Position detection system for an implantable medical device

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting position information of a medical device, such as an auditory prosthesis, implanted within or located on a body of a recipient, are disclosed herein. An antenna of a device on or implanted within a body of a recipient transmits one or more signals, which are received at an antenna connected to an external device, such as a pillow charger. The external device generates position information associated with the device on or implanted within the body of the recipient. The external device then determines one or more parameters based on the position information for the device on or implanted within the recipient's body and generates and transmits one or more signals based on the one or more parameters.

Description

CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICEInventor: Thomas LerouxTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The technical field relates generally to systems and methods for detecting the position of an implantable medical device relative to one or more external devices communicatively coupled to the implantable medical device.BACKGROUND

[0002] Medical devices are devices that are intended to be used for medical purposes and can provide a wide range of therapeutic benefits to recipients. They can vary in both their intended use and indications for use. Examples of medical devices range from simple, low-risk medical supplies to complex, potentially high-risk devices that are implanted and / or sustain life, such as deep brain stimulators and brain-computer interfaces. Other categories of medical device include diagnostic equipment. Medical devices can include internal / implantable components / devices, external or wearable components / devices, or combinations thereof (e.g., a device having an external component communicating with an internal component). Implantable medical devices now often include one or more instruments, apparatus, sensors, processors, controllers, or other functional mechanical or electrical components that are permanently or temporarily implanted in a recipient. These functional devices are typically used to diagnose, prevent, monitor, treat or manage a disease / injury or symptom thereof, or to investigate, replace, or modify the anatomy or a physiological process. Many of these functional devices utilize power and / or data received from external devices that are part of or operate in conjunction with implantable components.

[0003] Hearing devices are devices that act on an actual or potential auditory perception of an individual, including to improve perception of sound signals, to reduce perception of sound signals, etc. In particular, a hearing device can deliver sound signals to a user in any form, including in the form of acoustical stimulation, mechanical stimulation, electrical stimulation, etc., and / or can operate to suppress all or some sound signals. As such, a hearing device can be a medical device for use by a hearing-impaired person (e.g., hearing aids, partially or fullyCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)implantable hearing prostheses, middle ear auditory prostheses, bone conduction devices, direct acoustic stimulators, electro-acoustic hearing prostheses, auditory brainstem stimulators, bimodal hearing prostheses, bilateral hearing prostheses, dedicated tinnitus therapy devices, tinnitus therapy devices, combinations or variations thereof, etc.) or a device for use by a person with normal hearing (e.g., a consumer device that provides audio streaming, a consumer headphone, an earphone, etc.), a hearing protection device (e.g., a noise cancellation headset, a loudness reduction apparatus, etc.), etc.SUMMARY

[0004] Systems and methods for detecting position information of a medical device, such as an auditory prosthesis, implanted within or located on a body of a recipient, are disclosed herein. An antenna of a device on or implanted within a body of a recipient transmits one or more signals, which are received at an antenna connected to an external device, such as a pillow charger. The device implanted within or located on the recipient’s body then receives one or more signals transmitted from the external device, wherein the one or more signals transmitted from the external device are based on parameters associated with position information for the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body. The position information for the device implanted within or located on the recipient’s body is determined at the external device based on the signals received at the external device from the device implanted within or located on the recipient’s body.

[0005] In another aspect, embodiments of the disclosed invention comprise a device implantable in a body of a recipient. The implantable device comprises an antenna, and a processor communicatively coupled to the antenna and configured to transmit one or more signals from the antenna to one or more antennas operably connected to an external device, such as a charging device configured to charge a power source (e.g., a rechargeable battery) in the implantable device. The implantable device receives one or more signals transmitted from the external device, wherein the one or more signals transmitted from the external device are based on one or more parameters associated with position information determined at the external device. The external device determines the position information based on the one or more signals transmitted from the antenna of the implantable device.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)

[0006] In another aspect, embodiments of the disclosed invention comprise a method executed at an external device such as a charging device configured to charge a rechargeable power source in a device implanted within or located on a recipient’ s body. The method comprises receiving at one or more antennas of the external device, one or more signals transmitted from an antenna of a device located on or implanted within a recipient’s body. Based on the signals received from the device implanted within or located on the recipient’s body, control circuitry in the external device generates position information of the antenna of the device implanted within or located on the recipient’s body. The control circuitry then determines one or more parameters based on the position information and transmits one or more signals based on the one or more parameters to the device implanted within or located on the recipient’s body.

[0007] In another aspect, further examples of the disclosed invention comprise an external device such as a charging device configured to charge a rechargeable power source in a device implanted within or located on a recipient’s body. The external device comprises one or more antennas, a power source, at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions, and at least one processor operably connected to the one or more antennas, the power source and the at least one memory. The processor is configured to execute the computer readable instructions to receive at the one or more antennas of the external device, one or more signals transmitted from at least one antenna of the device located on implanted within the recipient’s body. Based on the received signals, the processor generates position information for the device located on or implanted within the recipient’ s body and determines one or more parameters based on the position information. The processor then transmits one or more signals based on the one or more parameters to the device implanted within or located on the recipient’s body.

[0008] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following Detailed Description, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For the purposes of illustration only, several aspects of embodiments of the invention are described by reference to the following figures. In the following figures, the same number represents the same type of element in all drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cochlear implant system with which aspects of technologies presented herein can be implemented;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of an example cochlear implant charging and position detection system with which aspects of technologies presented herein can be implemented;

[0012] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating components of an example cochlear implant with which aspects of technologies presented herein can be implemented;

[0013] FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of an example fully implantable middle ear implant auditory prosthesis implanted in a recipient in accordance with certain implementations described herein;

[0014] FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary partially implantable cochlear implant auditory prosthesis implanted in a recipient and configured to implement aspects of technologies presented herein in conjunction with a cochlear implant system;

[0015] FIG. 3B illustrates a block diagram of the exemplary cochlear implant system of FIG. 3A;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an example implantable auditory prosthesis system that includes an auditory prosthesis that can benefit from use of the technologies described herein;

[0017] FIG. 5A schematically illustrates an example apparatus configured to implement aspects of technologies described herein;CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)

[0018] FIG 5B schematically illustrates an example apparatus in accordance with certain implementations described herein;

[0019] FIGs. 6A-6G schematically illustrate various views and configurations of an example apparatus and an example device implantable within or used on a recipient’s body in accordance with certain implementations described herein;

[0020] FIGs. 7A-7F schematically illustrate various example first magnetic induction (MI) antennas for charging in accordance with examples presented herein; and

[0021] FIGs. 8A and 8B illustrate exemplary flow diagrams of example methods for operating an example apparatus and an example device implantable within or used on a recipient’s body in accordance with certain implementations described herein.

[0022] While the invention is described with reference to the above drawings, the drawings are intended to be illustrative, and other embodiments are consistent with and within the scope, of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The delivery of electrical stimulation has become an established part of medical therapy. Numerous types of medical devices have components positioned on, or implantable in, a recipient’s body in order to stimulate a recipient’s tissue. Such devices are sometimes referred to herein as stimulating and / or implantable medical devices. Stimulating implantable medical devices commonly include a plurality of electrodes that function as the interface between electronics of the device and the recipient’s body tissue. In general terms, current is delivered to the recipient’s tissue via the electrodes in order to evoke a response, such as a perception (e.g., for sound perception) or a function (e.g., for limb movement) in the recipient.

[0024] The teachings detailed herein are applicable, in at least some implementations, to any type of implantable or non-implantable stimulation or measurement system (e.g., implantable, or non-implantable auditory prosthesis device or system) where it is beneficial to detect and know the location of the implantable or non-implantable device implanted in or located on the recipient in two- or three-dimensional (2D or 3D) space, for example to optimize power transfer byCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)controlling the direction and / or magnitude of transmission of wireless power signals to a power source (e.g., rechargeable battery) of the device implanted in or located on the recipient. Position and / or location detection of an implantable or non-implantable medical device implanted in or located on a recipient can also be useful for controlling or adjusting the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the recipient (e.g., a human) for exposure to a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field (e.g., during charging of the power source of the recipient’s implantable or non-implantable medical device) to within acceptable limits.

[0025] Implementations can include any type of medical device that can utilize the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof. Furthermore, while certain implementations are described herein in the context of auditory prosthesis devices, certain other implementations are compatible in the context of other types of devices or systems.

[0026] Merely for ease of description, apparatus and methods disclosed herein are primarily described with reference to an illustrative medical device that comprises a rechargeable power source or battery, namely an implantable transducer assembly including but not limited to: electro-acoustic electrical / acoustic 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, percutaneous bone conduction devices; transcutaneous bone conduction devices), Direct Acoustic Cochlear Implant (DACI), middle ear transducer (MET), Totally Implantable Cochlear Implant (TICI), electro-acoustic implant devices, other types of auditory prosthesis devices, and / or combinations or variations thereof, or any other suitable hearing prosthesis system with or without one or more external components.Implementations can include any type of auditory prosthesis that can utilize the teaching detailed herein and / or variations thereof. Certain implementations can be referred to as “partially implantable,” “semi-implantable,” “mostly implantable,” “fully implantable,” or “totally implantable” auditory prostheses. In some implementations, the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof can be utilized in other types of prostheses beyond auditory prostheses.

[0027] While certain implementations are described herein in the context of auditory prosthesis devices, certain other implementations are compatible, in the context of other types of sensory prosthesis systems that are configured to evoke other types of neural or sensory (e.g., sight,CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)tactile, smell, taste) perceptions, with certain implementations described herein. Such devices include but are not limited to vestibular devices (e.g., vestibular implants), tinnitus treatment devices, visual devices (e.g., bionic eyes), visual prostheses (e.g., retinal implants), somatosensory implants, and chemosensory implants. Certain other implementations are compatible with other types of medical devices 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 (e.g., epilepsy monitoring systems; pain control systems, bladder control systems, sleep apnea control systems, neurostimulators, pacemakers), to perform monitoring or measuring functionalities (e.g., electroencephalogram monitoring of brain function, electrocardiogram monitoring of heart function), or other medical implants comprising a rechargeable implanted power source.

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an example cochlear implant system 104 with which aspects of the implementations presented herein can be implemented. The cochlear implant system 104 comprises an internal / implantable component 112 that is configured to be implanted in or worn on the head of the user. In the examples of FIG.l, the implantable component 112 is sometimes referred to as a “cochlear implant.” FIG. 1 illustrates the implantable component 112 implanted in the head 154 of a user.

[0029] In FIG. 1, the cochlear implant system 104 is shown with an external device 110, configured to implement aspects of the implementations presented. The external device 110, is a computing device, such as a personal computer (e.g., laptop, desktop, tablet), a mobile phone (e.g., smartphone), remote control unit, etc. The external device 110 and the cochlear implant system 104 wirelessly communicate via a bi-directional communication link 126. The bidirectional communication link 126 comprises, for example, a short-range communication, such as Bluetooth link, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) link, a proprietary link, etc.

