are used herein for their broadest reasonable interpretation. Although various aspects of this disclosure are described with respect to illustrative examples and embodiments, the disclosed examples and embodiments should not be construed as limiting. Unless otherwise specifically stated, or understood otherwise in the context used, conditional language such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may” is generally intended to convey that a particular embodiment includes a particular feature, element, and / or step, while other embodiments do not. Therefore, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that features, elements, and / or steps are required in any way for one or more embodiments, or to imply that one or more embodiments must include logic for determining whether such features, elements, and / or steps are included in or will be performed in any particular embodiment, with or without user input or prompting. Specifically, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to an element, component, or step in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced element, component, or step may exist, utilize, or be combined with other elements, components, or steps not expressly referenced.

[0070] It should be recognized that the embodiments disclosed herein are not mutually exclusive and can be combined with each other in various arrangements. Furthermore, although the disclosed methods and apparatuses are described largely in the context of various devices, the various embodiments described herein can be incorporated into a variety of other suitable devices, methods, and contexts. More generally, as will be understood, certain embodiments described herein can be used in the context of various implantable medical devices that can benefit from certain properties described herein.

[0071] As used herein, degree language such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “roughly,” and “substantially” indicates a value, quantity, or characteristic that is close to the stated value, quantity, or characteristic while still performing the desired function or achieving the desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and “substantially” can refer to a quantity within ±10%, ±5%, ±2%, ±1%, or ±0.1% of the stated quantity. As another example, the terms “substantially parallel” and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, quantity, or characteristic that deviates from exact parallelism by ±10, ±5, ±2, ±1, or ±0.1 degrees, and the terms “substantially perpendicular” and “substantially perpendicular” refer to a value, quantity, or characteristic that deviates from exact perpendicularity by ±10, ±5, ±2, ±1, or ±0.1 degrees. The scope of this disclosure also covers any and all overlapping, subscopes, and combinations thereof. Language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “between,” etc., includes the listed numbers. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, “a / an” and “the” include the plural. Additionally, as used in the description herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, “in” includes “towards” and “on”.

[0072] Although the methods and systems are discussed in this paper based on elements marked with ordinal adjectives (e.g., first, second, etc.), ordinal adjectives are used only as markers to distinguish one element from another (e.g., one signal from another signal, or one circuit from another circuit), and ordinal adjectives are not used to indicate the order of these elements or their order of use.

[0073] The invention described and claimed herein is not limited in scope to the specific exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, as these embodiments are intended to be illustrative of several aspects of the invention and not to limit those aspects. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention. In fact, various modifications in form and detail of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art based on the foregoing description, in addition to those shown and described herein. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the claims. The breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited to any of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, but should be defined only by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: A housing configured to be placed over a tissue portion of a recipient, the tissue portion covering the implantation device, the housing including a cavity configured to hold a magnet therein; At least one sensor on or within the housing, the at least one sensor being configured to detect the magnet within the cavity and generate at least one signal indicating at least one property of the magnet; as well as The control circuitry within the housing is configured to receive the at least one signal and adjust at least one operating parameter of the device in response to the at least one signal.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one magnetic field sensor, and the at least one signal indicates the strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnet.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one magnetic field sensor is selected from the group consisting of: Hall sensor; magnetoresistive sensor; semiconductor magnetoresistive (SMR) sensor; anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor; giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor; tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) sensor; reed switch; magnetic proximity sensor.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one optical sensor and / or at least one switch, the at least one signal indicating an identifier of the magnet, the identifier indicating the magnetic field strength of the magnet.

5. The device according to any of the preceding claims further includes a communication circuit system configured to form a wireless magnetic induction link with the implantation device, wherein the magnet is configured to generate an attractive magnetic force with the implantation device, the attractive magnetic force being configured to hold the housing on the tissue portion, such that the communication circuit system communicates wirelessly with the implantation device.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one operating parameter includes electrical properties of the communication circuit system, the electrical properties being selected from the group consisting of: capacitance; inductance; resonant frequency; quality (Q) factor.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one operating parameter includes a drive voltage and / or drive current applied to the communication circuit system.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one operating parameter includes the dielectric constant of the portion of the housing between the communication circuit system and the implantation device.

9. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one operating parameter includes the distance between the magnet and the implantation device and / or the inclination of the magnet relative to the implantation device.

10. The device of claim 9 further includes a piezoelectric element mechanically connected to the magnet and the housing and configured to controllably adjust the distance and / or the inclination.

11. The device according to any of the preceding claims further includes at least one microphone, wherein the at least one operating parameter includes the operating parameters of the at least one microphone.

12. The device according to any of the preceding claims further includes a signal processing circuit system configured to receive a sensory signal indicating sensory information and, in response to the sensory signal, generate a processed sensory signal using a signal processing algorithm, the processed sensory signal being configured to be received by the implanted device to generate a stimulus signal to be applied to the recipient to evoke the recipient's sensory perception, wherein the at least one operating parameter includes the signal processing algorithm.

13. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control circuitry includes at least one output interface configured to provide an output signal to a user or to a data storage device, wherein the output signal indicates the at least one attribute.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the at least one output interface includes at least one antenna on or within the housing, the at least one antenna being configured to wirelessly transmit the output signal to a communication device separate from the device and the implantation device, the communication device being configured to generate an audio, visual, or tactile signal in response to the output signal indicating the at least one attribute.

15. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device includes an external portion of the auditory prosthesis system and the implantation device includes an internal portion of the auditory prosthesis system.

16. A method comprising: The system generates information indicating the magnetic field strength of a magnet placed in an external device at different times and indicating the different times the magnet is placed in the external device. The external device is configured to be held above the internal device on the recipient's body by an attractive magnetic force generated by the interaction between the magnet in the external device and the internal device in the recipient's body. The external device and the internal device have a wireless transdermal communication link. as well as In response to the information, at least one operating parameter of the external device and / or the internal device is adjusted in real time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the generation of the information is performed simultaneously with the departure of the external device from the recipient's body.

18. The method of claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the external device includes at least one first communication coil, and the internal device includes at least one second communication coil, the at least one first communication coil and the at least one second communication coil being configured to communicate magnetically with each other to form the wireless transdermal communication link.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter comprises modifying at least one electrical property of the at least one first communication coil, the at least one electrical property being selected from the group consisting of: drive voltage or current; capacitance; inductance; resonant frequency; quality (Q) factor.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter comprises modifying the distance between the magnet and the internal device, modifying the slant of the magnet relative to the internal device, and / or modifying the dielectric constant of the portion of the external device between the magnet and the internal device.

21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 20, further comprising processing the sensory signals received by the external device using a signal processing algorithm and transmitting the processed sensory signals to the internal device, wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter includes modifying the signal processing algorithm.

22. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 21, further comprising, in response to the real-time portion of the information, detecting whether the external device and the internal device are misaligned with each other, causing degradation of the wireless transdermal communication link.

23. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 22, further comprising transmitting at least some of the information to a data storage circuit system for storage as at least one data log accessible to a user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the data storage circuitry is part of the external device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the data storage circuitry is part of a device separate from the external device and the internal device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the apparatus comprises a smartphone, tablet computer, smartwatch, or computing device that communicates wirelessly with a network.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program instructing a computer system to perform the method according to any one of claims 16 to 26.

28. An apparatus comprising: case; A first sensor on or inside the housing, the first sensor being configured to generate a first signal indicating at least one property of a magnet on or inside the housing; A second sensor on or inside the housing, the second sensor being configured to generate a second signal indicating at least one attribute of the ambient sound; as well as The control circuit system within the housing is configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and adjust operating parameters for processing the second signal in response to the first signal.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further includes a notch filter configured to filter a third signal comprising a portion of the second signal or otherwise derived from the second signal, wherein the operating parameters affect the operation of the notch filter.

30. The device of claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the housing is configured to be placed over a portion of the recipient’s skin covering the implanted device, and the housing includes a cavity configured to hold the magnet therein.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the device includes an external portion of the auditory prosthesis system and the implantation device includes an internal portion of the auditory prosthesis system.

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