[0030] In FIG. 1, the cochlear implant system 104 is further shown with an external charging device 130, sometimes referred to herein as a wireless or external charger, configured to implement aspects of the implementations presented. As described below with respect to certain example implementations, the cochlear implant system 104 comprises a rechargeable battery (not shown in FIG. 1) that is configured to be recharged using power signals received from theCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)external charger 130 via an inductive radio frequency (RF) link. Also, with respect to selected implementations, the external charging device 130 comprises a multi-loop (multi-antenna) device that includes two or more coil antennas (antenna loops) that each emit a magnetic field. The two or more coil antennas are driven such that the phases and / or amplitudes of the emitted magnetic fields vary (continuously or discontinuously) over time, relative to one another. As a result, the orientation of a summed magnetic field vector (corresponding to the summation of the emitted magnetic fields) changes (e.g., rotates) over time.

[0031] In some example implementations, the rechargeable battery is charged using techniques described in commonly owned U.S. Patent 10,530,177 to Meskens et al., which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In some example implementations described herein, the external charging device 130 and the cochlear implant system 104 also wirelessly communicate via a bi-directional communication link 126. The bi-directional communication link 126 comprises, for example, one or more short-range communications protocols, such as a Bluetooth link, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) link, a proprietary communications link, etc. The external charging device 130 can have any of a number of different forms in various implementations, such as a pillow charger, charging mat, etc.

[0032] In some example implementations of FIG. 1, the implantable component (e.g., cochlear implant) 112 comprises a totally implantable cochlear implant (TICI) wherein all components of the cochlear implant are configured to be located under the skin or tissue of a recipient. Because all components are implantable in such example implementations, cochlear implant 112 can operate independently without the presence of an external device (e.g., without external charging device 130, or external device 110), at least for a finite period of time. In other example implementations, the auditory prosthesis 112 can have most components of the cochlear implant (e.g., excluding the microphone, which can be an in-the-ear-canal microphone) implantable on or within the recipient, and can be referred to as a mostly implantable cochlear implant (“MICI”).

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of components of an example cochlear implant charging and position detection system with which aspects of technologies presented herein can be implemented. External charging device 270 comprises external charger 260 which can be used to charge implantable medical device 200 located on or implanted within the body of a recipient asCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)described herein. In some implementations, external charging device 250 further includes implant position detection system 250 as described herein which can transmit and receive data signals to determine the position or location of the implantable medical device 200 relative to external charging device 270. As discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, external charging device 270 can comprise any of a number of different forms, such as a pillow charger which can be a pillow located or positioned under the head of a recipient having an implantable medical device such as a cochlear implant or a retinal implant, which is operable to charge the implantable medical device 200 while the recipient’s head, within which device 200 is implanted, is resting on the pillow during periods when the recipient is sleeping or resting on the pillow. External charging device 270 can also comprise a charging mat which can be positioned under a pillow to charge the implantable medical device 200, or a charging mat, mattress, cushion, furniture, or other object positioned under, adjacent to, or near the recipient’s body where implantable medical device 200 is located.

[0034] FIG. 2A is a schematic view of components of an example cochlear implant with which aspects of technologies presented herein can be implemented, such as in a TICI or MICI.Cochlear implant 200 includes an implant body (main module) 210, a lead region 214, and an elongate intra-cochlear stimulating assembly 216. The implant body 210 generally comprises a hermetically sealed housing 218 in which the following elements are disposed: a stimulator unit (stimulation electronics) 222, a sound processor 224, an implant controller 226 (i.e., battery and power management component or battery processor), RF interface circuitry 228, and a rechargeable battery 230. It is to be appreciated that cochlear implant 200 may include one or more other components that, for ease of illustration, have been omitted from FIG. 2A.

[0035] In some implementations, the implant body 210 also includes one or more implantable microphones 212 and an internal / implantable coil 232 that are each typically located external to housing 218. The implantable coil 232 is connected to elements within housing 218 via hermetic feedthroughs (not shown in FIG. 2A). Implantable coil 232 is typically a wire antenna coil comprised of multiple turns of electrically insulated single-strand or multi-strand platinum or gold wire. The electrical insulation of implantable coil 232 is provided by a flexible molding (e.g., silicone molding) which is not shown in FIG. 2A. Generally, a magnet is fixed relative to the implantable coil 232 for magnetic coupling with a magnet in an external device.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)

[0036] Elongate stimulating assembly 216 is configured to be at least partially implanted in the recipient’s cochlea (not shown) and includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced intracochlear electrical stimulating contacts (e.g., electrodes) 234 that collectively form a contact array 236 for delivery of electrical stimulation (current) to the recipient’s cochlea. Stimulating assembly 216 extends through an opening in the cochlea (e.g., cochleostomy, the round window, etc.) and has a proximal end connected to the stimulator unit 222 via the lead region 214 and a hermetic feedthrough (not shown in FIG. 2A). Lead region 214 includes one or more conductors (e.g., wires) that electrically couple the electrodes 234 to the stimulator unit 222. In this way, cochlear implant 200 electrically stimulates the recipient’s auditory nerve cells, bypassing absent or defective hair cells that normally transduce acoustic vibrations into neural activity, in a manner that causes the recipient to perceive one or more components of the received sound signals.

[0037] The one or more implantable microphones 212 are configured to detect / receive input sound signals that are provided to the sound processor 224 by the RF interface circuitry 228. The sound processor 224 is configured to execute sound processing and coding to convert the received sound signals into output signals for use by the stimulator unit 222 in delivering electrical stimulation (current) to the recipient via electrodes 234.

[0038] The implantable coil 232 enables cochlear implant 200 to receive power / current signals from an external charger (e.g., external charger 260) via a RF link, sometimes referred to herein as an inductive power link, which is represented in FIG. 2A by arrow 242. The rechargeable battery 230 is configured to store the energy needed to power the other elements of the cochlear implant 200, as well as to provide the current needed to electrically stimulate the recipient’s cochlea. In some implementations, the RF interface circuitry 228 is configured to operate under the control of the implant controller 226 and contains the necessary switches so as to charge the rechargeable battery 230 using the power received via inductive power link 242.

[0039] FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of an example fully implantable middle ear implant auditory prosthesis 200 (e.g., a fully implantable middle ear implant or totally implantable cochlear implant such as that shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2A) implanted in a recipient, utilizing an acoustic actuator in accordance with certain implementations described herein. The example fully implantable middle ear implant auditory prosthesis 200 of FIG. 2BCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)comprises a biocompatible implantable assembly 202 (e.g., comprising an implantable capsule) located subcutaneously (e.g., beneath the recipient’s skin and on a recipient’s skull). While FIG.2B schematically illustrates an example implantable assembly 202 comprising a microphone, in other example auditory prostheses 200, a pendant microphone can be used (e.g., connected to the implantable assembly 202 by a cable). The implantable assembly 202 includes a signal receiver 232 (e.g., comprising a coil element) and an acoustic transducer (e.g., a microphone assembly 212 comprising a diaphragm and an electric or piezoelectric transducer) that is positioned to receive acoustic signals through the recipient’s overlying tissue. The implantable assembly may further be utilized to house a number of components of the fully implantable auditory prosthesis 200. For example, the implantable assembly 202 can include an energy storage device and a signal processor (e.g., a sound processing unit). Various additional processing logic and / or circuitry components can also be included in the implantable assembly 202 as a matter of design choice.

[0040] For the example auditory prosthesis 200 shown in FIG. 2B, the signal processor of the implantable assembly 202 is in operative communication (e.g., electrically interconnected via a wire 208) with an actuator 210 (e.g., comprising a transducer configured to generate mechanical vibrations in response to electrical signals from the signal processor). In certain implementations, the example auditory prosthesis shown in FIGs. 2A and 2B can comprise an implantable microphone assembly, such as the microphone assembly 212 shown in FIGs. 2A and 2B. For such an example auditory prosthesis 200, the signal processor of the implantable assembly 202 can be in operative communication (e.g., electrically interconnected via a wire) with the microphone assembly 212 and the stimulator unit 222 of the main implantable component 250. In certain implementations, at least one of the microphone assembly 212 and the signal processor (e.g., a sound processing unit) is implanted on or within the recipient.

[0041] The actuator 210 of the example auditory prosthesis 200 shown in FIG. 2B is supportably connected to a positioning system 262, which in turn is connected to a bone anchor 264 mounted within the recipient’s mastoid process (e.g., via a hole drilled through the skull). The actuator 210 includes a connection apparatus 266 for connecting the actuator 210 to the ossicles 276 of the recipient. In a connected state, the connection apparatus 266 provides a communication pathCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)for acoustic stimulation of the ossicles 276 (e.g., through transmission of vibrations from the actuator 210 to the incus 279).

[0042] During normal operation, ambient acoustic signals (e.g., ambient sound) impinge on the recipient’s tissue and are received transcutaneously at the microphone assembly 212. Upon receipt of the transcutaneous signals, a signal processor within the implantable assembly 262 processes the signals to provide a processed audio drive signal via wire 208 to the actuator 210. As will be appreciated, the signal processor uses 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 the actuator 210 to transmit vibrations at acoustic frequencies to the connection apparatus 266 to affect the desired sound sensation via mechanical stimulation of the incus 279 of the recipient.

[0043] The subcutaneously implantable microphone assembly 212 is configured to respond to auditory signals (e.g., sound; pressure variations in an audible frequency range) by generating output signals (e.g., electrical signals, optical signals, electromagnetic signals) indicative of the auditory signals received by the microphone assembly 212, and these output signals are used by the auditory prosthesis 200 to generate stimulation signals which are provided to the recipient’s auditory system. To compensate for the decreased acoustic signals strength reaching the microphone assembly 212 by virtue of the microphone assembly 212 being implanted in the recipient’s body, the diaphragm of an implantable microphone assembly 212 can be configured to provide higher sensitivity than external non-implantable microphone assemblies. For example, the diaphragm of an implantable microphone assembly 212 can be configured to be more robust and / or larger than diaphragms for external non-implantable microphone assemblies.

[0044] FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of another exemplary cochlear implant system 300 that can be configured to implement aspects of the technologies presented herein, while FIG. 3B is a block diagram of the exemplary cochlear implant system shown in FIG. 3A. For ease of illustration, FIGs. 3A and 3B will be described together. Although aspects of the technologies presented herein are discussed in the context of the exemplary cochlear implant system 300 shown in FIGs. 3A and 3B, it is understood that the technologies described herein can be implemented in any of a wide range of implantable medical devices, including the devicesCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)described with respect to FIGs. 1, 2, and 2A. Other devices that can implement aspects of the implementations described herein can include a transcutaneous closely coupled induction link used in many implantable medical devices. Other examples of implantable medical devices that can utilize the technologies described herein include retinal implants, implantable devices for tinnitus treatment such as middle ear implantable devices, implantable medical devices for vestibular stimulation, implantable medical devices for deep brain stimulation, medical devices having a closely coupled magnetic induction link, or any other implantable medical devices with a rechargeable battery.

[0045] The exemplary cochlear implant 300 depicted in FIG. 3A comprises an external component 302 and an internal / implantable component 304. The external component 302 is directly or indirectly attached to the body of the recipient as described above and typically comprises an external coil 306 and, generally, a magnet (not shown in FIGs. 3A or 3B) fixed relative to the external coil 306. The external component 302 also comprises one or more input elements / devices 313 for receiving input signals at a sound processing unit 312. In this example, the one or more one or more input devices 313 include sound input devices 308 (e.g., microphones positioned by auricle 310 of the recipient, telecoils, etc.) configured to capture / receive input signals, one or more auxiliary input devices 309 as shown in FIG. 3B (e.g., audio ports, such as a Direct Audio Input (DAI), data ports, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, cable port, etc.), and a wireless transmitter / receiver (transceiver) 311 as shown in FIG. 3B, each located in, on, or near the sound processing unit 312.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 3B, the sound processing unit 312 also includes, for example, at least one power source 307 (e.g., a battery), a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver 321, and a processing module 325. The processing module 325 comprises a number of elements, including an environmental classifier 331, a sound processor 333, and an individualized own voice detector 334. Each of the environmental classifier 331, the sound processor 333, and the individualized own voice detector 334 can be formed by one or more processors (e.g., one or more Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), one or more microprocessor (pC) cores, etc.), firmware, software, etc. arranged to perform operations described herein. That is, the environmental classifier 331, the sound processor 333, and the individualized own voice detector 334 can each be implemented asCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)firmware elements, partially or fully implemented with digital logic gates in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), partially or fully in software, etc.

[0047] The individualized own voice detector 334 includes a decision tree, sometimes referred to herein as an own voice detection decision tree, which can be trained / updated. Similarly, the environmental classifier 331 includes a decision tree, sometimes referred to as an environmental classifier decision tree that, in certain embodiments, can also be trained / updated. To provide the ability to train / update the own voice detection decision tree and / or the environmental classifier decision tree, the decision trees are stored in volatile memory and exposed to, for example, other processes for updating thereof. As such, the environmental classifier 331 and the individualized own voice detector 334 are at least partially implemented in volatile memory.

[0048] In the examples of FIGs. 3A and 3B, the sound processing unit 312 is a behind-the-ear (BTE) sound processing unit configured to be attached to, and worn adjacent to, the recipient’s ear. However, it is to be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be implemented by sound processing units having other arrangements, such as by an OTE processing unit (e.g., a component having a generally cylindrical shape and which is configured to be magnetically coupled to the recipient’s head), etc., a mini or micro-BTE unit, an in-the-canal unit that is configured to be located in the recipient’s ear canal 340, a body-worn sound processing unit, etc.

[0049] Returning to the example embodiment of FIGs. 3 A and 3B, the implantable component 304 comprises an implant body (main module) 314, one or more lead regions 316, and an intra-cochlear stimulating assembly 318, all configured to be implanted under the skin / tissue (tissue) 305 of the recipient. The implant body 314 generally comprises a hermetically sealed housing 315 in which RF interface circuitry 324, a signal processing unit 350, and a stimulator unit 320 are disposed. The implant body 314 also includes an internal / implantable coil 322 that is generally external to the housing 315, but which is connected to the RF interface circuitry 324 via a hermetic feedthrough (not shown in FIG. 3B).

[0050] As noted, stimulating assembly 318 is configured to be at least partially implanted in the recipient’s cochlea 337. Stimulating assembly 318 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced intra-cochlear electrical stimulating contacts (electrodes) 326 that collectively form a contact orCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)electrode array 328 for delivery of electrical stimulation (current) to the recipient’s cochlea. Stimulating assembly 318 extends through an opening in the recipient’s cochlea (e.g., cochleostomy, the round window, etc.) and has a proximal end connected to stimulator unit 320 via lead region 316 and a hermetic feedthrough (not shown in FIG. 3B). Lead region 316 includes a plurality of conductors (wires) that electrically couple the electrodes 326 to the stimulator unit 320.

[0051] As noted, the cochlear implant 300 includes the external coil 306 and the implantable coil 322. The coils 306 and 322 are typically wire antenna coils each comprised of multiple turns of electrically insulated single-strand or multi-strand platinum or gold wire. Generally, a magnet is fixed relative to each of the external coil 306 and the implantable coil 322. The magnets fixed relative to the external coil 306 and the implantable coil 322 facilitate the operational alignment of the external coil with the implantable coil through the skin and / or tissue 305 of the recipient. This operational alignment of the coils 306 and 322 enables the external component 302 to transmit data, as well as possibly power, to the implantable component 304 via a closely coupled wireless link formed between the external coil 306 with the implantable coil 322. In certain examples, the closely coupled wireless link is a radio frequency (RF) link. However, various other types of energy transfer, such as infrared (IR), electromagnetic, capacitive, and inductive transfer, can be used to transfer the power and / or data from an external component to an implantable component and, as such, FIG. 3B illustrates only one example arrangement.

[0052] As noted above, sound processing unit 312 includes the processing module 325. The processing module 325 is configured to convert input audio signals into stimulation control signals 336 for use in stimulating a first ear of a recipient (i.e., the processing module 325 is configured to perform sound processing on input audio signals received at the sound processing unit 312). Stated differently, the sound processor 333 (e.g., one or more processing elements implementing firmware, software, etc.) is configured to convert the captured input audio signals into stimulation control signals 336 that represent electrical stimulation for delivery to the recipient. The input audio signals that are processed and converted into stimulation control signals can be audio signals received via the sound input devices 308, signals received via the auxiliary input devices 309, and / or signals received via the wireless transceiver 311.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)

[0053] In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the stimulation control signals 336 are provided to the RF transceiver 321, which transcutaneously transfers the stimulation control signals 336 (e.g., in an encoded manner) to the implantable component 304 via external coil 306 and implantable coil 322. That is, the stimulation control signals 336 are received at the RF interface circuitry 324 via implantable coil 322 and provided to the stimulator unit 320. The stimulator unit 320 is configured to utilize the stimulation control signals 336 to generate electrical stimulation signals (e.g., current signals) for delivery to the recipient’s cochlea via one or more stimulating contacts (electrodes) 326. In this way, cochlear implant 300 electrically stimulates the recipient’s auditory nerve cells, bypassing absent or defective hair cells that normally transduce acoustic vibrations into neural activity, in a manner that causes the recipient to perceive one or more components of the input audio signals.

[0054] As noted, in addition to the sound processor 333, the processing module 325 also includes the environmental classifier 331. As described further below, the environmental classifier 331 (e.g., one or more processing elements implementing firmware, software, etc.) is configured to determine an environmental classification of the sound environment (i.e., determines the “class” or “category” of the sound environment) associated with the input audio signals received at the cochlear implant 300. In addition, also as described further below, the processing module 325 comprises the individualized own voice detector 335 (e.g., one or more processing elements implementing firmware, software, etc.) that is configured to perform individualized own voice detection (OVD). As used herein, own voice detection (OVD) generally refers to a process in which speech signals received at a hearing prosthesis are classified as either including the speech of the recipient of the hearing prosthesis (referred to herein as the recipient’s own voice or simply own voice) or speech generated by one or more persons other than the recipient (referred to herein as external voice). Also as used herein, individualized own voice detection (or individualized OVD) refers to own voice detection that is recipient-specific, meaning the own voice detection is at least partly trained to perform the own voice detection using (based on) the specific voice (speech) of the recipient of the hearing prosthesis, as captured by the hearing prosthesis itself. As a result, the individualized own voice detection is specific / customized to the recipient of the hearing prosthesis and to the hearingCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)prosthesis itself. Environmental classifier 331 and OVD detector 335 can also provide encoded data to stimulator unit (e.g., cochlear implant processing unit) 320.

[0055] Although the cochlear implant system 300 includes the external component 302 with the sound processing unit 333 and the implantable component 304, as described above, the implantable component 304 can operate independently from the external component 302, for at least a period, to stimulate the user. For example, the cochlear implant system 300 and its associated external component 302 and implantable component 304 can operate in a first general mode, sometimes referred to as an “external hearing mode,” in which the sound processing unit 333 captures sound signals which are then used as the basis for delivering stimulation signals to the user via stimulator unit 320. The cochlear implant system 300 can also operate in a second general mode, sometimes referred as an “invisible hearing” mode, in which the sound processing unit 333 is unable to provide sound signals to the implantable component 304 (e.g., the sound processing unit 333 is not present, the sound processing unit 333 is powered-off, the sound processing unit 333 is malfunctioning, etc.). As such, in the invisible hearing mode, the implantable component 304 captures sound signals itself via implantable sound sensors and then uses those sound signals as the basis for delivering stimulation signals to the user. It is to be appreciated that reference to the external hearing mode and the invisible hearing mode is merely illustrative and that the cochlear implant system 300 can also operate in alternative modes.

[0056] When the implantable component 304 operates independently from the external component 302, it may utilize its own power source (e.g., rechargeable battery 360). When implantable component 304 operates independently, implant controller 350 is communicatively coupled to RF interface circuitry 324 and is configured to transmit one or more signals using one or more communication protocols, e.g., Bluetooth Eow Energy, to one or more external antennas in the implant position detection system 250 in FIG. 2 for position measurement. The RF interface circuitry 324 is further configured to operate under the control of the implant controller 350 and contains the necessary switches so as to charge the rechargeable battery 360 using the power received via inductive power link 242 (as shown in FIG. 2) using implantable coil 322, which enables the implantable component 304 to receive power / current signals from an external charger (e.g., external charge 260 as shown in FIG. 2) via the inductive power link.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)

[0057] The example auditory prosthesis 300 shown in FIGs. 3A and 3B utilizes an external microphone 308, 313, and the auditory prosthesis 200 shown in FIGs. 2A and 2B utilizes an implantable microphone assembly 212 comprising a subcutaneously implantable acoustic transducer. In certain implementations described herein, the auditory prosthesis 300 utilizes one or more implanted microphone assemblies on or within the recipient. In certain implementations described herein, the auditory prosthesis 200 utilizes one or more microphone assemblies that are positioned external to the recipient and / or that are implanted on or within the recipient, and utilizes one or more acoustic transducers (e.g., actuator 210) that are implanted on or within the recipient. In certain implementations, an external microphone assembly can be used to supplement an implantable microphone assembly of the auditory prostheses 200 and 300. Thus, the teachings detailed herein and / or variations thereof can be utilized with any type of external or implantable microphone arrangement, and the acoustic transducers shown in FIGs. 2A-2B and 3A-3B are merely illustrative.Example auditory prosthesis system

[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates an example auditory prosthesis system 400 that includes an auditory prosthesis 410 that comprises a fully or partially implantable medical device (i.e., the example auditory prostheses 200 or 300 of FIGs. 2A-2B and 3A-3B) that can benefit from the use of technologies described herein. The system 400 further includes a recipient computing device 420, a clinician computing device 430, and a server 440, which are connected over a network 402. Although aspects of the technologies presented herein are discussed in the context of the exemplary auditory prosthesis system 400, it is understood that the technologies described herein can be implemented in any of a wide range of implantable medical devices, including devices that include a transcutaneous closely coupled induction link used in many implantable medical devices. As mentioned previously, other examples of implantable medical devices that can utilize the technologies described herein include implantable medical devices for vestibular stimulation, implantable medical devices for deep brain stimulation, medical devices having a closely coupled magnetic induction link, or any other implantable medical devices with a rechargeable battery.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)

[0059] The network 402 is a computer network, such as the Internet, which facilitates the communication of data among computing devices connected to the computer network.

[0060] As illustrated, the auditory prosthesis 410 and the recipient computing device 420 are operated by the recipient in an environment 401. The environment 401 defines the conditions in which the auditory prosthesis 410 and the recipient computing device 420 operate. In many examples herein, the environment 401 includes the sonic conditions in which the auditory prosthesis 410 functions. Such sonic conditions can include, for example, a loudness of noise (e.g., whether the environment 401 is loud or quiet), a number of sources of noise (e.g., a crowded restaurant with many sources of noise or a one-on-one conversation with fewer sources of noise) and a kind of noise (e.g., music or speech). The environment 401 can also define an activity in which the recipient is engaged, such as a conversation or exercise. The environment 401 can affect the operation of the auditory prosthesis 410, and the auditory prosthesis 410 can be customized to operate differently in different environments 401.

[0061] The auditory prosthesis 410 is a medical apparatus relating to a recipient’s auditory system, such as a cochlear implant or bone conduction device (e.g., percutaneous bone conduction devices, transcutaneous bone conduction devices, active bone conduction devices, and passive bone conduction devices), or middle ear stimulator, among others. The auditory prosthesis 410 can take any of a variety of forms. In the illustrated example, the auditory prosthesis includes an auditory prosthesis sensor set 412 and operates according to auditory prosthesis settings 414.

[0062] The auditory prosthesis sensor set 412 is a collection of one or more hardware or software components of the auditory prosthesis 410 that obtain data, such as data regarding the environment 401, the auditory prosthesis 410, or the recipient. In many examples, the auditory prosthesis sensor set 412 include a microphone (e.g., an implanted or external microphone). The auditory prosthesis sensor set 412 can include one or more other sensors, such as one or more accelerometers, gyroscopic sensors, location sensors (e.g., Bluetooth chipset), telecoils, biosensors (e.g., heart rate or blood pressure sensors), and light sensors, among others. The auditory prosthesis sensor set 412 can include components disposed within a housing of the auditory prosthesis 410 as well as devices electrically coupled to the auditory prosthesis 410CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)(e.g., via wired or wireless connections). In examples, the auditory prosthesis sensor set 412 includes a remote device connected to the auditory prosthesis 410 via an FM (Frequency Modulation) connection, such as a remote microphone (e.g., a COCHLEAR TRUE WIRELESS MINI MICROPHONE2+), a television audio streaming device, or a phone clip device, among other devices having FM transmission capabilities.

[0063] The auditory prosthesis sensor set 412 can further include sensors that obtain data regarding usage of the auditory prosthesis 410, such as software sensors operating on the auditory prosthesis 410 that track: when the auditory prosthesis 410 is worn by the recipient, when the auditory prosthesis 410 (e.g., an external portion thereof) is removed from the recipient, when one or more of the auditory prosthesis settings 414 are modified, and how long the auditory prosthesis 410 is operated using particular settings of the auditory prosthesis settings 414, among other data.

[0064] In examples, the auditory prosthesis sensor set 412 can further include a scene classifier. A scene classifier is a hardware- or software-implemented classifier that obtains data regarding the environment 401 (e.g., from one or more other sensors of the auditory prosthesis sensor set 412) and determines a classification of the environment 401. Classifications can include, for example, speech, noise, and music, among other classifications. The auditory prosthesis 410 can then use the classification to automatically switch the auditory prosthesis settings 414 to suit the environment 401. An example scene classifier is described in US 2017 / 0359659, filed June 9, 2016, and entitled “Advanced Scene Classification for Prosthesis”. The classification can serve as useful data on which changes to auditory prosthesis settings 414 are based.

[0065] The auditory prosthesis settings 414 are one or more parameters having values that affect how the auditory prosthesis 410 operates. For instance, the auditory prosthesis settings 414 can include a map having minimum and maximum stimulation levels for frequency bands of stimulation channels. The map is then used by the auditory prosthesis 410 to control an amount of stimulation to be provided. For instance, where the auditory prosthesis 410 is a cochlear implant, the map affects which electrodes of the cochlear implant to stimulate and in what amount based on a received sound input. In some examples, the auditory prosthesis settings 414CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)include two or more predefined groupings of settings selectable by the recipient. One of the two or more predefined groupings of settings can be a default setting.

[0066] The auditory prosthesis settings 414 can also include sound processing settings that modify sound input before it is converted into a stimulation signal. Such settings can include, for example, particular audio equalizer settings can boost or cut the intensity of sound at various frequencies. In examples, the auditory prosthesis settings 414 can include a minimum threshold for which received sound input causes stimulation, a maximum threshold for preventing stimulation above a level which would cause discomfort, gain parameters, loudness parameters, and compression parameters. The auditory prosthesis settings 414 can include settings that affect a dynamic range of stimulation produced by the auditory prosthesis 410. As described above, many of the auditory prosthesis settings 414 affect the physical operation of the auditory prosthesis 410, such as how the auditory prosthesis 410 provides stimulation to the recipient in response to sound input received from the environment 401.

[0067] The recipient computing device 420 is a computing device associated with the recipient of the auditory prosthesis 410. In many examples, the recipient computing device 420 is a cell phone (e.g., smart phone), smart watch, or heart rate monitor, but can take other forms. Although described primarily in the context of the recipient, the recipient computing device 420 can be a computing device owned or primarily used by a parent or caregiver for the recipient. As illustrated, the recipient computing device 420 includes a recipient computing device sensor set 422.

[0068] The recipient computing device sensor set 422 is group of one or more components of the recipient computing device 420 that obtains data. The recipient computing device sensor set 422 can include one or more sensors, such as microphones, accelerometers, gyroscopic sensors, location sensors, biosensors (e.g., heart rate or blood pressure sensors), magnetic sensors (e.g., Hall sensors), and light sensors, among others. The recipient computing device sensor set 422 can include components disposed within a housing of the recipient computing device 420 as well as devices electrically coupled to the recipient computing device 420 (e.g., via wired or wireless connections), such as an external charging device, including pillow chargers, that can be used to charge auditory prosthesis 410. In some examples, the recipient computing device sensor set 422CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)includes software sensors, such as software that obtains data from one or more data streams (e.g., audio streamed from the recipient computing device 420 to the auditory prosthesis 410). The recipient computing device sensor set 422 can further include sensors that obtain data regarding how the recipient computing device 420 itself is being used.

[0069] In examples, the recipient computing device 420 includes an auditory prosthesis application 424 that operates on the recipient computing device 420 and cooperates with the auditory prosthesis 410. The auditory prosthesis application 424 is a computer program stored as computer-executable instructions in memory on the recipient computing device 420 that, when executed, performs one or more tasks relating to the auditory prosthesis 410. For instance, the auditory prosthesis application 424 can control the auditory prosthesis 410 (e.g., based on input received from the recipient), monitor usage, or energy level of the auditory prosthesis 410, and obtain data from the auditory prosthesis 410. The recipient computing device 420 can connect to the auditory prosthesis 410 using, for example, a wireless radio frequency communication protocol (e.g., BLUETOOTH, or BLUETOOTH Low Energy (BLE)). The auditory prosthesis application 424 transmits or receives data from the auditory prosthesis 410 over such a connection. The auditory prosthesis application 424 can also stream audio to the auditory prosthesis 410, such as from a microphone of the recipient computing device sensor set 422 or an application running on the recipient computing device 420 (e.g., a video or audio application). In examples, the auditory prosthesis application 424 functions as part of the recipient computing device sensor set 422 by obtaining data regarding the auditory prosthesis 410. The recipient computing device 420 can be in communication with one or both of the clinician computing device 430 and the server 440, such as via the auditory prosthesis application 424 communicating over the network 402.

[0070] The clinician computing device 430 is a computing device used by a clinician. A clinician is a medical professional, such as an audiologist, an otolaryngologist, an internist or other primary care physician, or a nurse practitioner. In an example, the clinician is a medical professional that provides care or supervision for the recipient. The clinician computing device 430 includes one or more software programs usable to monitor or control the auditory prosthesis 410, such as customization and / or calibration of the auditory prosthesis settings 414.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)

[0071] The server 440 is a server remote from the auditory prosthesis 410, recipient computing device 420, and the clinician computing device 430. The server 440 is communicatively coupled to the recipient computing device 420 and the clinician computing device 430 via the network 402. In many examples, the server 440 is indirectly communicatively coupled to the auditory prosthesis 410 through the recipient computing device 420 (e.g., via the auditory prosthesis application 424). In some examples, the server 440 is directly communicatively coupled to the auditory prosthesis 410. The server 440 includes one or more server applications 442.

[0072] The one or more server applications 442 are computer programs stored as computerexecutable instructions in memory on the server 440 that, when executed, perform one or more tasks relating to the system 400. The one or more server applications 442 are operable to perform one or more operations described herein, such as operations that customize the auditory prosthesis 410. As illustrated, the one or more server applications 442 operate on the server 440.

[0073] In some examples, auditory prosthesis 410, in conjunction with sensors on an external charging device (e.g., a pillow charger) communicatively coupled to auditory prosthesis 410, can provide feedback to the recipient or to other people about the recipient’s sleep quality, sleep or rest positions, and / or movement patterns during sleep. For example, the recipient can monitor their own sleep movement patterns and / or sleep quality data on recipient computing device 420 via, e.g., a smart phone or mobile application. The recipient can also share their sleep movement patterns and / or sleep quality data with their family, friends, or health professionals via auditory prothesis application 424, recipient computer devices 420, clinician computing device 430, and server applications 440. Server applications 440, software programs on clinician computing device 430, or auditory prosthesis application 424 can in some examples transmit auditory or visual cues to the recipient, e.g., via auditory prosthesis 410, to guide the recipient to actions or positions that can help promote better sleep quality or sleeping positions.

[0074] FIG. 5A schematically illustrates an example apparatus 500A configured to implement aspects of technologies described herein. FIG. 5B schematically illustrates an example apparatus 500B in accordance with certain implementations described herein. FIGs. 6A-6G schematically illustrate various views and configurations of the example apparatus 500B, an example device 600 on or within a portion 605 of the recipient’s body, and an example cushion 607 between theCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)apparatus 500B and the portion 605 of the recipient’s body in accordance with certain implementations described herein. In certain implementations, as shown in FIGs. 6A-6G, the apparatus 500A-500B (e.g., pillow charger, mattress charger, charging pad, external charging device) is positioned on an underlying support surface (e.g., mattress surface, bedframe surface), while in certain other implementations, the apparatus 500A-500B is embedded within a padded component in contact with the recipient’s body (e.g., headrest charger, chair charger) or is worn and / or held by the recipient.

[0075] In certain implementations, the apparatus 500A-500B comprises at least one first magnetic induction (MI) antenna 510 configured to wirelessly transmit power to at least one second MI antenna 610 of the device 600 within or on the body portion 605 of the recipient. The apparatus 500A-500B further comprises at least one signal antenna 520 configured to receive at least one signal. The apparatus 500A-500B further comprises control circuitry 530 in electrical communication with the at least one first MI antenna 510 and the at least one signal antenna 520. In FIG. 5A, one signal antenna 520 is shown on apparatus 500A, while in FIG. 5B, a total of nine signal antennas 520 are shown on apparatus 500B. Apparatus 500A and 500B comprise substantially similar elements, except that apparatus 500B comprises eight additional signal antennas 520 that are disposed adjacent to, above and around the other elements of apparatus 500B. The control circuitry 530 is configured to determine, in response to the at least one antenna signal 522, at least one of: a presence, a location, a direction, an azimuth, and / or an angle in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space of the device 600 within a power transmission range of the at least one first MI antenna 510. The control circuitry 530 is further configured to, in response to the at least one antenna signal 522, adjust, in response to the at least one antenna signal 522, a power level transmitted by the at least one first MI antenna 510 (e.g., by adjusting the current flowing through the at least one first MI antenna 510).

[0076] One example configuration of communication antennas 520 on apparatus (e.g., pillow charger) 500B is shown on FIG. 5B as having eight total antennas 520 placed around the perimeter of a rectangular (e.g., with rounded corners) shaped apparatus 500B, for example adjacent to each corner and along the sides of apparatus 500B, in addition to an antenna 520 located adjacent to and connected with control circuitry 530 via antenna signal 522, which can be either a wireless or wired connection in example configurations. Other example configurationsCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)may include more or fewer antennas 520, in this configuration of apparatus 500A-500B, or in any of a number of different configurations of external device 500A-500B discussed herein, which are certainly contemplated within the scope of the example technologies discussed herein. Antennas 520 can, in some examples, also be located co-planar to coils 512 and / or control circuitry 530 or can in other examples be located above or below coils 512 and / or control circuitry 530 within housing 505.

[0077] In certain implementations, the device 600 receiving power from apparatus 500A-500B is an implanted portion of a transcutaneous system (e.g., a “partially implantable”, “semiimplantable”, “mostly implantable”, “fully implantable”, or “totally implantable” transcutaneous system) configured to operate using power currently being received by the device 600 and / or previously received and stored by the device 600. For example, the transcutaneous system can be a sensory prosthesis system (e.g., auditory prosthesis system, visual prosthesis system, vestibular prosthesis system), a muscle (e.g., heart) stimulation or monitoring system, a nerve stimulation or monitoring system, or a brain stimulation or monitoring system.

[0078] The device 600 can comprise at least one second MI antenna 610 (e.g., at least one substantially planar antenna coil) and can be configured to operate with a corresponding external portion (not shown) of the transcutaneous system. The external portion can comprise at least one external MI antenna configured to be in wireless communication with the at least one second MI antenna 610 while the external portion is worn on the recipient’s body. For an auditory prosthesis system, the device 600 can be implanted on and substantially parallel to a bone surface within the recipient (e.g., a surface of the skull behind an auricle or pinna 110) and the external portion can be configured to be worn on the head with the at least one external MI antenna (e.g., on and / or behind the auricle 110) in wireless communication with the at least one second MI antenna 610. The external portion of the transcutaneous system can be configured to be worn on the body portion 605 (e.g., head) during a normal operation mode of the device 600 and configured to be removed from the recipient’ s body during a power transfer mode of the device 600 (e.g., during a sleep session of the recipient) during which the apparatus 500A-500B provides power to the device 600.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)

[0079] During the normal operation of the device 600, the at least one second MI antenna 610 (e.g., second communication coil) can be in wireless communication with at least one external MI antenna of the external portion, and during the power transfer mode, the at least one second MI antenna 610 can be in wireless communication with the at least one first MI antenna 510. The device 600 can further comprise circuitry 620 configured to receive data and / or control signals from the external portion of the transcutaneous system during the normal operation mode and configured to receive power signals from the apparatus 500A-500B during the power transfer mode. The circuitry 620 can also be configured to receive / transmit data and / or control signals from / to the apparatus 500A-500B during the power transfer mode. In certain implementations, the device 600 is configured to operate without an external portion during the normal operation mode of the device 600 (e.g., a wholly subcutaneous or fully implantable system) and is configured to be in wireless communication with the at least one first MI antenna 510 during the power transfer mode.

[0080] In certain implementations, the device 600 is an implanted portion of a sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) (e.g., sleep apnea) treatment system for which the normal operation mode is also the power transfer mode. For example, the device 600 can be implanted on or within the recipient’s jaw, neck, or shoulder region (e.g., with stimulation electrodes on, within, or in proximity to the recipient’s tongue or hypoglossal nerve) and the apparatus 500A-500B can be configured to provide data and / or control signals, in addition to the power signals to the device during a sleep session of the recipient.

[0081] The circuitry 620 of the device 600 can comprise stimulation and / or measurement circuitry comprising one or more active elements (e.g., stimulator unit 120, assembly 202, vibrating actuator) configured to deliver stimuli (e.g., stimulation signals) to a portion of the recipient’s body and / or to detect and attribute or condition of the recipient’s body and can be in electrical communication with the portion of the recipient’s body via electrical conduits (e.g., an electrode assembly as described above) extending from the device 600 to a region of the recipient’s body. In certain implementations, the circuitry 620 is configured to directly use power received by the at least one second MI antenna 610. In certain other implementations, the circuitry 620 comprises power storage circuitry 622 (e.g., battery, capacitor) configured to receive and store power from the at least one second MI antenna 610 during a first time periodCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)(e.g., while the device is in proximity to and / or in wireless communication range with the apparatus 500A-500B) and to provide stored power to other portions of the circuitry 620 during a second time period (e.g., while the device 600 is out of wireless communication range from the apparatus 500A-500B) subsequent to the second time period. In some implementations, circuitry 620 further comprises a wireless transmitter or antenna (e.g., a Bluetooth transmitter) that communicates with one or more wireless transmitters or antennas 520 on apparatus 500A-500B to transmit position information (e.g., received signal strength, or direction finding) of the device 600 implanted on or within the recipient’s body.

[0082] In certain implementations, the apparatus 500A-500B comprises a housing 505 and the at least one first MI antenna 510, the at least one wireless transmitter or antenna 520, and the control circuitry 530 are contained (e.g., hermetically sealed) within the housing 505. The housing 505 can comprise an electrically insulative material (e.g., silicone rubber, polymer, polyether-etherketone (PEEK), ceramic, titanium oxide, fiberglass, parylene) that is substantially transparent to the electromagnetic or magnetic fields generated by the at least one first MI antenna 510 (e.g., such that the housing 505 does not substantially interfere with power, data, and / or control signal transmission between the apparatus 500A-500B and the implantable device 600).

[0083] As schematically illustrated by FIGs. 6A-6G, the housing 505 can comprise a substantially planar portion configured to be positioned beneath a cushion 607 (e.g., a pillow or mattress), the cushion 607 configured to receive the body portion 605 with at least a portion of the cushion 607 between the body portion and the at least one first MI antenna 510. For example, the cushion 607 can be a compressible pillow upon which the recipient can rest their head (e.g., during a sleep session) with the substantially planar portion of the housing 505 on the mattress and beneath the cushion 607. In certain implementations, the apparatus 500A-500B comprises the cushion 607, while in other implementations the apparatus 500A-500B does not comprise a cushion 607 (e.g. but can be configured to be used in conjunction with a cushion 607).

[0084] In certain implementations, the at least one first MI antenna 510 comprises a single substantially planar first MI antenna 510 (e.g., first communication coil), while in some other implementations, the at least one first MI antenna 510 comprises a plurality of substantiallyCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)planar first MI antennas 510. As shown in FIGs. 5A and 5B, two first MI antennas 510 can be positioned to overlap one another as antennas 510a and 510b, or alternatively to not overlap one another. At least some of the first MI antennas 510 can be substantially parallel or coplanar with one another, and at least some of the first MI antennas 510 can be substantially perpendicular to one or more other first MI antennas 510 (e.g., in two or three orthogonal orientations). For example, the housing 505 can comprise other portions that are at non-zero angles relative to the substantially planar portion beneath the cushion 607, the other portions containing other first MI antennas 510 at non-zero angles (e.g., orthogonal) relative to the at least one first MI antenna 510 within the substantially planar portion of the housing 505. The first MI antennas 510 can be positioned around a region (e.g., along two or more sides of the region) in which the body portion 605 and the device 600 are to be placed.

[0085] FIGs. 7A-7F schematically illustrate various example first MI antennas 510 in accordance with certain implementations described herein. FIGs. 7A and 7B schematically illustrate a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of an example substantially circular first MI antenna 510 in accordance with certain implementations described herein. FIG. 7C schematically illustrates a perspective view of another example substantially circular first MI antenna 510 in accordance with certain implementations described herein. FIGs. 7D and 7E schematically illustrate a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of an example substantially rectangular first MI antenna 510 in accordance with certain implementations described herein. FIG. 7F schematically illustrates a perspective view of another example substantially rectangular first MI antenna 510 in accordance with certain implementations described herein.

[0086] In certain implementations, the at least one first MI antenna 510 comprises at least one electrically conductive and substantially planar first coil 512 configured to be in magnetically inductive communication with the at least one second MI antenna 610 (e.g., second communication coil) of the device 500. For example, the at least one first coil 512 can comprise an electrically conductive wire (e.g., platinum, gold, copper, or other metal; electrically insulated single-strand or multi-strand) with one or more loops wound around and substantially orthogonal to an antenna axis 514. For another example, the first coil 512 can comprise a metal trace (e.g.,CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)copper) with one or more loops on a flexible substrate (e.g., printed circuit board) and that run (e.g., wind) around the antenna axis 514.

[0087] As shown in FIGs. 7A-7B and 7D-7E, the first coil 512 of a first MI antenna 510 can have coil loops that are substantially co-planar with one another (e.g., planar spiral), and as shown in FIGs. 7C and 7F, the coil loops can be substantially parallel to one another (e.g., spring-shaped). While FIGs. 7A-7F show the first coil having three coil loops, other numbers of coil loops (e.g., 2, 4, 5, 6, or more) and other shapes (e.g., oval, obround, fabiform, reniform, or others) are also compatible with certain implementations described herein. In certain implementations in which the apparatus 500 comprises multiple first MI antennas 510 with multiple first coils 512, the first coils 512 can comprise the same number of coil loops as one another and the coil loops can have substantially equal widths and / or shapes as one another, while in certain other implementations, two or more of the first MI antennas 510 can have first coils 512 with numbers of coil loops, widths, and / or shapes of the coil loops that differ from one another.

[0088] The first coil 512 can have a lateral dimension (e.g., diameter, length, and / or width, along a direction substantially perpendicular to the antenna axis 514) less than or equal to 500 millimeters (mm) (e.g., in a range of less than 100 mm, in a range of 15 mm to 60mm, in a range of 50 mm to 200 mm, in a range of 100 mm to 300 mm, in a range greater than 100 mm, in a range of 125 mm to 250 mm, in a range greater than 300 mm). In certain implementations, the first coil 512 has at least one lateral dimension that is substantially equal to or greater than (e.g., by a factor of 1.2, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more) at least one lateral dimension of the at least one second MI antenna 610 of the device 600.

[0089] In certain implementations, the control circuitry 530 comprises one or more microprocessors (e.g., application- specific integrated circuits (ASICs), generalized integrated circuits programmed by software with computer executable instructions, microelectronic circuitry, microcontrollers) and at least one storage device (e.g., at least one tangible or non-transitory computer readable storage medium, read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory) configured to store information (e.g., data, commands) accessed by the one or more microprocessors during operation. The at least one storage device can beCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)encoded with software (e.g., a computer program downloaded as an application) comprising computer executable instructions for instructing the one or more microprocessors (e.g., executable data access logic, evaluation logic, and / or information outputting logic). In certain implementations, the one or more microprocessors execute the instructions of the software to provide functionality as described herein. In certain implementations, the control circuitry 530 comprises communication circuitry (e.g., RF antenna, Bluetooth antenna) configured to receive data and / or control signals from device 600 and / or an external device (e.g., smart phone, tablet computer, smart watch, laptop computer, and / or other external device operated by the recipient) and / or to transmit data signals to device 600 or an external device.

[0090] In certain implementations, the control circuitry 530 comprises at least one coil driver 532 (e.g., 532a, 532b) configured to provide at least one electrical current 516 (e.g., 516a, 516b) to the at least one first MI antenna 510. In some other implementations, the at least one coil driver 532 is separate from the control circuitry 530 but is responsive to control signals from the control circuitry 530. The control circuitry 530 (e.g., via the at least one coil driver 532 responding to control signals from the control circuitry 530) can be configured to adjust, in response to the at least one data signal 522, the at least one electrical current 516 flowing through the at least one first coil 512 of the at least one first MI antenna 510. For example, the control circuitry 520 can adjust the at least one electrical current 516 flowing through the at least one first coil 512 based on one or more parameters associated with position information of device 600 implanted within or located on the recipient’s body. The position information can be received at one or more communication antennas 520 as shown in FIGs. 5A-5B and then transmitted (wirelessly or via connection wires) to control circuitry 530. The control circuitry 530 can adjust the at least one electrical current 516 flowing through the at least one first coil 512 (e.g., at least one magnitude, at least one phase, and / or at least one frequency of the at least one electrical current 516). By adjusting the at least one electrical current 516, the control circuitry 530 can adjust a power level transmitted by the at least one coil 512. For example, the control circuitry 530 can adjust the at least one electric current 516 flowing through the at least one first MI antenna 510 to optimize the charging of a rechargeable battery or power source in device 600 implanted within or located on the recipient’s body.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)

[0091] In some examples, the apparatus (e.g., external device, pillow charger) 500 is configured, upon activation of the apparatus 500 and / or upon initiation of a power transfer mode, to transfer power, data, and / or control signals (e.g., transcutaneously) to the device 600 implanted within or located on the recipient’s body. The apparatus 500 can also receive data and / or control signals from the device 600 implanted within or located on the recipient’s body (e.g., transcutaneously) while the body portion 605 is in any of a plurality of positions and / or orientations relative to the apparatus 500. During the power transfer mode, the transfer rate of power from the apparatus 500 to the device 600 depend on various aspects of the environment of the apparatus 500 and the device 600. For example, the power transfer rate can depend on such factors as: (1) the relative distance and / or orientation of the at least one first MI antenna 510 of the apparatus 500 to the at least one second MI antenna 610 of the device 600, (2) the existence of intervening material (e.g., recipient tissue, cushion or pillow material) between the at least one first MI antenna 510 and the at least one second MI antenna 610, and (3) the electrical and magnetic properties of any such intervening material.

[0092] At least some aspects of the environment of the apparatus (e.g., external device, pillow charger) 500 and the device 600 implanted within or located on the recipient’s body can be static (e.g., not varying appreciably during the power transfer mode / sleep session and / or between different iterations of the power transfer mode / sleep session). Examples of static environmental aspects include but are not limited to: (1) physical dimensions of the recipient and / or the body portion 605, (2) the location of the at least one second MI antenna 601 on or within the body portion 605, the physical dimension and properties of the at least one first MI antenna 510 and / or the at least one second MI antenna 610, the physical dimensions of the apparatus 500 (e.g., the location of the at least one first MI antenna 510 relative to the housing 505.

[0093] In addition, at least some aspects of the environment of the apparatus (e.g., external device, pillow charger) 500 and the device 600 implanted on or within the recipient’s body can be variable (e.g., varying appreciably during the power transfer mode / sleep session and / or between different iterations of the power transfer mode / sleep session). The variations of these aspects can be due to motion of the recipient and / or the apparatus 500 or use of different cushions 607. Examples of variable environmental aspects include but are not limited to: (1) distance and / or orientation of the body portion 605 relative to the apparatus 500; (2) distanceCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)and / or orientation of the at least one second MI antenna 610 relative to the at least one first MI antenna 510 (e.g., the thickness of the cushion 607 between the body portion 605 and the apparatus 500); (3) an arm and / or hand of the recipient moved to be in proximity to the apparatus 500 or the device 600.

[0094] As shown in FIGs. 6A-6E, during a sleep session or between different sleep sessions, different surfaces of the body portion 605 can rest on a cushion 607 between the body portion 605 (e.g., head) and the apparatus 600 (e.g., pillow charger), with the body portion 605 in different positions and / or orientations and with the cushion 607 possibly having different thicknesses during the sleep session. While FIGs. 6A-6E schematically show the at least one first MI antenna 510 as comprising at least one substantially planar antenna coil 512 and the at least one second MI antenna 610 as comprising at least one substantially planar antenna coil 612, other shapes and sizes of the first and second antenna coils 512, 612 are also compatible with examples discussed herein. While FIGs. 6A-6E show some specific example configurations of the body portion 605 relative to the apparatus 500, other configurations in which the body portion 605 is at varying positions and / or orientations relative to the apparatus 500A-500B are also possible.

[0095] In these various configurations, the distance and / or orientation of the at least one second MI antenna 610 can vary (e.g., can depend on which surface of the body portion 605 is resting on the cushion 607), as can the amounts of tissue material and cushion material between the at least one second MI antenna 610 and the at least one first MI antenna 510. The control circuitry 530 can receive, in substantially real-time, antenna data signals 522 indicating the location and / or orientation of the device 600 implanted on or within the recipient’s body and can use this location and / or orientation information to calculate, in substantially real-time (e.g., dynamically) an optimal power level to be transmitted by the at least one MI antenna 510. The control circuitry 530 can also adjust the at least one electrical current 516 to provide an optimal power transfer rate to the device 600 implanted on or within the recipient’s body.

[0096] FIGs. 6A-6C schematically illustrate an example configuration of the body portion 605 (e.g., head) relative to the apparatus 500A-500B (e.g., pillow charger) in accordance with certain implementations described herein. In this example configuration, a first surface (e.g., back sideCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)of the head) of the body portion 605 rests on the cushion 607. The at least one second MI antenna 610 can be substantially perpendicular to the first surface and substantially parallel to a second surface (e.g., the left side of the head) and can be substantially perpendicular to the at least one first MI antenna 510.

[0097] In this configuration, the body portion 605 (e.g., head) can be at a variety of positions and orientations relative to the apparatus 500A-500B (e.g., pillow charger), such that the at least one second MI antenna 610 can be at a variety of positions and orientations relative to the at least one first MI antenna 510. As shown in FIG. 6A, the at least one second MI antenna 610 can have a first position coordinate 630a along a first direction 632a substantially parallel to the at least one first MI antenna 510, and a second position coordinate 630b along a second direction 632b also substantially parallel to the at least one first antenna 510 and substantially perpendicular to the first direction 632a. The first and second position coordinates 630a, 630b can vary due to movement of the body portion 605 across the apparatus 500A-500B. As shown in FIG. 6B, the at least one second MI antenna 610 can also have a third position coordinate 630c along a third direction 632c substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions 632a, b. The third position 630c can vary due to different thicknesses of the cushion 607 between the body portion 605 and the apparatus 500A-500B. As shown in FIG. 6C, the at least one second MI antenna 610 can have a variety of orientations relative to the at least one first MI antenna 510 due to the orientation of the body portion 605 relative to the apparatus 500A-500B (e.g., while remaining substantially perpendicular to the at least one first MI antenna 510).

[0098] In FIGs. 6A-6C, the first and second position coordinates 630a, 630b have ranges of possible values at which the first surface of the body portion 605 is resting either on the cushion 607 or on the housing 505 (e.g., without a cushion 607 present). In some examples, if the first and second position coordinates 630a, 630b of the at least one second MI antenna 610 are outside of the ranges of possible values during a sleep session (e.g., a battery charging session), an alarm or notification will be presented to the recipient (e.g., via auditory prosthesis application 424). The third position coordinate 630c has a range of possible values that has a lower bound (e.g., corresponding to a minimum cushion thickness of zero for the absence of a cushion 607) substantially equal to a first fixed distance (e.g., in the range of 60 mm to 90 mm) between the at least one second MI antenna 610 and the first surface of the body portion 605, andCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)can have an upper bound substantially equal to a sum of the first fixed distance and a maximum cushion thickness (e.g., in a range of 25 mm to 100 mm, although other ranges are possible).

[0099] FIGs. 6D and 6E schematically illustrate two other example configurations of the body portion 605 in accordance with certain implementations described herein. As with the configuration of FIGs. 6A-6C, the at least one second MI antenna 610 in the configurations of FIGs. 6D and 6E can be in a variety of positions having first, second, and third position coordinates 630a, 630b, 630c in the first, second, and third directions 632a, 632b, 632c respectively, and the body portion 605 can have different orientations relative to the apparatus 500A-500B. In the configurations of FIGs. 6D and 6E, the at least one second MI antenna 610 is substantially parallel to a second surface (e.g., the left side of the head), and to a third surface (e.g., the right side of the head) and is substantially parallel to at least one first MI antenna 610.

[0100] In FIG. 6D, a second surface of the body portion 605 (e.g., left side of the head) rests on the cushion 607 so that device 600 that is implanted in or located near the left side of the head of the recipient is adjacent to cushion 607. In FIG. 6E, a third surface of the body portion 605 (e.g., right side of the head) rests on the cushion 607, so that device 600 is farther away from cushion 607. The ranges of the possible first and second position coordinates 630a, 630b in the configuration of FIGs. 6D and 6E can be substantially the same as the ranges of the first and second position coordinates 630a, 630b in the configuration of FIGs. 6A-6C.

[0101] However, the range of possible third position coordinates 630c in the configuration of FIG. 6D can vary substantially from the corresponding range in the configurations of FIGs. 6A-6C. In addition, the range of possible third position coordinates 630c in the configuration of FIG. 6E can vary substantially from the corresponding range in the configurations of FIGs. 6A-6C, and also from the corresponding range in FIG. 6D. For example, the at least one second MI antenna 610 is generally farther from the at least one first MI antenna 510 in the configuration of FIG. 6B than in the configuration of FIG. 6D. In another example, the at least one first MI antenna 610 is generally farther from the at least one first MI antenna 510 in the configuration of FIG. 6E than in the configuration of either FIG. 6B or FIG. 6D. In FIG. 6F, a recipient can move another body portion 606 (e.g., arm or hand) to be positioned between the body portion 605 (e.g., head) and the cushion 607. This can affect not only the distance and / orCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)orientation of the at least one second MI antenna 610 relative to the at least one first MI antenna 510 by increasing the distance and / or changing an orientation angle of MI antenna 610, but the addition of body portion 606 between first and second MI antennas 510 and 610 can absorb some of the power emanating from the apparatus (e.g., pillow charger 500), as the recipient’s tissue may be more absorptive to electromagnetic radiated energy or energy generated by electric or magnetic fields than cushion material or air.

[0102] In some examples, the apparatus 500 (e.g., pillow charger) is operable in a plurality of orientations relative to the environment. For example, the apparatus 500 can comprise a first surface and second surface substantially opposite to the first surface and the least one first MI antenna 510 can be positioned within the apparatus 500 closer to the second surface than to the first surface. In a first orientation (see, e.g., FIGs. 6B and 6D-6F), the apparatus 500 can be operated with the first surface serving as a bottom surface resting on an underlying element (e.g., mattress), and the second surface serving as a top surface upon which the cushion 607 and the body portions 605, 606 rest. In a second orientation as shown in FIG. 6G, the apparatus 500 can be flipped relative to the first orientation such that the second surface serves as the bottom surface and the first surface serves as the top surface, and the at least one first MI antenna 510 is relatively farther from the body portion 605 and the at least one first MI antenna 610 that is implanted in or located on or near the recipient’s body.

[0103] FIGs. 8A and 8B illustrate exemplary flow diagrams of two example methods, one for operating an example apparatus 500 and one for operating an example device 600 implantable within or used on a recipient’s body in accordance with certain implementations described herein. The example methods depicted in FIGs. 8A and 8B can operate concurrently as long as the apparatus (e.g., external device, pillow charger) 500 and the device implanted in or located on the recipient’s body are in communicable proximity with each other.

[0104] FIG. 8 A starts at step 810 to execute on a device implantable within or located on a recipient’s body. In step 820, one or more signals are transmitted from an antenna of a device 600 on or implanted within a recipient’ s body and are transmitted to one or more antennas operably connected to an external device (e.g., apparatus 500). In step 830, the device 600 receives one or more signals transmitted from the external device, wherein the one or moreCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)signals transmitted from the external device are based on one or more parameters associated with position information of the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body.

[0105] In some examples of step 820, RSSI (received signal strength indication) of a radio-frequency (RF) or radio transmission (RT) signal, such as a Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy) signal transmitted from device 600 is received at one or more RF or RT antennas 520 on apparatus (e.g., pillow charger or external device) 500. RSSI measured at different locations on the pillow charger can, in some examples, help detect a position and / or location of device 600 that is implanted within or located on a recipient’s body. For example, if in the example of a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) 2.4 GHz transmission, the transmission is from an implanted device 600, the transmission can penetrate differently through the recipient’s tissue rather than through a cushion or pillow material, or air. Nonetheless, if a plurality of communication (e.g., BLE) antennas are used, it is possible in some examples to detect whether the implant is on a side of the head facing away from the pillow charger apparatus 500 (e.g., low RSSI), as shown in FIG. 6E, or on a side of the head immediately adj acent to the pillow charger apparatus 500 as in FIG. 6D (e.g., high RSSI). With a higher number (e.g., 4, 6, 8, or higher number) of communication (e.g., BLE) antennas 520 on device 500, additional information about the location of device 600 can be determined, e.g., whether the device 600 implanted in the recipient’s head is closest to the left side or to the right side of the pillow charger apparatus 500. Further information about RSSI and BLE is available at https: / / www.bluetooth.com / blog / proximity-and-rssi. The RSSI signals can continue to be transmitted by the device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’s body in step 820, and signals based on parameters associated with position information determined using the RSSI signals can be received at step 830, for as long as the external device 500 and the device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’s body are in communication with each other. This communication can continue for the entirety of, for example, a sleep session of the recipient. Once the sleep session concludes and the recipient leaves the bed, the method in FIG. 8A concludes at step 835.

[0106] FIG. 8B starts at step 840 to execute on an external device 500A-500B (e.g., external charging device, pillow charger, or charging mattress pad). In step 850, one or more signals are received at one or more antennas 520 of a device 500A-500B, wherein the signals areCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)transmitted from one or more antennas operably connected to device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’s body. In step 860, the external device 500A-500B generates position information for device 600 based on the one or more signals (e.g., RSSI signals) received from device 600. In some examples, the position information for device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’s body is relative to the external device 500A-500B. Control circuitry 530 in device 500A-500B determines in step 870 one or more parameters based on the generated position information of the device 600 located on or implanted within the recipient’s body. In step 880, external device 500A-500B generates and transmits one or more signals based on the one or more parameters. In some examples as described herein, one or more signals generated by the external device based on the one or more parameters can include wireless power signals transmitted by one or more magnetic induction (MI) antennas associated with a power source of the external device 500A-500B that are optimized and directed to the device 600 based on the position information for the device 600 determined by the external device 500A-500B.

[0107] Similarly to what was described above for FIG. 8A, in FIG. 8B the RSSI signals from device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’s body can continue to be received by external device 500A-500B, at step 850, and position information determined using the RSSI signals can be generated at step 860, for as long as the external device 500A-500B and the device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’ s body are in communication with each other. Steps 870 and 880 can also continue for as long as the external device 500A-500B and device 600 implanted in and located on the recipient’s body are in communication with each other. This communication can continue for the entirety of, for example, a sleep session of the recipient. Once the sleep session concludes and the recipient leaves the bed, the method in FIG. 8B also concludes at step 890. The method can conclude when the recipient powers off the external device 500A-500B, for example, or when the MI antennas 510 of the external device 500A-500B are no longer communicatively coupled with an MI antenna 610 of the device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’s body.

[0108] In some examples, Angle of Arrival (AoA), Angle of Departure (AoD), elevation, and azimuth using Bluetooth Direction Finding - Constant Tone Extension (e.g., as defined for example in Bluetooth Core Specification v5.1) can be determined and used by the external device 500A-500B, either alone or in combination with RSSI, to determine the direction andCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)identify the location in 2D and / or 3D space of a device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’s body. For example, AoA techniques estimate the angle of incoming and / or outgoing radio signals based on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal transmitted by one or more antennas located on device 600. Using multiple receiving antennas positioned on device 500 to capture the phase shift when the signal consecutively hits the antennas to calculate the angle of the incoming signal, it can be possible using trigonometry to estimate the location in 2D or 3D space of the device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’s body. Further information about Bluetooth Direction Finding is available in the document “Bluetooth Direction Finding: A Technical Overview”, version 1.0.3, by Martin Wooley, which is available online at:https: / / www.bluetooth.com / wp-content / uploads / Files / developer / RDF Technical Overview.pdf. Additional information is also available at the following online references:https: / / www.bluetooth.com / learn-about-bluetooth / feature-enhancements / direction-finding and https: / / www.nordicsemi.com / Product / Wireless / Bluetooth-Direction-Finding. For example, Bluetooth Direction Finding can determine whether the implant is positioned at a particular angle or elevation, e.g.,

[0109] In certain implementations, using the Bluetooth Direction Finding capabilities, it can be possible to identify an orientation angle as well as a location of device 600 with respect to the external device 500A-B, for example, substantially perpendicular to the external device 500A-500B (e.g., pillow charger, mattress pad) as shown in FIG. 6B, substantially parallel to the external device 500A-500B as shown in FIG. 6D (at a distance closer to the pillow 607), or substantially parallel to the external device 500A-500B as shown in FIG. 6E (at a distance further away from the pillow 607 by the width of the recipient’s head), or as shown in FIG. 6F, at an angle with respect to the pillow charger (e.g., slight elevation and angle due to the recipient’s hand supporting their head on the pillow charger).

[0110] In certain implementations, it can also be possible to further pinpoint proximity detection accuracy by using high-accuracy distance measurement techniques, as set forth for example in a Bluetooth Channel Sounding specification, as discussed in https: / / www.bluetooth.com / blog / bluetooth-channel-sounding-a-step-towards-10cm-ranging-accuracy-for-secure-access-digital-key -proximity-services. Such high-accuracy distance measurement techniques, such as channel sounding, can be used either alone or in combinationCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)with one or more other ranging methods, such as RSSI, Bluetooth Direction finding (AoA or AoD) to detect and estimate location in 2D or 3D space of device 600 relative to the external device 500 (e.g., pillow charger). Other techniques for location detection known to those skilled in the relevant technologies that can be used include ultra- wideband (UWB) impulse radio in combination with Time of Flight (ToF), Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA), or Two-Way Ranging (TWR) techniques for location detection. In other examples, Zigbee wireless communication protocol (IEEE 802.15.4 international standard) can also be used to form a low-power wireless mesh network between one or more communication antennas on external device 500A-500B and a communication antenna on device 600 that is implanted in or located on a recipient’s body.

[0111] In some examples, auditory prosthesis application 424 (as discussed above with reference to FIG. 4) can be used to calibrate the external device 500A-500B as discussed herein for improved accuracy. In certain implementations, auditory prosthesis application 424 when used in conjunction with external device 500 (e.g., a pillow charger), can ask the recipient to take different positions following instructions from mobile application 424, and record the location data from each position. For example, the mobile application 424 can ask the recipient to position their head and body in different positions (e.g., laying on their back, laying on their left side, laying on their right side, laying on their left or right side with their hand tucked under their head) and / or different locations on the external device 500 (e.g., pillow charger). Mobile application 424 could also record location data of device 600 after asking the recipient to use different sizes of pillows over or with external device 500 (e.g., pillow charger) while lying in bed. A neural network analysis of this recorded data could then be performed using control circuitry 530 (e.g., a microprocessor or microcontroller unit) in external device 500 to pretrain a neural network to improve accuracy and optimize efficiency of the charging of the battery in the device 600.

[0112] In certain implementations, detection of the position of device 600 implanted in or located on the recipient’s body can be used to monitor and track the recipient’s sleep. For example, using machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques such as a neural network, the data collected on the position of device 600 over time can be communicated to device 600 (e.g., implant controller 226) and / or transmitted to recipient computing device 420 and / orCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)auditory prosthesis application 424. Such mobile and / or other applications 424 can be used to generate a sleep analysis report presented to the recipient and / or their clinician showing time of sleep, movements during sleep, different phases of sleep, presence of seizures during sleep, presence of sleep apnea events, etc.

[0113] In some examples, machine learning algorithms including classification algorithms, such as Support Vector Machines (SVM), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, are used to identify and predict patterns in movement during sleep over time and phases of sleep. Regression algorithms can be employed if continuous variables related to tracking movement during sleep, for example, need to be predicted. Unsupervised learning techniques, including clustering, can uncover hidden patterns in the data. Additionally, machine learning facilitates the adaptation and improvement of models over time, enhancing their accuracy. Post-processing involves statistical analysis to validate findings and visualization techniques to present the data meaningfully. The integration of these methods allows for the real-time tracking of sleep patterns, providing valuable insights into sleep quality, movements while sleeping, and / or different sleep phases.

[0114] There are a number of different types of devices in / with which the techniques and examples presented herein can be implemented. Merely for ease of description, the techniques and examples presented herein are primarily described with reference to a specific device.However, it is to be appreciated that the techniques and examples presented herein can also be partially or fully implemented by any of a number of different types of devices or systems, including hearing devices, implantable medical devices, consumer electronic devices (e.g., consumer hearing devices, consumer computing devices such as mobile phones and tablets, consumer wearable devices such as smart watches, audio equipment such as home theatre and car audio systems, etc.), computing systems (e.g., servers in data centers, Internet-of-Things (loT) devices), various types of software systems, such as databases, machine learning and artificial intelligence systems, other medical devices, such as diagnostic equipment or life sustaining equipment, etc. For example, the techniques and examples presented herein can be used in or with sensory prostheses, including hearing aids and cochlear implants, and various medical devices, such as pacemakers, drug delivery systems, implantable defibrillators, functional electrical stimulation devices, seizure devices (e.g., devices for monitoring and / orCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)treating epileptic events), sleep disorder devices (e.g., sleep apnea devices), balance and / or movement disorder devices (e.g., vestibular stimulation devices), tinnitus management devices, visual implants (e.g., bionic eyes), and other neuromodulation devices (e.g., brain-computer interfaces).

[0115] All publications identified herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

[0116] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except as set forth in the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprise” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, compounds, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps are present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification or claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C, ... and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.

[0117] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing properties or parameters such as supply voltages, stimulating currents, resistances, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges andCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention can contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0118] Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

[0119] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0120] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

[0121] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and / or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, theCID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of any Markush groups used in the appended claims.

[0122] It should be noted that any language directed to a computer should be read to include any suitable combination of computing devices, including servers, interfaces, systems, databases, agents, peers, engines, controllers, or other types of computing devices operating individually or collectively. One should appreciate the computing devices comprise one or more processors, such as a general purpose processor, or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) configured to execute software instructions stored on a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium (e.g., hard drive, solid state drive, RAM, flash, ROM, PLA, PLD, FPGA, etc.). The software instructions preferably configure or program the computing device to provide the roles, responsibilities, or other functionality as discussed below with respect to the disclosed apparatus. Further, the disclosed technologies can be embodied as a computer program product that includes a non-transitory computer readable medium storing the software instructions that causes a processor to execute the disclosed steps. In especially preferred embodiments, the various servers, systems, databases, or interfaces exchange data using standardized protocols or algorithms, possibly based on HTTP, HTTPS, AES, public-private key exchanges, web service APIs, or other electronic information exchanging methods. Data exchanges preferably are conducted over a packet-switched network, the Internet, LAN, WAN, VPN, or other type of packet switched network; a circuit switched network; cell switched network, or other type of network.

[0123] The above discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus, if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

[0124] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, when a system, engine, module, device, server, processor or other computing element is described as configured to perform or execute functions on data in a memory, the meaning of “configured to”CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)or “programmed to” is defined as one or more processors or cores of the computing element being programmed by a set of software instructions stored in the memory of the computing element to execute the set of functions on target data or data objects stored in the memory thereby forming a structure having a specific purpose.

[0125] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term "coupled to" is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms "coupled to" and "coupled with" are used synonymously.

[0126] While the invention has been particularly described with respect to the illustrated embodiments and examples discussed herein, it will be appreciated that various alterations, modification, and adaptations can be made based on the present disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. While the invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be some practical examples, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any of the disclosed embodiments or examples but only by the following claims.

Claims

CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:transmitting one or more signals from an implantable device antenna of a device on or implanted within a recipient’s body to one or more antennas operably connected to an external device; andreceiving one or more signals transmitted from the external device, wherein the one or more signals transmitted from the external device are based on one or more parameters associated with position information of the implantable device antenna determined at the external device based on the one or more signals transmitted from the antenna of the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body and received at the one or more antennas operably connected to the external device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more received signals comprise wireless power signals transmitted from a power source located on the external device, wherein the one or more signals are received by a power source of the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more electric current values associated with one or more magnetic induction (MI) antennas of the power source.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more electric current values comprise at least one of a magnitude value, a phase value, or a frequency value of at least one electrical current flowing through the one or more MI antennas.

5. The method of any of claims 1 through 4, wherein the one or more signals transmitted from the antenna of the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body comprise wireless signals compliant with one or more of: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), or Zigbee communications protocols.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)6. The method of any of claims 1 through 5, wherein the external device comprises a pad configured to be positioned below the body of the recipient.

7. The method of any of claims 1 through 6, wherein the device comprises at least a portion of an auditory prosthesis system implanted within a head of the recipient.

8. The method of any of claims 1 through 7, further comprising transmitting the one or more parameters associated with position information of the implantable device antenna to a user device for graphical display of sleep activity tracking information on a user application.

9. The method of any of claims 1 through 8, wherein the one or more parameters are further based on position information of the implantable device antenna determined at the external device using one or more signals recorded when the recipient is in one or more predetermined body positions communicated by a user application to the recipient.

10. The method of any of claims 1 through 9, wherein the one or more parameters are determined based on a neural network analysis of the position information or the one or more signals of the implantable medical device.

11. A device implantable in a body of a recipient, the device comprising:an antenna; anda processor communicatively coupled to the antenna and configured to:transmit one or more signals from the antenna to one or more antennas operably connected to an external device; andreceive one or more signals transmitted from the external device, wherein the one or more signals transmitted from the external device are based on one or more parameters associated with position information determined at the external device based on the one or more signals transmitted from the antenna and received at the one or more antennas operably connected to the external device.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)12. The implantable device of claim 11, wherein the one or more signals transmitted from the external device comprise wireless power signals transmitted from a power source located on the external device and received by a power source of the implantable device.

13. The implantable device of claim 12, wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more electrical current values associated with one or more magnetic induction (MI) antennas of the power source.

14. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the one or more electrical current values comprise at least one of a magnitude value, a phase value, or a frequency value of at least one electrical current flowing through the one or more MI antennas.

15. The implantable device of any of claims 11 through 14, wherein the one or more parameters are determined based at least in part on one or more signals transmitted by the implantable device when the recipient is in one or more predetermined body positions communicated by a user application to the recipient.

16. The implantable device of any of claims 11 through 15, wherein the one or more signals comprise wireless signals compliant with one or more of: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), or Zigbee communications protocols.

17. The implantable device of any of claims 11 through 16, wherein the external device comprises a pad configured to be positioned below or adjacent to the implantable device located in the body of the recipient.

18. The implantable device of any of claims 11 through 17, wherein the implantable device comprises at least a portion of an auditory prosthesis system implanted within a head of the recipient.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)19. The implantable device of any of claims 11 through 18, wherein the one or more parameters associated with position information of the implantable device antenna are transmitted to a user device executing a sleep activity tracking user application.

20. The implantable device of any of claims 11 through 19, wherein the one or more parameters are determined based at least in part on a neural network analysis of the position information or the one or more signals transmitted by the implantable device.

21. A method comprising :receiving one or more signals transmitted from an antenna of a device on or implanted within the recipient’s body at one or more antennas operably connected to an external device;generating position information of the antenna of the device on or implanted within a recipient’s body relative to the external device based on the one or more signals; and determining one or more parameters based on the position information wherein the one or more parameters are associated with one or more signals transmitted from the external device.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting one or more signals from a power source of the external device to a power source of the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body, wherein the one or more signals transmitted from the external device power source are based on the one or more parameters, and the power source of the device on or implanted within the recipient’ s body is inductively coupled to the power source of the external device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more electrical current values associated with one or more magnetic induction (MI) antennas of the power source of the external device.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)24. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more electrical current values comprise at least one of a magnitude value, a phase value, or a frequency value of at least one electrical current flowing through the one or more MI antennas.

25. The method of any of claims 21 through 24, wherein the one or more signals transmitted from the antenna of the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body comprise wireless signals compliant with one or more of: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), or Zigbee communications protocols.

26. The method of any of claims 21 through 25, wherein the external device comprises a housing having at least a first surface configured to be positioned below or adjacent to the body of the recipient or the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body.

27. The method of any of claims 21 through 26, wherein the device implanted on or within the recipient’s body comprises at least a portion of an auditory prosthesis system implanted within a head of the recipient.

28. The method of claim any of claims 21 through 27, wherein the one or more parameters associated with the position information of the device implanted on or within the recipient’ s body are transmitted to a user device executing a sleep activity tracking user application.

29. The method of any of claims 21 through 28, wherein the one or more parameters are determined based at least in part on one or more signals transmitted by the device on or implanted within the recipient’ s body when the recipient is in one or more predetermined body positions communicated by a user application to the recipient.

30. The method of any of claims 21 through 29, wherein the one or more parameters are determined based at least in part on a neural network analysis of the position information or the one or more signals transmitted by the device implanted on or within the recipient’s body.

31. A device comprising:CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)one or more antennas;a power source;at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions; andat least one processor operably connected to the one or more antennas and the power source, and configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:receive one or more signals transmitted from at least one antenna of a device located on or implanted within a recipient’s body at the one or more antennas;generate position information for the device located on or implanted within the recipient’s body relative to the device based on the one or more signals;determine one or more parameters based on the position information of the device located on or implanted within the recipient’s body; andtransmitting one or more signals based on the one or more parameters.

32. The device of claim 31 , wherein the power source of the device comprises one or more magnetic induction (MI) antennas inductively coupled to a power source of the device on or implanted within the recipient’ s body and configured to wirelessly transmit power via the one or more signals based on the one or more parameters to the power source of the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body.

33. The device of any of claims 31 and 32, wherein the one or more parameters comprise one or more electrical current values associated with the one or more MI antennas.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the one or more electrical current values comprise at least one of a magnitude value, a phase value, or a frequency value of at least one electrical current flowing through the one or more MI antennas.

35. The device of any of claims 31 through 34, wherein the one or more parameters are determined based at least in part on one or more signals transmitted by the antenna of the device on or implanted within the recipient’s body when the recipient is in one or more predetermined body positions communicated by a user application to the recipient.CID03909WOPC1 (Attorney Docket No. C6413.10004W001)36. The device of any of claims 31 through 35, wherein the one or more signals comprise wireless signals compliant with one or more of: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), or Zigbee communications protocols.

37. The device of any of claims 31 through 36, further comprising a housing having a first surface configured to be positioned adjacent to or below the recipient’s body or the device on or implanted in the body of the recipient.

38. The device of any of claims 31 through 37, wherein the implantable device comprises at least a portion of an auditory prosthesis system implanted within a head of the recipient.

39. The device of any of claims 31 through 38, wherein the one or more parameters are determined based at least in part on a neural network analysis of the position information or the one or more signals transmitted by the implantable device.

Images